The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1885-02-05
LIVE STOCK AND LAND ECoNo-
MILES,

Much anxiety was expressed du-
ring the late Geld weather as TO tne
losses in live stock throughout Texas
The Fort Worth Live Stock Journal,
which has excellent facilities for col
Letting data regarding all questloLs
pertaining to live stock says the NOR
tality has been greater this winter
than for several years past. The EVIL
dence obtained, however,is suggestive.
Where cattle have been left to root
hog or die, they have pretty freely
Welded up claims in favor of ghosthood
Where they have been sheltered ana
FED during the severe weather the per
centage Of deaths have been small.
A Lampasas county breeder writes,
that where stock have been given half
a chance the loss on account OF severe
weather has been tritling. He says
cattIemen begin to realize there is
such a thing as overstocking the
range. To use his own words,
"the old idea here has been that every
five acres of range can support COW
wear in and year out, but experience
has long since demonstrated to my
satisfaction (or dissatisfaction rather)
that multiply five by two and you
will about get the true proportion.
In this opinion 1 am sustained by
many, if no. most, of the most en-
Iightened stockmen here, yet L am
sure [ do not eXaggerate when L say,
! that most of the ranges in this section
have had on them, for months past,
two or three head of cattle to every
ten acres of grass land. True. there
are some neighborhoods where there
are not so many, but, as rule, the
lands there are poor and the grass
thin, and the cattle do not like 1t. Id
the matter of sheepmen l undertake
to say this, that, in no single instance
has GOOD treatment of fiocks in the fall
failed to secure good results since the
winter set in. But where go winter
range has been saved and sheep have
been compelled to feed over the same
ground that they grazed close IN thu
summer and fall, the losses have beer
simply enormous. The sheep Were
not fat when the cold weather CAM
on, and as the frost came early and tn
grass was cut down they have contin
ued DOOR and have not been able t.
stand the hard weather. l saved
clean range for winter use aud starre'
nv flocks into the winter lat, conse
, quently my losses have been merel
nominal. l have lost some Of m
lambs, but think the loss due entire
" to the fact that l sheared them i
the fall, and the winter has been to
!, much for them" This is the theor
to which THE STATESMAN has hell
and as long as there is free rang
there will be just TIL
= sort of trouble. By FIRE
rspge we do not mean only the FIRE
u use of state lands, but of private land
The law should make rangemen pa
for The use OF every tract OF publ
land in the state. and it shoul
also provide process by which pr
n vate persons may get the value
l. grass taken from their lands. When
5. ever these things are done everybody
: range will be defined, and there wi
e be no more crowding of cattle in fire
" ranges. 1t is this crowding OF Gait
q that puts them in condition not t
e be able to endure the winters. Wit
a wise legislation live stockmen wi
b become fixtures, like farmers, an
It the condition of the live stock il
e terest will thus be enhalce
n Both the state and individuals shoul
3 be protected against plumber, fl
J. there is plumber in grass as well ;
20 in any other sort of improper al
! preparation. A comprehensive an
Ie liberal lease law, and statute in r
/ gard to the rights Of private land
n would settle the question of Gait
e losses, and make money in the end fl
Is the live stockmen, for the cause .
. education and for individuals. A
J. may be benefited by wise Legislation
8 and will the legislature rise
emergencies