Little Falls transcript. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1876-1894, 1885-06-26

pOTEeQ In cars 70 oaSt6EH ClblSs' ~ sis
estimated that Texas has furnished thu
country with about 5000, 0C0 cattle
during the past twenty years. During
last year about 100000 head were
driven north from Texas and 625, OOQ
were sent north and east over rail.
roads. Il is claimed that cows N
Texas are more prolific breeders than
in any other part OF the world. OW,
ing to the 1niIdness of the climate and
the abundance Of grass, calves dropped
at any month in the year generally ia
well. They breed early and continue
to rear calves till late in life. A hun
dred COWS can be relied on to raise
ninety calves a year. Probably the
free life led by the cattle for many
generations has exerted powerful in
sfluence in causing them to be prolific.
Whatever faults they may have as
mixers or as producers of fine beef,
they are certainly active, healthy, and
vigorous. -
The raising of cattle on what are
Familiarity known as the ''great
plains,n' which extend froms Texas to
Montana, is Of very recent date. The
discovery of the capabilities of this
area for grazing purposes is said to
have been accidental. The history OF
this important discovery is thus stated
by Mr., Theodore J. McMinn, Of St.
Louis: .'Early in December, 1864, q
government trader, with a wagon
train of supplies drawn by oxen, was
on his way west to Camp Douglas, in
the territory OF Utah; but on being
overtaken on the Laramie plains by an
unusually severe snow-storm, he was
compelled at once to go into winter
quarters. He turned his cattle adrift,
expecting, as matter of course, they
would soon perish from exposure and
starvation. But they remained about
the camp, and, as the snow was blown
off the highlands, the dry grass afford
ed them abundance of forage. When
the spring opened they were found to
be in even better condition than when
turned out to die four months previous.
ly. This discovery led to the purchase
of stock cattle in Texas to be matured
and fattened on the northern ranges,
and the trade has steadily grown to its
present enormous proportions, accel-
Grated greatly during the past fifteen
years by the building Of the various
railroads in the north and west. Soon
after this discovery of the possibilities
of the great dry area of the north
for pasturage, the range and ranch
cattle trade of Texas debouched upon
a territory three times as large as its
original habitat. The growth of the
business has been one of the marvels
of this marvellous age and country.
The well. known fact that for ages the
buffalo has thriyen during the winter
in Montana, Dakota, Idaho, and Wy
oming on natural grasses also inspired
confidence that cattle grazing on the
more northerly ranges would be sue
cesstul. The number of range and
ranch cattle north Of Texas and east OF
the Rocky mountains is estimated at
100000. The number in Wyoming
Is placed at 100000.
The capacity of the range and ranch
lands Of the United States for grazing
cattle differs widely in the several
states, territories, and sections as the
result of differences in the quantity
and quality of nutritious grasses pro-
duced, the water supply, and the OK.
tent to which natural shelter is avail
able for cattle during storms. In
Texas from five to thirty acres of land
per head are required, and ON the
northern ranges almost the same dif-
ference are observable in different To-
calities.
The ultimate limit of the capacity
of the entire range and ranch-cattle
area of the United States for grazing
and the magnitude of its possible an
nual product can only be ascertained
from the results of experience. It is
evident from the best available infor-
nation, that the number of cattle on
ranches and ranges in Texas might be
greatly increased. Mr.. George B.
Loving, of Fort Worth, Tex, expresses
the opinion that by providing reser-
voirs, sinking artesian wells, and de-
stroying the prairie dogs, which, in
certain parts Of the state, consume a
larger quantity of the nutritious grass
es than is consumed by cattle, the
number of range and ranch cattle pas
tured in that state might perhaps be
doubled. 1t is impossible at the pres
ent time even approximately to esLi-
mate the proportion of the available
range lands in the northern part OF
the great dry area which are as yet
or the extent to which the
supply of grasses within the nomin a1ly
occupied portions exceeds the supply
necessary for the sustenance and tat.
tening of cattle now grazing there,
upon. There appears to be tenden-'
CIV on the part of those who have al
ready occupied the ground to promul-
gate the IDEA that the ranges are fully
stocked. and that there is, therefore,
no room for additional herds. But in
teiligent observers who have prospect
ed the different parts of the great cat
tie area north OF Texas asserts that
two, three, or even four times the
number OF cattle now upon the ranges
can be fed upon them. Experience
proves that cattle can not advan-
tageously Craze more than six or eight
miles from water. The result is that
vast areas now we'll grazed are Of little
value On account of their remoteness
from water The rendering Of such
lands available for the catLl, business
of course turns largely upon the prac.
ticability Of procuring thereupon adj
equate supplies of water by means Of
artesian wells or by reservoirs for col
lecting ran-water.
During the past few years there has
been disposition to consolidate the
business of stock-raising on the pub
lie lands. It has been found that the
average cost per head for the manage
ment Of large herds is much less than
for small ones. One stock company
in Wyoming adyertises the ownership
of ninety different brands, each Of
which formerly represented a distinct
herd. Improvement in the quality Of