Press and daily Dakotaian. (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1880-1889, 1888-04-12
THE CATTLE INDUSTRY.

THE CATTLE INDUSTRY.
PAST AND PRESENT METHODS OF
THE lRREPREsSlBLE COWBOY.
.Texas Runs and Ground Ups' Now
Being Rapidly Narrowed Down into
Observation-Disclosures of the Good Old
Times-Losses of n 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
ssbonanza kings.n 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 a certain winter had left no living
creature for spring to make glad with her
balmy air n green grass. So the idea
was born to them that it would be well to
take in partners while the business was
yet 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. bsssSs
The profits were large. Each success
siye ''beef round up'' brought to the east
ern market thousands of head Of cattle,
comparing fayorably with the t'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 eenters; new companies were formed
| every day, and the festive cowboy grew
apace and iourished his six shooter with
tmpunity, 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
1 blSy dlA ooLiColliCS u uHllSS ANGly
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 onlYthing that insured anything
like safety to the f1ocks. Indeed, it was
no unusual thing to see during the spring
round up a half dozen men, mounted on
bronchos, ride up to farmers gate, open
1t and gallop peI nell across the pasture
and round up'' his whole herd of tame
cows. If there was any doubt in their
minds about the brand on q creature the
lassoes were taken from their places on
the saddle, there were q 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 a maverick and regardless of
threats and persuasions, she was driven
away to starve to death the next winter
on q 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 ummer there was a terrible
drought, and the hot winds swept over
the parched plains, shriyeling up and kill
ing all sorts of vegetation. The grass
was as dry and brown in June as il 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, ever ii the grass was good enough
to keep them during the ummer 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
800, 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 prolong their tortured e
~istence a 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 will 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 O
few;years since formed part of valuable
ranges now produces good crops of wheat,
oats and corn.
J In regard to this, a cattle man well
known throughout the west said to YOU
correspondent a 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 'em.n
Another prominent member of the stock
j association said: eyes, twill not be many
years before large herds will be n thing Of
the past. One or two years will put al
end to the round up, and the business VIII
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 u Interested in the matter for no
, wanting to talk about 1t, but there Is re
use In trying to keep 1t secret any longer
! S~eyenty-fiye per cent. of al the cattle /.
|, somewhere near it, though 80 may bs
nearer. One firm made q drive of 20, 00(
In the fall, and in the spring found {
scarce 1,5Q0, another Of 5000 mum
! bered but 900 after ! the round up.
The greatest loss was In cows that hat
|, been, or were, sucking calves. The aal
! round up was very small, because tn,
! COWS were nearly all dead. No, i
wouldn't 40 any good tic provide a littl,