Daily Yellowstone journal., 1890-07-25
A VICTORIAN STATION.
Interesting Facts About the Great Sheep
Walks Of Australia.

oh nus'"aes
II is a remarkable thing, the con-
struction Of one of these station houses.
This of Blythevale is one Of the small
est in the rich western district of Vic
toria, comprising only about 10000
acres and carrying the same number Of
sheep, but is one of the best and, rela-
lively, most prosperous in the colony.
The inexperienced visitor would never
suspect the wealth that is produced by
these brown acres, without crops, with
out trees, unwatered, seemingly want
ing in nutrition for all grazing beasts.
The thousands of fat sheep and sleek
cattle, however show the unsuspected
value of the soil-in even a small sta
ton like this is worth at least $500, 900
without counting the flocks and herds,
or the buildings and improvements,
and the product of it is gathered with
a degree of labor which our New Eng
land farmers would consider no labor
at ALL In spite of droughts and other
drawbacks the life of the Victorian
station owners is about the quietest
and most secure that one could desire.
They rear large families in luxury, send
their children to Europe to be edu-
Gated; they themselves spend great
deal of their time in the city. for the
station, with an overseer in charge. af-
ter the early years of hard work, prac-
tically runs itself. Immense incomes
are enjoyed by the owners Of the larger
stations.
One of the principal Victoria squat
tiers recently told me that his station
brought him in in year n sum over
s4s0, 1000. He has a great family and
is giving them every advantage. He
himself, however. knows nothing but
sheep. Start any subject whatever in
his presence he deftly brings it around
to sheep" otherwise he is dumb, un-
easy, his mind refusing to act. Talk
about sheep" he rouses up his eye
flashes. the man is alert, his sole point
of knowledge is appealed to- Many
pity him; for myself regard him with
envy, as one Of the few men have met
who is perfectly fitted for the line ma
ture marked out for him-a breeder of
lambs, connoisseur in bellwethers, an
authority on rams, an oracle on the
merits of ''early lambing" and "late
lambing," fulfilling his narrow destiny
In full satisfaction with it and himself.
Australian stations are now much re-
stricted In size as compared with those
of the early days when the original set
tiers looked with scorn upon the paltry
hundred square miles which now con-
stitutes fair sized holding The pi-
oneer squattes, numbering over the
plains in their wagons, would climb .
hill, and, comprehending the area of .
kingdom in their gaze. declare: "All
the land that can see is minel" There
was room enough for all In those days,
even with this free and comprehensive
method of taking possession, but as the
country began to be more thickly set
tied the government had to step in and
curtail these inland Alexander Selkirks
-''monarchs of all they surveyed"
Il was enacted that the land should
be selected, the settlers In stu having
first choice, but being restricted to 30
many acres per individual. So the
head of the squatting family made a
selection. his wife another, each of his
children a third, fourth, and 80 on
even the laborers and shearers. the
bullock drivers and the shepherds, were
called into service and subsequently
duly surrendered their parcels of field
to the boss" for a small consideration.
Here and there crafty servant, being
furnished by his master with the where
withal to ratify his ownership in the
selection. declined to surrender the
same on demand, and was either bought
out at a stiffish figure or held on to his
possessions in the midst of the would-be
monopolist's acres-where they remain
as an eye sore and occasion of offense
to the latter even unto this day.
bourne Cor Boston Journal.