The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1884-09-07

Now he will usually have h buy out some
ono already In possession. There nre always
however n number Of more or less desirable
ranches for sale. Touching the price which Il
is safe to pay. the reader IL reminded that he
must allow at least ten acres for every head Of
cattle owned. and that accordingly tho price Of
land need not DO very high before tho interest
on the capital sunk In It would eat up all the
profits to be reasonably expected. II IL true.
on tho other hand. that by owning or leasing
the land on your range you are enabled to
fence It In, BY which means you not only avoid
. certain amount Of loss from strAyed cattle
but can reduce your working expenses At
present land can DO bought In the grazing dis
tricts Of Texas for from about one dollar to i've
dollars per acre.
How much capital. then. 10 requisite In order
to embark In the cattle business2 On this head
Mr.. Aldridge confirms what has been lately
pointed out By Mr.. Henry George. that the ten
dency OF stock raising In the United States 10
to fall more and more into the hands Of large
corporations and . few wealthy individuals.
There arc. 1t seems. In the Panhandle few
mon possessing little herds Of two or three
hundred head. but the position Of these smaller
ones IL not very satisfactory. Tho author pro.
nounces 1t the best course for . man with
small capital not to try and start By himself.
but to join with Others 90 that they may have
at least $50 OO0 or. better STILL 500. 900 between
them. The larger Of the sums mentioned rep
resents. he says ranch Of from 5000 to $500
cattle. Q few thousand dollars being reserved for
horses and ranch outfit. and expenses during
the first year. No part OF this sum. however.
IL supposed to be applied to the purchase OF
land. In calculating the working expenses OF
q ranch we must. Of course. keen In view the
distance from q railway. which will materially
affect the price OF corn and provisions. Tho
wages OF the men also vary In different locali-
ties. The ordinary wages OF a rider are $25 per
month In the Indian Territory. $50 In the
Texas Panhandle. and $40 In Colorado. Fore
mems WAGES range from $50 to 500 per month.
Roughly speaking. the author would put the
expenses of a ranch at from 81 to 50 per head
Of cattle per annum.
Some useful hints are given with regard to
tho outfit to be taken from England. and these
remarks. OF course. are equally pertinent to the
intending emigrant from New York. The
rancliman is advised to take with him three or
four ordinary tweed SUITS with an extra pair
or two of trousers made OF some corded ma
terial to stand tho wear and tear Of the saddle.
A dozen flannel shirts and plenty Of under
clothing. with two pairs Of high boots. two Of
lace-ups and a warm ulster should also be
provided. In the way Of firearms IA ten-bore shot
gun is pronounced the most efficient size Tor
lll-round work. We are told that revolver Is
by no means a necessity nowadays. although
good many COWBOYS still carry q weapon OF
this kind Mr.. Aldridge would not advise any
one to cucumber himself with an English sad
die. The ordinary Mexican saddle used on the
range Is Just suited for the work for which 1t 10
intended. and Is. withal. very comfortable.