The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1885-07-17
CATTLE RAISING IN THE Q. S,

CATTLE RAISING IN The y D
Mr.. Nimmo's recent report 90 the
range and ranch cattle OF the Unlteo
States furnishes some interesting statis-
tics on this subject and the opportunity 1
Of making some remarks on it. A quar-
ter of a century ago the principal and /
almost the only grazing grounds for cat /
tie in great herds was Texas. At that |
time the market was restricted one,
ard immense numbers of cattle were
slaughtered for their hides and tallow.
The value of cattle on a ranch was on
" from three and a half TO four dollars
per head. Since then the rapid exten-
sion Of the railroad system through Tex
as and IN all parts of the West has
opened up profitable markets to the East
to Texas cattle men. and the value OF
their cattle has advanced from three
dollars and fifty cents in 1853 to from
fifteen to eighteen dollars per head at
the present time. The great profits
of the Texas graziers led to the adop-
ton of cattle raising on large scale II
the western ard northwestern states
and Territories. Texas was. and still
remains to a considerable extent, the
breeding ground for cattle. but owing
20 the influx Of settlers by immigration,
the ranges. though still of great extent
in some instances, have become more
restricted. and this fact has given such
an impetus to the breeding of cattle in
the mountain valleys and on the plains
/ of the West and Northwest that the ag-
/ prapate number OF ranch and range cat
/ tie grazing over the area north OF Iexas
+ has reached seven million five hundred
head as against nine million head in
/ Texas. The latter State therefore still
holds her pre-eninence for vast herds OF
cattle. but owing TO pressure OF popula-
tiou on her extensive ranges. where the
cattle still roam over the public LANDS,
and even on the great ranches now
fenced in and owned by cattle firms and
corpnrations. the raising of cattle on the
Northwestern plains is destined before
long to acquire proportions exceeding
those of Texas. Texas cattle are found
ern and southwestern parts of that
State. and the Texas herds have been
drawn upon for cattle to stock the new
lv opened ranges of the Northwest. 1t
is computed that Texas has furnished
to the North western ranges three mil
lion head of young cattle, mainly year
lings and two year old steers, within
the last twenty wears. in addition &C
those annually driven to the northern
ranges to be natured for marketing
The number of head Of these last veal
was three hundred thousand. and dur
ing the same period six hundred and
twenty-five thousand beef cattle were
sent from Texas direct TO the markets
of KansA City. st. Louis. Chicago and
New Orleans. But, ultimately, Texa'
with superior advantages for breeding
cattle. but with fewer for maturing
them for market. must give way TO th'
enterprise of the cattle men of th'
Northwest in spite Of their winter los
ses and of the greater cost Of winteriDl
cattle on the plains. The soil Of Texs
for the most part is admirably adapted
to cultivation, and as population increas
es the ranges will be occupied and tn
value of the lands included in th
ranches, to some Of which quarter o
a million of acres are attached. will b
so much enhanced that to sell them ot
in farms will be found more proftabl
to their owners than even cattle raisini
was in the past or is likely TO be agair
with Western competition keeping dow
the market price. Moreover. even Tex
as with her great extent of territory
cannot begin to compare with the West
ern and North western range and raDc
area Of the United States. It embrace
the principal part of the Indian Terrific
~, the western portions of Kansas, Ne
braska and Dakota, the Territories {
Mona Idaho. Wyoming, Utah, Ar
Zoua and New Mexico. the States {
Colorado and Nevada, and portions {
California, Oregon and Washingto
: Territory. Over all this area, embraC
ing over a million square miles, th
cattle men have taken possession of tb
parts most favorable to their business
but the portion of it in which The raj:
ing of cattle is chiefly carried on i
). however, distinctively known as "Tt
=. Palms. These extend from Texas {
Montana, a distances of about LOO
b, miles, with an average width OF q
j miles. and embracing an area of near
: 130, 600 600 acres. Occupying the grea
= ct part of the land without any tit
= from the United States, or under It'll,
: said to have been fraudulently obtained
3 many of the cattle companies are lab
to be d;spossessed as the settlers foe
into the States and Territories whel
the public lands used as cattle ranch,
n now are. But, from the scarcity of vi
D ter and the infrequenc of rains, it
D probable that the Plans will be the Sc;
D Of great cattle ranges. or of great rancl
D es, for many years yet to come. F.
the feeding of cattle which flourish @
the bunch and gramma and buffal
grasses, all of which derive moistul
mainly from the melting SHOWS and tt