The Saline County journal. [volume] (Salina, Kan.) 1871-1893, 1885-06-18

just north Of town, and in the shade
Of the numerous trees that line its
banks, refreshed ourselves and team,
for the most labOrious part Of the trip,
after partaking Of a substantial lunch
prepared by the ladies Of the party,
we bid farewell 10 the pleasant little
stream and took q nOTthwesterly
course up over the hills. The eOun-
try through which we then passed
was a rough and broken one, and soon
the houses became scarce, and farm
ing only INDUCED in on 4 very small
scale. It Is indeed a cattle country,
and although not heavily stocked at
present, yet in years to come will un-
dOubtedly all be taken up, and those
hills which have stood there so long
without any particular benefit 10 any
one will be considered useful and
fortunes will yet be made from them.
We could not help noticing the excel
lent quality Of the water all through
that country aud the abundance Of it,
for frequent stops were made to test
the same, az by this time a hot south
wind was blowing. We kept bravely
on, however, and soon approached a
better country, where we again saw
large fields OF corn and small grain
growing, and in excellent condition,
although needing a good rain. At
about seven O'Clock, down in one Of
the most beautiful valleys Of the
Smoky Hill, we came in sight Of our
destination. Weary travellers and
jaded steeds were alike glad to be
informed Of the fact. A hearty vel
come was given Us by the Captain
and his estimable wife, who are at
present spending a few weeks at the
rancho. Capt. +. b. Millett IL a
southern born gentleman, and posses
ses all OF those hOspitable habits char
acteristic Of Southern people. A man
about IS years Of age, jolly, and a
splendid cOnversatiOnalist, and cat
tie man from head to foot. He first
drove Texas cattle into Kansas in
1866, but encountered so many
difficulties In the shape Of disease and
Indians, that he handled mules for a
couple Of years, until the cattle trade
went 10 Abilene. when he again COM
menced the cattle business and con-
tinued In it until 1871. He found it
profitable TO supply the Indians with
beef, and in 1874 conceived the plan
Of supplying all the northwestern
tribes. In 1875, in partnership
with Mr.. Seth Mabry, they drove 81
600. head OF cattle from Texas for this
purpose. He then in connection with
his two brothers, started the Millett
Cattle Rancho in Baylor county,
Texas, and lOcat ed 1850 heal Of cat
tie on the rancho.
II was away cut on the frontier,
and he experienced all the annoy
ances common in those days from
hunters and Indians. He commenced
breeding Shorthorns in 1877, but sOOn
discovered that Texas was too far
south for him 10 successfully handle
this breed 50 in 1878 he commenced
buying land I'm Kanses with a view Of
raising the finer breeds OF cattle, be-
lieving. a. he now knows, that this is
the proper climate for that purpose.
He sold his Texas rancho in 1881 for
$3.50, 900, still retaining his little herd
Of ShOrthOrns which he moved tO his
Kansas rancho. His first investment
In land in this country was the old
Powers rancho, comprising 2,OS0 acres
OF land. His efforts to introduce the
thoroughbred animals on our West
ern prairies were not encouraged by
his neighbOrs, who thought il entire
ly impraeticahle. He has continued
this business however, until ii has
grown to enormous proportions, and
Is now the largest rancho in Western
Kansas, comprising within its limits
g, 600 acres Of land, all of which Is
under wire fence. He has at present
on the ranehe 100 head Of cattle, 200
head Of mules, and about 100 head Of
horses, his spring crop Of colts being
. from "a mares. Among the above
lot Of cattle he has herd Of 1900
head OF ShoTth0rns, being the largest
herd OF this breed Of cattle in the
United States. The finest families
are represented in this bunch, such as
the Young Marys, Fashions, Vellums,
Bates, Rose Of Sharons, Phyllisses,
etc. At their head stands imported
Grand Duke Of Darlington Sd, No.
%, ,444 Oxford Bell Duke No. SO, ,4O4,
recorded in volume 10, A. II. P.
Water Prince, So, go; and Vellums
Oxford 1st. Among other imported
bulls on the rancho he has Aberdeen
Angus Races, and five Hereford bulls,
such a. Earl Wilton, and Major, by
NIiller's Success, all thoroughbred,
from which he now has q product Of
100 spring calves He can select from
his pastures q drove Of calves-year-
lings OF mAtured beeves and put them
In any show ring in the world and
not be ashamed OF them. He has
now about twenty head Of fat steers,
from yearlings 70 four year olds,
v eighing at the present time from
| 100 to 2,640 pounds, which he is
for the Kansas City Fat
Stock show this fall, and q finer lot Of
cattle will be hard 20 find. His sales
from the rancho last year reached
1000. Among the curiositles TO be
seen is a fine Short Horn calf that at
birth weighed los pounds, which tine |
Captain claims is six pounds heavier
than any on record. Next comes a
big steer, which would be a rival in
height TO the enormous animal exhi- |
bited by John Robinson In the circus
1ng. AS q darkey expressed himself |
while showing him "Nes sir, he's /
= big steer he is just eighteen feet
high" Substitute the word hands
for feet and you have the height Of
The animal And last but not least.
is the lOng-hOrned animal from Texas
That is an especial faTOrite at the
rancho. Hsias o most beautiful steer, |
and ryracefnlIv tnsses about a pair Of 1