The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1885-04-24
FARM MANAGEMENT.
How Hides Are Injured by the Brand
ing-lron and the Barbs on Fence
Wire.
The Policy of Allowing Laborers to Occupy
Cottages on Farms Where They Work.


Leather ReUieU with Il complaint about
the injuries caused to the hides on
fence wire. He writes: Much has
been said in convention by tanners and
written in trade papers relating to the
branding of cattle, but the injurious
effects from the use of barbed-wire
fences seems to have been ignored or
overlooked. That the branding of
cattle is a great evil and a ~barbarous
custom none will attempt to deny, but
how best to remedy il is one of the
problems yet to be satisfactorily
solved. AS long as cattle are per-
mitted to roam at will over the vast
prairies and ranges, there should be
some improved method devised as a
| substitute for the hot iron for the pur-
pose of distinguishing them when max
ing the roundup" Numerous de-
vices have been suggested, but so far
each one has met with serious objec-
tons. The COWBOYS, when making
the roundup, must have some guiding
device or letter which can be seen at a
distance. Should a small brand, the
size of a teacup, be burned upon the
rump, neck or foreshoulder, these are
not plainly distinguishable upon the
crowded herds during an exciting
chase. If of the size of a peck meas
ure Gas many are), in characters both
upon the butt and body, they are
easily recognized, and each owners
stock is separated from the herd with
an adroitness and rapiditv highly
complimentary to cowboys, dogs and
ponies having them in charge. The
theory has been advanced that time,
and time alone, would remedy this
evil, based upon the increasing growth
of this great industry; and again that
the ranches are fast being taken up
and becoming the property of capital
lists and wealthy corporations, and the
grazing-lands will eventually be all
fenced in, so that each stock-grower
may keep his or their herds together.
| Then it is claimed that branding may
be abolished and the surplus number
of herdsmen reduced. Very true,
should all the stockgrowers in the i'm
mediate section of state adopt this
Observation-Disclosures, suppose the fences
dividing the herd were broken (this is
no supposition, but liable to occur
daily),-the cattle would become
DI~OlllSCOOllS. anu uCltClo uOhlOltii1So
for want of some private mark in
which to aid them in assigning to the
lawful M A prominent tanner,
in answer TO the question, ''What are
YOUR views in relation to the branding
of cattle, and what do you recommend
as a substituted" gave a practicable
answer when he said that ''fences
and fences alone, will accomplish
the result, and we fully be-
lieve all efforts of the tanners
to stop branding will result only
in utter failure" Should the present
branding system be abolished, the
beneficial effects could not be seen or
appreciated by tanners for several
years, or until the CALVES matured IN
agc and weight for beef purposes. In
the meantime radical changes will be
supplied with sheds for temporary
shelter, and be protected from the
severe storms of winter. Fencing OF
ranches will be more generally adopt
ed. This mammoth industry will be
managed upon more economic prlncl-
pies, as upon the farm, the tannery,
and the work shops. Time worketh
wonders. The present generation of
tanners may not live to derive the
benefits of better and cheaper hides,
but it is bound to come. 1t might
have been welcomed ere this had tan
ners worked more in unison. No
greal battle was ever won or blessings
conferred except at the sacrifice OF
personal interests. The selfish prin-
ciple of looking out tor number one,
and letting the devil take the hind
most, prospers for a time, and like
the long lane there must be n turning
point. This has been fully exempliii-
ed during the past two years in the
failure of mammoth tanning interests,
whose aim was to control the hide and
leather markets by wedding out their
less fortunate ncighbors.
The immense prairies OF the west
can not be converted into y paradise
in n few years. although men of capt.
tai, of indomitable will, pluck, and
enterprise, by the building of rail
roads, are opening up communication
with other nations. Emigration and
colonization follow upon the heels OF
great enterprises. Wild prairies and
mountain Businesses are, as by magic,
converted into teeming farming lands,
stock ranches and mines of gold, sill
yer, and lead thereby adding yearly
to the wealth of the nation. What
was once n bowling wilderness has
been converted into ranches for stock
raising, followed by growing wheat
fields, dotted by farm houses, villages,
factories; even cities are springing up
like mushrooms. The barbed wire fence
has and is destined to play an import
ant part in ~inclosing and protecting
the wealth thus created and encourage
ed by the opening up new sections OF
the country. Concentration of capital
will follow. More attention will then
be given toward solving the question
of how to produce a greater number
of bushels to the acre how to add n
or two hundred pounds of beef to each
head OF stock and corresponding in
crease in wool, pork, and provisions.
This concentration of capital in cattle
and agriculture will compel the own
ers to fence their farms and ranches
for self protection. Barbed wire will
be preferred to lumber, because it is
cheaper and stronger. The tanners,