River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1885-06-25

tram OF supplies uldWu " oAth, WAS
on his way west to Camp Douglas, in
the territory OF Utah; but on being
overtaken on the Laramie plains by an
unusually severe snow-storm, he was
compelled at once to 60 into winter
quarters. He turned his cattle adrift,
expecting, as a matter OF course, they
would soon perish from exposure and
starvation. But they remained about
the camp, and, as the snow was blown
off the highlands, the dry grass afford
ed them abundance of forage When
the spring opened they were found to
be in even better condition than when
turned out to die four months previous
ly. This discovery led to the purchase
OF stock cattle in Texas to be matured
and fattened on the northern ranges.
and the trade has steadily grown to its
present enormous proportions, accel-
Grated greatly during the past fifteen
wears by the building of the various
railroads in the north and west. Soon
after this discovery of the possibilities
of the great dry area of the north
for pasturage, the range and ranch
cattle trade of Texas debouched upon
a territory three times as large as its
original habitat. The growth of the
business has been one of the marvels
of this marvellous age and country.
The well, known fact that for ages the
buffalo has thriven during the winter
in Montana, Dakota, Idaho, and Wv
oming on natural grasses also inspired
confidence that cattle grazing on the
more northerly ranges would be sue.
cessiul. The number of range and
ranch cattle north of Texas and east of
the Rocky mountains is estimated at
z 800, 900. The number in Wyoming
Is placed at 100000.
The capacity of the range and ranch
lands of the United States for grazing
cattle differs widely in the several
states, territories, and sections as the
result of. differences i'll the quantity
and quality OF nutritious grasses pro-
duced, the water supply, and the ex.
tent to which natural shelter is avail
able for cattle during storms. In
Texas from five to thirty acres of land
per head are required, and on the
northern ranges almost the same diff
ference are observable in different To-
calities.
The ultimate limit OF the capacity
of the entire range and ranch-cattle
area of the United States for grazing
and the magnitude of its possible an-
nual product can only be ascortained
from the results of experience. 1t is
evident from the best available infor-
nation, that the number of cattle ON
ranches and ranges in Texas might be
greatly increased. Mr.. George b.
Loving, of Fort Worth, Tex, expresses
the opinion that by providing reser-
voirs, sinking arteSiau wells. and de-
stroying the prairie dogs, which, in
certain parts of the state, consume n
larger quantity of the nutritious grass
es than is consumed by cattle, the
number of range and ranch cattle pas
tured in that state might perhaps be
doubled. 1t is impossible at the pres
ent time even approximately to esti-
mate the proportion of the available
range lands in the northern part of
the great dry area which are as yet
unoccupied, or the extent TO which the
supply of grasses within the nominally
occupied portions exceeds the supply
necessary for the sustenance and fat
tening of cattle now grazing there
upon. There appears to be Il tenden-
CIV on the part of those who have al
ready occupied the ground to promul-
gate the idea that the ranges are fully
stocked, and that there is, therefore,
no room for additional herds. But in
telligent observers who have prospect
ed the different parts of the great cat
tie area north of Texas asserts that
two, three. or even four times the
number of cattle now upon the ranges
can be fed upon them. Experience
proves that cattle can not advan-
tageously Craze more than six or eight
miles from water. The result is that
vast areas now well grazed are of little
value on account of their remoteness
from water The rendering of such
lands available for the cattle business
of course turns largely upon the prac-
ticability of procuring thereupon adj
equate supplies of water by means of
artesian wells or by reservoirs for coli
lecting ram water.
During the past few years there has
been disposition to consolidate the
business of stock-raising on the pub
lie lands. 1t has been found that the
average cost per head for the manage
ment of large herds is much less than
for small ones. One stock company
in Wyoming advertises the ownership
of ninety different brands, each of
which formerly represented distinct
herd. Improvement in the quality of
animals is going on much faster in the
northern territories than in Texas and
New Mexico The ''native" and
Texas cows are being crossed by
males of the best breeds for beef Car
loads of short-horns, Hereford, and
pollcd Angus bulls have been pur-
chased by northern stockmen for inn
proving their herds. Many breeders
of fine stock find their customers
among the ranchmen of the distant
northwest. 1t is admitted that it costs
more to raise calves in the northern
territories than IN Texas and New
Mexico, but it is claimed that their
superior value more than makes up
for the additional cost. Mr.. Nimmo,
the compiler of the report, thinks the
industry of cattle.raising on ranges
and ranches is in its infancy i'll devel-
opment as well as in age He admits
that the best locations have been ap-
proprlated, but he thinks many places
not now occupied will be made to sup
port vast herds of cattle. He believes
that the natural streams of water will
be utilized to better advantage, and
that artesian wells will supply water
to many places where no animals arc
now kept Chic0go Times.