Morning journal and courier., 1885-08-14
DAY MORNING. AUGUST IA, 1885.
ON A RANCH.

ON A RANCH.
 How the Work of Raising Cattle is Done-The Chuck Wagon-The Cow boy and His Horses-How Roand- Up Is Conducted-A Black Calf,s Per- West Haven.
 UPPER CAMP, Bell Range, July 25. To the Editor of the JOURNAL AND COURIER:
 A ranch of any considerable magnitude is
 run on as strictly business principles as
 we'll regulated and systematized business in
 the East. A superintendent who has general supervision of affairs, such the purchasing of supplies, directing what work shall be done, engaging cars for the transportation of beef to market and overlooking it's sale, is al- ways at it's head, and under him is what is known as 'trange boss," who has direct charge of the cowboys and can hire and dis charge such men as he pleases, being only re- sponsible to the superintendent.
 During the months of January, February and March but few men are employed, and those are engaged in breaking horses and finding such stock as may be run down, which consists solely of bulls which are passing their first winter in the country, and which are not acclimated. The work proper on ranch in this section begins on April 1, when the summer help is engaged and at once is set to work at riding the banks of the creeks and rivers for the purpose of pulling out any animals which may have become begged by venturing into them at this their lowest stage of water. They ride daily from thirty-fve to fifty miles. A fly known as the
 heel fly, no larger than gnat, troubles the stock at this season of the year, and to es- cape them they stand in the water, regardless of the danger of becoming begged, until finally some of them unable to get out
 They are not swallowed in the bogs, but if
 they remain in the water in the early spring for twenty four hours they become so chilled
 that when taken out death usually ensues A greater loss is made from cattle being
 begged than from all other causes combined
 and yet it will not reach more than one-half of one per cent. at the outside.
 The heel fly is gone by May 1, and as rain
 falls in April the grass is in good condition and all danger from begging has disappeared
 Preparations are now made for the first of the general ''round ups," the times and
 places for commencing which are designated
 by the associations. Every large ranch has wagon which is known as ''chuck wag- on." It is strongly built to stand jolting over rough roads. At it's rear end is large
 box fitted with shelves, the door of which lets down and forms table. This box is filled with knives, forks, tin plates, cups and cooking utensils and as wagon sometimes feeds from forty to fifty men at a single meal their number is not small. In the main body of the wagons are carried the
 provisions, which a rule consist of four,
 bacon, canned corn and tomatoes, dried ap- ples, prunes, sugar and coffee. Of course fresh meat is easily procured. Small tents and the mems bedding are also taken along.
 The latest pattern of wagons have under them a sheet-iron box in which are carried numerous branding irons, so that no matter
 whose stock is met with it can be branded.
 The advantage of having this box of iron is
 that the branding irons can be put into it
 without waiting for them to cool To cool them in water destroys their temper
 Branding irons are nothing more than piece of half inch iron rod about four feet long with the form of the desired brand
 welded to one end. So skillful, however, do
 the cowboys become that they can put on al
 most any brand with a bar and a half circle.
 Each cowboy has from eight to twelve
 horses allotted to him, which he knows by name and which he must ride in rotation so that all can get rested. The horses are not led, but are driven from place to place in 8 herd which is in charge of two men, one of whom herds it by day and the other at night. As cowboy passes most of his life in the saddle he is not at home save when mounted, no matter how wild the horse may be. As illustrative good story is told, the truth of which cannot vouch for, although it really seems as if it might be true. A Texas cow
 boy who was out of work and sadly in need,
 learning that some parties at a distance were going to sink 8 we'll, expressed determina-
 tion of applying for the job. About week later he returned to camp, and on being
 questioned replied that on going to the place where the work was to be done he inquired about it, and on finding that he could not
 sink it on horseback withdrew his bid.
 On reaching the point at which the round
 up is to begin, all of the outfits having as- sembled, the captain of the roundup takes charge and lays out the work, designating at what places the daily round-ups shall be held, until all of the territory under his charge shall be gone over. In the general spring roundup recently held in this district some two hundred and fifty men and over twenty-five hundred horses were engaged. The captain having laid out his work the men start out on horseback, going from the central point distance usually of about ten miles on each side. They now begin to search for cattle, making great noise, and drive in all they meet to the point which has been designated. Every hill and canon is visited so that none are overlooked. As the cowboys start out at daybreak they usually reach the point which has been decided on with their cattle before noon, and if they are working in good district some four or five thousand head of stock are usually brought together. The cowboys now go to dinner, 1 leaving some four or five of their number to
 hold the herd, , as it is called; that is, keep them together and prevent them from break ! ing loose After dinner the herders bring in the horses and each man lassoes or "ropes" | 8 fresh horse, which he saddles, letting the animal which he has ridden in the morning run with the herd. The work of sscutting out" now begins.
 eCutting out" consists in picking out and separating the cattle of any particular brand ! from the rest of the herd. The brand which | is most numerous among the stock rounded ! up is usually selected to be first cut out, and ' one or more cowboys ride among the animals | on horses specially trained for the purpose. \ A steer COW is picked out and the cowboy ! rides towards it. On seeing which animal | it's rider is after the horse will follow it on ! canter, no matter how it may try to lose it. \ self among the herd, turning when it turns \ until finally it is separated from the rest of \ the herd and driven to some point on the prairie, perhaps a hundred yards distant from the main round up. Here it is herded by it's owner preparatory to being driven | hack to it's own range, if it is off of it, until all of the stock belonging to that brand has been cut out and brought together at the ! same place. The same course is pursued ! with each brand the owners of which desire ! to have separated.
 IT. cutting out unbranded calves care is necessary so that no mistake is made. Cows have a great affection for their offspring ! which love is reciprocated, and on this is \ based the raising of cattle on the western ranges. A calf will never leave it's mother except PC -aps for very few minutes until it is 8 year old; consequently if COW has g calf at her side it may confidently be count ed on as hers.
 The COWS and calves of each brand being cut out, if a corral is situated at the place where the roundup is held, they are driven l into it; if not, the calves are roped and
 branded on the open prairie. Branding in g
 corral is always preferred, as it can be done with less labor, the calves not having to be
 roped, as they cannot run away. Corrals are ! nothing but pens into which cattle are put and are sometimes made to hold as high as
 three thousand head. They are made of al
 most any materials, but the best ones are
 built of stakes fastened together with raw hide These are better than those made o1
 brick, as the stock can see through them and
 are not frightened by the sudden appearance