Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1890-12-19
THE LAST REMNANT.
Fifteen Fun OrnWn Bison aud seVe"
Calves Currai,ed hJ Texas Cowboys

Fifteen Fun crown Bison aud seve"
Calves Corraied hy Texas Cowboys
c. j Jones' Of Garden City, Kan, bet
ter known throughout the southwest as
Buffalo" Jones. who started with a
party of seven last April 10 capture alive
the only remaining herd OF buffalo on the
plains of Texas, has successfully accom-
plishcd his purpose, and the shaggy haired
captvcs are now made acquainted WIN
civilization and the comforts OF wei
kept ranch few miles from Garden
City In starting out To capture the AMI.
mails Mr. Jones calculated that he would
find about one hundred animals roaming
over the plains between the north ana
south forks of the Canadian river, but he
found upon arrival there that the number
had been greatly overestlmated. there
were hardly two score all told, and these
SO scattered that it was with the greatest
difficulty that he and his party OF eX-
perienced hunters corraled and saved
! from destruction the small herd.
Tile story of the hunt and the manner
of capturing them has been told from
time to time by dispatches brought by
the carrier pigeons sent with the party.
/ A total of fifteen old butfaloes and seven
calves were secured and have been care
! fully watched bv Lee Howard and others
of the party, while awaiting the arrival
4 of the tame herd owned 10y Mr.. Jones,
which was used as the guide for the wild
animals in the trip north MIR. Jones
shipped from his ranch thirty-two do
INVESTIGATED buifaloes and upon arriving
at the spot where the wild ones were
corraled the latter were turned loose
among the tame ones. They speedily
fraternized, and after a few days the
journey to Garden City was begun The
combined herd were driven by cowboys
and dogs, as the common Texas steer is,
and the whole lot safely ranched on Mr..
Jones place.
This ranch is on one of the finest graz
ing sections in southwest Kansas, cover
ing 800 acres, well wooded and
watered, with abundant ranges on every
side. The 300 head of cattle and sixty
one buffaloes on this ranch in winter and
summer roam over the surrounding
plains This is where Mr.. Jones and his
colleagues, for he will organize a stock
company for the breeding of his buffalo
cattle, intend to go into an enterprise
that eventually will revolutionize the
breeding of range cattle, The domestic
COW crosses with the buffalo bull admir-
ably and the product is a large, hardy
and superb meat giving animal, requir-
almost entirely on the range and
strong enough in the characteristics
of the wild animal to withstand
the storms of winter. The domestic
cattle, when blizzard comes, turn
their backs to it and soon become ex-
hausted The buffalo cross breeds face
the storm and come out of it as well as
ever They need less attention, grow
fat and thrive on the ranges that the do
nestle cattle desert and altogether pre-
sent field of enterprise that offers large
profit The meat is firm and juicy, and
the average weight of the dressed carcass
is over 1000 pounds, The price in any
market is double that of the best ordinary
beef. The hide Of the cross breed is also
a valuable article. 1t is a thick smooth
skin, with the soft hair of the buffalo
covering it evenly, and can be readily
sold for $50 each.
Mr. Jones discovered near Winnipeg a
similar ranch, owned by S. l.. Bedson.
warden OF the penitentiary, but it is not
being run on SO large a scale, This ranch
is situated about sixty miles southeast
from Winnipeg, and on a recent visit
Mr.. Jones found that the greatest sue
cess was beng had by Mr.. Bedson in
bpAaJi,g- l., 1.
pronouncing the half and three-uuarter
breed cattle the best in the world for
range purposes. On the Bedson ranch /
the buffalo cross cattle live entirely on
the prairie grasses summer and winter,
paving up the roots in winter and need /
ing no care. Mr.. Bedson is not making /
much effort as yet to market his stock, /
and Is getting only eighteen cents a
pound for such as he kills for market.
but the hides bring him $50 each for
robes He has only twenty-five head |
of the 1t breeds, but will have many |
more next year Mr., Jones offered his /
rival IN the business no less than $500
apiece for the twenty-five head, $l2. 500
IN all, but the offer was refused with
laugh. Evidently Mr.. Bedson knows he
mas good thing. He even refused to
put price on them.
On the Garden City ranch there will
be placed one hundred head of Galloway
cows, a sturdy breed, which, with the
buffalo cross produce the new cattle, and
The day is not far distant when the epi-
cures IN all American cities will be able
10 indulge in the luxury of table meat
mat combines the nulritive qualities of a
Iucy buffalo steak with the frmness and
of the best stall fed OK.
While in the north, Mr.. Jones heard
hat few miles Out Of Emerson, Mani
oba, there were some moose deer and he
1t once made arrangements to try. and
'apture young one to add to his stock
If wild animals, and in his endeavor he
vas entirely successful, bringing back
with INN male moose calf about six
weeks old, which he will place on the
Harden City ranch Chicago Times.