, 1885-03-19
The Abused Trail Cattle Winter
Well In Wyoming.
Interviews With Leading Cattlemen
Regarding the Losses.
An Avalanche of Testimony Buries
the Sensational Reports.

80 So
the consideration of all persons interested
in the live stock interests of Wyoming,
whatever the nature Of that interest may
be.
Reports, more or less sensational, have
gone. abroad that the past winter has been
a severe one on trail, or Texas cattle, and
that the losses in Wyoming have been
large. The statements made by Thos.
Sturgis, secretary of the Stock Growers
Association, while explained as referring
to certain underlined localities only, have
been generally. and quite naturally, un-
derstood as official, or at least semi official
representations, which apply to the terri
tory at large. The effect of such state
monts needs no detailed explanation.
In order to verify, or disprovc, the re-
rorts referred to, a representative of
THE LEADER yesterday interviewed a
number of gentlemen who are largely in
terested in cattle, and whose herds range
at widely separated portions of the terri
tory.
Reports from foremen, received at the
office of Swan Brothers and the Swan
Land 4 Cattle company, during the past
week, include the North Platte and Fort
Steele county. Last Saturday the cattle
were looking fairly well, and the me~ I'd
inc the ranaaa -sssfrr the loss has thus far
N winter been insignificant. On
the Chugwater. the Sabille and in Goshen
Hole there has been a small loss, but it is
believed the total loss for the season will
not exceed s per cent. No recent reports
have been received from the Ogalalla
ranges. On Sheep creek there is practi-
cally no loss. Foreman Rufe Rhodes,
who came in from Fort Steele a few days
ago, states the cattle are positively fat in
that vicinity. The cattle referred to are
Texans.
Nh. j. NJ. Thompkins has received late
news from his Texas cattle on Lightning
creek. These cattle were driven to the
range last summer and fall. The fore
man aud cowboys who have been riding
the ranges state that hardly any dead cat
tie can be found, and Mr. Thompkins is
satisfied that his loss will not exceed 3
per cent.
Mr.. III. B. Kelly received word Monday
from his Belle Fouche ranges. The cattle
are in good condition and there has been
little loss this winter.
Mr.. r. B. Horrie has obtained recent
and minute reports from his herds on the
Dry Powder river, about the head OF the
Dry Cheyenne. and along Meadow creek.
The 5000 young Texas cattle which went
to these ranges last year have wintered
well-better ever than was expected.
The loss has been insignificant, and up to
the present time will not exceed . per
cent. His men have been riding the
range daily, and have been hunting for
dead cattle. He is satisfied he is correctly
informed as to the condition of his herds,
and is assured Texas cattle wintered well.
Mr.. C. F. Coffey stated that some. Of
his Texas cattle were thin now, but were
alive and doing well. Thus far the loss
among his Texas and trail cattle has been
insignificant.
Mr.. w. S. Clifford, foreman for Greene
and Rev. DIR. Moore, and the Wyoming
Land & Live Stock company, arrived
from the range last evening. On the Belle
Fourche they have 5000 head of trail
cattle. The weather has been very cold,
but not as much snow as usual has fallen.
The loss on trail cattle will not exceed 2
per cent in that region. Mr.. Clifford
states that he left the ranch on the 18th
inst. and travelled across the range from
the Belle Fouche to Antelope Springs, a
distance of fifty miles. He saw but two
dead cattle while making the journey.
Mr.. John ii. Durbin, who has $1,000
trail cattle in the Sweetwater country, re-
Gently sent out four men and his foreman
with pack horses. The men rode the
range carefully and thoroughly. They
spent two weeks in making an examine
ton of the condition of the cattle and in
looking for carcasses. The cattle went to
the range during the earlier part Of Sep
TENDER, and despite their late arrival on
the range there has been no appreciable
loss thus far. A bunch of l60 head Of
poor cattle was gathered and turned into
a field. OF that number twelve have died,
but the Others are daily Adding to their
weight.
Mr.. A. II. Reel has obtained recent in
formation from the ranges on the Platte
river in Carbon county, below Fort Steele;
from the ranges in Unita and Sweetwater
counties, northwest of Green river and
southeast Of Piedmont; from Lower
Hams fork, and along the Green river and
it's tributaries. In this extensive area the
cattle have wintered better than for sew
eral years. The xinrer has been milder
in Western Wyoming than in the eastern
or northern portions Of the territory, and
cattle could not be in better condition at
this season than they now are on the
ranges mentioned.
Reports from the north side of the
Platte have been received from Gale
Brothers, who have 1000 head Of Texas
cattle there. They admit no appreciable
loss.
The Illinois Live Stock company has
$500 Texas cattle north of the Sotuh
Platte. The loss has been insignificant.
The New England Live Stock company
turned out ] 200 trail cattle north of the
South Platte last fall. There has been no
loss worthy Of mention thus far this season.
Watt Rrofbera drove . 200 Texas cat