The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-08-17
She OWNS 700 HORSES.
The Extensive Business of Miss Kitty
Wilkins on an Idaho Ranch.
Eronl the Omaha Herald

From the Omaha Herald
Miss Kitty c. Wilkins, who has won the
title of THE Equine Queen of Idaho, "
is at the Paxton. When a reporter called
upon the young lady last night he expect
ed to find an orthodox cowgirl, with sword
and pistol by her side. y Instend of this, how
ever ne was confronted by a most gracious
young lady, who bore every evidence OF
having been educated in some modern semi
nary. And 50 she was. At the convent of
San Jose, CAL, Miss Wilkins received a
thorough education. She is handsome
gif9, whose face mirrors every indic alton of
her ability to get along in this world by
the aid of her own ideas, The young lady
is western born and bred. She is tall, with
high forehead and regular features, which
betoken character, and may possible be
/ to med blonde.
II have been referred to as the cattle
queen" said Miss Wilkins, ''but this is in
correct. The Wilkins company of Idaho
| own both horses and cattle, and this is how
the mistake originated, but my own special
| ty is horses. | now own between 700 and
800 of my own. They are Percherons, Nor
gans Normans, Hambletonians, and SO on.
have no native Oregon or Spanish horses
at all. Besides these | now have, if you will
excuse my speaking in the first person, sin
l could not begin to tell how IN ny.
do like living away in Idaho! o. so
much9 | am perfectly fascinated with it.
| go out to round up IN the spring and
fall and enjoy myself ever so much. 1t is a
fascinating business and grows upon you.
1T was real romantic, the way got my
start The way of 1t was this: Over TWEEN
ty years ago my parents had removed to
| Oregon and were returning to San Francis
CO, when our friends gathered round to give
| us mementoes of various sorts. When they
| got to me they said We'll, now, .e's
| only little thing Il was but two years old
| them, we'll just give her some money to be
invested for her. Two of them gave
me a $50 gold piece each. Shortly
after returning here my father concluded
| to go to Idaho and engage in the stock bus
mess. He went to Oregon and bouglt a lot
of horses. When he went to pay over the
money he bethought himself of my $40. aud
seeing fine little filiy yet left offered the
| $40 for her. The owner valued her at $50,
| but, seeing that my father was taking the
| others, he finally concluded to let this one
| go, even If it was for less than she was
worth. From the increase all my brands
have come. OF course, could tell you of
many ups and downs, for it was not always
smooth sailing back in those early days, as
| grew up from childhood, but, neeu not
enlarge upon this At length l came to San
| Jose to school, put in three or four years,
and in addition Travelled considerably in
| America, seeing all the large cities and many
of the great natural curiosities.
''But when ! got back to Idaho l was so
lonesome didn't know what TO do. l used
to say to my mother then the only man
cared anything about" the handsome girl
said with smile, Twas the man in the
moon.
81 got over being so lonesome, though, in
a little time, and now l am already home
sick to get back. As l said, the stock bust
less is very fascinating, and horses are very
profitable, much more so than cattle. A
Bora year old steer, for instance, is worth but
$50, while horse of the same age is worth
| S85 or 800, anyhow. Another thing, horses
are much more easily raised, and do not re-
Quire half the care. They paw away the
snow and get at the grass much better than
cattle. Last year the average loss of cattle
in Idaho was 10 per cent Some owners lost
all they had.
although our home and many of our cor
rails and buildings are on the BrUneau river,
fifty miles southeast of Boise City, and
twenty-five south of Mountain House, the sta
tion on the Oregon short line, our range is sew
enty-five miles away. 1t is what is known as
the II range and 1T is there that many cat
tie and horse owners gather twice year to
sort out and brand. | go out there every
year and look on and see how the stock Is
coming in. l ride great deal, but 1 don't
take part in the roundup. AS many as forty
men are oftentimes out rounding up and
| cutting out stock there during the season,
| and things are very lively.
81 shoot great deal; that is, l am good
shot, but don't often go hunting, although
there is lots Of fine game"
The cause of Miss Wilkins visit to Oma-
no is that she has two car loads of HANDLE
tonian horses, which she has brought to this
market to dispose of. The energetic little
lady will experience slight difficulty in dis
posing of her stock to good advantage. She
has national reputation as a girl who has
labored earnestly to advance her own inte-
rests, and of her energy and herself the
wild and woolly west is exceedingly proud.