Custer chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, Black Hills, D.T. [S.D.]) 1880-1890, 1886-04-03
AGRICULTURAL.
HORSE AND MULE BREEDING.

The prospect for making money by
keeping cattle on the open range and
ranch is not AS good as it was a few
years ago. The best locations have
been secured, and with rare exceptions
the natural supplies of water are con-
trolled by parties who use them as they
do private property. In many of the
territories there are combinations
among the ranchmen who have been
on the ground for several years that
place all the difficulties they convent
only can in the way Of newcomers.
They have large capital, and are able
to exert a powerful political influence.
They can obtain breeding stock to bet
ter advantage than men who are seek
! ing to establish themselves, and can
secure more favorable terms for trans
portation. They have prospered as
few persons have who have been en-
gagged in any department of stock-rais-
ing. Many OF them will continue to
make money, as they have experience,
capital and facilities that are now diff
ticult to secure. According to tho re-
ports of several ranch and range com.
panies made at the close of last year
the profits on the capital invested were
small. A comparatively high price
was paid for young cattle, while
beeves sold at low figures. The action
OF the national government in rela.
ton to grazing lands in Indian Terri
tory and the erection Of wire fences on
public lands has been ~unfavorsble to
the interests OF many ranclmen.
Hog-rs'sing is less profitable than it
has been at any time since the begin
ming OF the civil war. The price of all
tpork products is very low. Oar pork
Is excluded from sey1...l countries
where it was one extensively sold.
The periodic alarms about trichina in
this country as we'll as in foreign
countries. haye caused many people,
especially In large towns, to abandon
tho use of pork. The swine disease
popularity known as hog cholera has
made the business OF producing pork
very hazardous. There is more risk
from disease in keeping hogs than in
keeping any other kind OF domesti-
Gated animals. Feeders who keep
hogs in connection with cattle they are
butchering for the market derive the
most profit from them. The pork they
produce is Il clear gain. Very few OK
tensive s~Lock-raisers now feed corn or
other grains directly to hogs. The
outlook for large gains in keeping
sheep is very poor. Wool aud ordi-
nary mutton are both very low. While
many are not inclined to sacrifice their
nocks OF sheep, few desire { Increase
them. Some find that thore is profit
in supplying the local market with
mutton; others wish mutton for their
tables, and q few keep sheep for
the purpose Of keeping up the fertility
OF their land. All s~heep.raisers are
hopeful Of a favorable turn in their
business.
The prospects for making money in
breeding and raising horses and mules
were never better than they are now.
Horses of all descriptions command
good prices. As wealth increases in
large cities there is an increasing de-
mand tor horses that will make fast
time on tho race course, for fine ear
rage horses, and for riding horses.
Tho demand for middle-weignt horses
is also good. The increase of street
car lines in oil large towns calls for a
large number of horses suitable for
drawing cars. Street railways make
an Iay,o.i Co.. ,,.e, l~,-, 49, 4-l:
nary railways ever displaced. The de-
velopment Of Dakota and the western
provinces Of Canada has created a
great demand for horses in the north
west. They are wanted not only for
ordinary farm work, but for drawing
stages and doing general teamipg.
These parts Of the continent will re-
qulre more horses than they can pro-
Ouce during the next twenty years.
The first settlers of any now country
can not engage in horse breeding very
extensively. They have not the capt.
tai to purchase breeding stock, to
erect stables. and to enable them TO
wait till animals grow to n size that
they can be put to work. They find it
to their advantage to raise cattle and
hogs for several years after they have
settled on their places.
Although the demand for mules in
the states north Of Missouri is small,
owing to n foolish prejudice against
them, the demand for them in the south
IS as good as ever and promises to con-
tinue. Raising mules for southern mar
ket is a profitable business for all who
are so situated that they can engage
hit. Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska and
IVA are well situated for breeding
and raising mules. The climate is
favorable, while grass, corn and oats
are Leading crops. st. Louis is the
largest mule market in the world, and
it is easily reached by railway or river
communication by parties living in
any of these states. Extensive build
ings for protection are not so essential
for mules as for horses. Shelters Ter
mules can be made OF very cheap ma
~terials. The mule is a hardy creature,
and will stand exposure that will
greatly injure a horse. Mares suitable
for raising mule colts can be obtained
from Oregon or the western territories
at comparatively low prices, and good
jacks can be bought in Missouri and
the states further snnth. Parties pro-
posing to 90 into the business require
considerable capital. as there will be
no returns for at least two years. After
that time a ''crop" of mules can be
sold every year, and the expenditure