Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-01-28
THEY WANT TO GO RANCHING.
Theodore Roosevelt is Overwhelmed
with Applications for Positions on His

Fronl n Nelo YorN So.

Ranch.
From tie Nelo York STAR
'Since my lecture on ranching, at the
Young Mems Institute last week." said
Hon. Theodore Roosevelt. II have receiv-
ed about a hundred applications for places
on my ranch. The newspapers reported
only that part of my address wherein
spoke OF the good qualities OF the cowboys
and pictured the freedom and healthful-
ness rs well as the profits of work on the
plans. What said OF the hard labor
and suheungs of such life was passed
over AS consequence, large number
OF New Workers have conceived a longing
Tor the wild West, and have been select
ed as the instrument adapted for bringing
about the f1lnllnent OF their desires. The
applicants have been as various in their
| occupations as in the character OF their
Ideas of ranching. Clerks, statesmen, pro-
fesslonal men, mechanics and labOrers
nave places on the list. ] found that
nearly all expected some kind OF a soft
place, though they had no definite idea
of what they wanted. The applicants
who we're accustomed to clerical work
thought | might want men to do figuring
OF some kind; the professional men want
ed superlnteudencies or something that
requires brains rather than Sinews; the
mechanics could not exactly tell now the
products OF their skill would be of use to
the ranch, but they were eager to get out
OF the hard work Of the city.
Now, few words as TO the conditions
OF ranching life may save both the would
be ranchers and myself the trouble Of
WrltihS ana unnecessary interview. In
the nrsI place there is no soft place on
ranch. The work is hard and unremit-
Ting. MY superintendent must not only
attenu TO accounts but also ride on horse
OacX every day over large area OF land.
Inc rest OF my employees look after the
cattle and that is the occupation at which
any man must labor who wants TO go
fancnlng. Some may think this is easy
WORK, especially when you can ride on
good horse. l had that idea myself be-
lore Went out to the plains last year,
but my Illusion was quickly dispelled.
found that the cowboys were often
Obliged To be in the saddle eighteen out OF
the tWenty-fOur hours. Only men OF the
strongest physique can stand it, for
nothing Is more wearing than horseback
riding long continued. just think if some
OF these slim, puny dry goods clerks I'M
dertake anything like this. Yet many of
them were eager to 90 West even after |
had explained that they were physically
unit Then the resting hours of the COW
boys are not so tranquil as those of we'll
housed city people. They sleep in tents
and have no better accommodations than
an army in active warfare. Their beds
are blankets laid on the ground, their
covering the same. If, during rainy
weather, a dry spot cannot be found,
down go the blankets on the wet earth.
Leaky tents, which allow streams of wa
ter to flow down your back, do not add to
your comfort, you may be sure. | have
experienced these things myself, aud |
know what they are. Ii is not my desire
to discourage men who are really willing
and able to submit to hard physical work,
for they can always make a living at the
cattle business; but ] am tired of being
bothered by persons who expect to obtain
through me soft places on a ranch, and
want to make 1t clear to them that no
such places exist"