Wichita eagle., 1888-06-28
THE CATTLE INDUSTRY.
PAST AND PRESENT METHODS OF
THE IRREPRESslBLE cOWBOY.

Eerds-RecoIlections of the Good Old
Times-Losses of Hard Winter.
The progress and success of the cattle
industry in the west has been marvellous.
For many years the business was con-
Quoted almost entirely by individuals,
and so widened and prospered that in a
few years the cattle kings were almost
as numerous and opulent as the famous
"bonanza kings" They had a personal
supervision over their range and stock,
and as the circle of their dominion
broadened the Ground up" and the line
riders found here and there fields of
all the game animals which in former
times swarmed over the country. Indian
tradition told them that away back in the
forties certain winter had left no living
creature for spring to make glad with her
balmy air and green grass. So the idea
was born to them that it would be well to
take in partners while the business was
vet in its glory. So friends in the east
were written to concerning the profits and
small costs Of cattle raising. Individuals
purchased half, third or fourth interests
in the ranges or herds, as the case might
be, and then came about the formation Of
syndicates and companies. For several
years the increase was simply immense,
and the trail from Texas became one con-
tinuous stream Of animal life, emptying
itself upon the plains of Wyoming,
Montana and Dakota. !
The profits were large. Each success
sive "beef round up brought to the east
ern market thousands of head Of cattle,
comparing favorably with the "pampered
corn fed" stock of Nebraska and Illinois.
Newspaper writers set forth the business
in the most glowing colors; magazines
gave facts and figures with elaborate care;
money flowed in from the great CONNER
cial centers; new companies were formed
every day, and the festive cowboy grew
apace and fourished his six shooter with
impunity, while his employers sat by their
warm fires in ease. Did not the cowboys
look after their interests on the stormy
ranger So they must not be curbed, even
if they did sometimes make things lively
in these little western towns. In those
days the owners of small herds had no
rights these reckless fellows were bound
to respect. A regularly. recorded brand
was the only thing that insured anything
like safety to the flocks. Indeed, it was
DO unusual thing to see during the spring
round up half dozen men, mounted on
bronchos, ride up to farmers gate open
it and gallop pell nell across the pasture
and ground up'' his whole herd Of tame
cows. If there was any doubt in their
minds about the brand on a creature the
laSsoeS were taken from their places on
the saddle, there were few dextrous filings
of the rope in the air and then the animal
was stretched upon the ground. May be
it was the children's pet heifer, but for
fear of hurting her the hot iron in the
timid hand had pressed too lightly, and
and there was no mark on the hide. So
she was maverick" and regardless of
threats and persuasions, she was driven
away TO starve to death the next winter
on bare range.
But the day of retribution was coming.
The spring of 1886 opened up clear and
bright. with but little rain to call forth
the grass from the whole earth. During
the whole summer there was a terrible
drought, and the hot winds swept over
the parched Slams, shriveling up and kill
ing all sorts Of vegetation. The grass
was as dry and brown in June as If the
frosts of autumn had already come and
locked up a goodly supply of nourishment
in the dead looking blades for hungry cat
tie during the long winter months. But
the old frontier men knew that there
were too many cattle On the range, and
that, even if the grass was good enough
to keep them during the summer and fall,
q great many must die in the cold storms
of winter. In September and October
there was a larger drive from the south
than ever before. Cold weather set in
early in November, and continued until
500, 900 cattle had persisted from starva-
ton. In every little gulch might have
been seen cattle staggering from weak
ness as they vainly tried to nibble the
short grass to prolCng their tortured ex-
istence few hours longer. But at last
they lay down in the snow, and soon the
stupor came on which took their value
from the cattlemen's pockets.
Now, however, the order of things has
changed, and it Is the man Of small herds
who has the advantage. 1t is acknowl-
edged by men who ought to know that in
the future the only way to raise cattle
successfully viii be to feed and shelter
them well in winter, and either close herd
or pasture them during the warm seasons.
The ranges are fast becoming settled by
industrious men, and the land which
few years since formed part of valuable
ranges now produces good crops of wheat,
oats and corn.
In regard to this, a cattle man well
known throughout the west said to your
correspondent few days since: 1.-THE day
of the round up is practically over; from
this time on we will either have to watch
our cattle or lose EN-"
Another prominent member of the stock
association said: eyes, it will not be many
years before large herds will be a thing of
the past One or two years will put an
end to the round up and the business will
be in the hands of local men,"
On being told that your correspondent
had questioned one man about the loss
last winter he laughed and voluntarily
said: "Well, don't know that blame
any one interested in the matter for not
wanting to talk about it, but there is no
use in trying to keep it secret any longer.
Seventy-five per cent. of all the cattle is
somewhere near it, though so may be
nearer. One firm made drive of 90, 600
in the fall. and in the spring found a
scarce 1900; another Of 5000 num-
bered but 500 after the round up
The greatest loss was in cows that had
been, or were, sucking calves. The calf
round up was very small, because the
cows were nearly all dead. No, it
wouldn't do any good to provide little
shelter for them. If creature once gets
into an old shack during a storm it viii
stay there until the elements are at peace
or it starves to death. Anyway, cattle
are strange animals. Where a horse will
paw away TWO feet of snow, and when
chilly. take little run by way of exercise,
a cow will get discouraged and stay in
the place without food or water until she
dies.-Sun Dance (Wy. To- Cor. Chicago