, 1885-06-21
THE RANGE AND RANCH.
Wyoming, the Center Of Its Great
Area.
An Interesting and Comprehensive
Review by Hon. N. E. Post.

cIuihent pruning once st W a~shlngtOn,
d. C., relating to the Range and ranch
Cattle Business OF the United States. "
compiled by Joseph Nimno, Jr., chief of
the bureau of statistics of the teasury de-
partment. The pamphlet contains a
large amount Of important information
gathered from different sources. Among
the contributors to this valuable work is
Hon. NJ. Il. Post, for four years delegate
in congress from this territory. His re-
view Of the live stock business in Wyo-
ming in all its various branches, is one of
the most exhaustive and comprehensive
reports ever published on that subject.
We therefore reproduce the article in
full, as follows;
The improvement Of the Breed Of Range
and Ranch Cattle.
The most important points bearing up
on this subject relate, first, to the class of
bulls used second, t. the female stock
and, third, to the character of the increase.
The Herefords and the Durhams, or Short
Horns, are the favorite breeds. Our stock
men during the last few years have been
doing their very best TO get the best
breeds, the highest class of bulls which
they can procure. The cattle breeders Of
Wyoming have imported bulls quite
largely from Europe. The very best
specimens of the fine breeds have been
procured. The importatIons from Eng
land have been principally Herefords.
Durham bulls have been imported mostly
from the states of Kentucky, Illinois, and
other states Of this country. The number
of COWS and heifers brought into Wyo-
ming has been much less than that ofbulls.
The range cattle business of Wyoming
began along from 1868 to 1870. From
that time to about 1915 or 1878 the great
bulk OF the cattle tCere brought from
Texas. About three-iourths of the entire
stock were steers and the rest cows and
heilers. Alter that the rangemon i'm
ported largely from Nevada and Oregon
and the territories of Montana, Idaho and
Utah, and also some from Colorado
mixed herds OF cattle. The cattle impor-
ted from Utah, Ne ada, Oregon, Idaho and
Montana were a good class ofcattle, being
composed mainly of improved natives,
and largely also OF improved Texas stock.
The cattlemen of Wyoming realized at an
early day the Importance ofimproving the
breed Of their animals, and accordingly
began as early as 1874 OF 1878 to import
graded and thoroughbred bulls. The re-
suit is that the general average of the
range cattle of Wyoming to-day is i'm
proved stock, having large frames aud
small bones. They are well developed
animals, furnishing a superior quality of
beef. We have done more in Wyoming
toward improving the breed of cattle than
has been done in any other section of the
raBge-cattle area. Our cattle to-day are
of a very high standard, and we have in.
creased the value ofour herds materially
by systematic breeding, the success al
ready attained in stimulating the cattle
men Of Wyoming To still further efforts in
the direction Of improving the breed of
their stock. The example of Wyoming
is being followed very extensively through
out the range cattle area. The general
quality Of the cattle OF Montana is about
equal to that of Wyoming, but with that
exception Wyoming is much ahead of all
the rest.
The Wyomiug Stock ASSOCIATION.
The Wyoming Stock Association is one
of the best organized and most effective in
its workings Of any stock association in
the United States.
1t is controlled by stockmeu for their
mutual benefit. They have detectives
and inspectors stationed at such points as
may be necessary TO look after stray cat
tie, and cattle being shipped or driven out
OF the country with brands belonging to
any member Of the association. They
arrange for the spring round ups, 80 as to
work in harmony and have each mans
interest looked after, and to sec that each
man furnishes his proportion both of
cowboys and supplies, These round ups
are under the control of captains or oihcers
appointed under the association. and
have entire charge. In case of a dispute
as to the different brands, instead of hav-
ing recourse TO law, such matters are re-
ierred to a disinterested party as arbitra-
tor, and his decision is usually accepted as
final.
In regard to the inspection system, il
has proven very beneficial, as cattle some
times stray some distance from the ranges.
The inspectors are stationed at Omaha,
Kansas City, aud other points where
cattle are shipped through by rail. When
a train OF cattle arrives at any one of these
points the inspector looks through the
cattle. and if he finds cattle whose brand
indicates that they belong to a member of
the Wyoming Stock Association, other
than the shipper, such cattle arc consigned
10 some commission merchant in Chicago
for sale and the proceeds are RENTED to
the association, and by it handed over to
the proper owners.
The stock grower association of the
state of Colorado aud Of Nebraska and
Dakota work in harmony with the Wyo
ming association. The detectives Of the
associotians look after cattle thieves and
men guilty of altering brands, etc.
The cattle business up to the present
time has been the great business Of Wyo-
ming. The laws of the territory have
been framed specially with the view of
protecting this interest.
The Soil Of Wyomiag.
The cultivation of the land of Wyoming
is simply a question of water, The soil
throughout the territory produces the
natural grasses in abundance, but there is
not a sufficient rainfall for farming. Ir.
rigation is necessary to produce crops sue
sessiully. All the agriculture carried on
IN Wyoming is by means Of artificial irri-
cation, 1t is estimated that we have TO-
OOO square miles in the territory which
can thus be watered successfully. This
constitutes about 10 per cent Of the 9s,
900 square miles in the territory.
Increased RanyaH.
The climatic changes in Wyoming have
been very penceptible during the last two
years. The increased precipitation OF
moisture has been very great, perhaps moi
30 great as IN the western part OF kansa.
aud Nebraska. But if the increase con,