Sullivan republican. [volume] (Laporte, Pa.) 1883-1896, 1892-05-13

idurlDg the winter TO iced. Some
winters they have to feed scarcely
any, then I suppose hay must be
cheap. This last winter they claim
was hard one, and many cattle
died from starvation. The cattle
here are much larger than the cattle
in the East, and they don't cost the
owners cent for 'spaterage" as
they turn them out on tie hills and
mountains where is found the finest
of grazing. They do the same with
horses. There are a great many
horses. When they sell any cattle
or horses, they go out and hunt them
mp. All the cattle and horses are
branded. Sheep must be herded on
account of wild animals. | saw as
many as 5000 sheep in one heard.
Ranch cattle generally sell by the
head. The price varies from $50 to
S35 for three and four year olds
Common stock milch COWS are sell
ing here now for $25. Thorough
breds are as high here as they arc
in the East. Sheep sell at So and
81 per head. People do not sell
lambs. Wool is IA. 18 and 20 cents
per pound, unwashed. Wages arc
higher here than in the East
Common laborers get 50 and $3.50
= day mechanics 50 and 81. But
there are just as many men without
employment here as there are in the
East. Living expenses here are no,
much higher than III the East. Rem,
md fuel are higher, but -four and
meats arc cheaper. A small shant,
Of two rooms, rents for SO and $40
per month. There are lots of so
called houses here of only one room
[ have seen great many more small
houses in the West than in the
East. Even before you get to
Chicago, small houses will become
numerous. 1t is no wonder the
women folks get home sick, when
they come West. Apparently
Ill that come West are looking for
the almighty dollar" and they don't
hesitate to tell you so. There are a
great many Pennsylv&nians living in
Payette.
All together this is wonderful
country. There are not m my hi h
mountains in the immediate vicinity
At distance of 40 or 60 miles, one
can see snow covered mountains Oh
all sides. People say the snow
does not remain on them perpetually.
During July and August no snow
can be seen. In fact l saw no very
high mountains, in all my long
journey. | was much disappointed,
[ did not come the right road to see
the mountain scenery. To see the
great mountains one wants to go
via Denver & Rio Grande r. r.
From the time left the Mississippi
Valley, in Nebraska, saw nothing
but plain nom so to 100 miles
wi lie, with the Union Pacific r. R.,
apparently in the mldle. There
are not many rocks 10 be seen, only
at one place I saw very fine granite
and that was in Wyoming. The
only place of any note for the whole
distance of 1000 miles across the
Rocky Mountains, is Ame's Monu
ment, q pyramid about 80 feet high.
The highest altitude reached was at
Sherman Station, $40 feet. There
was plenty of snow on the ground
when / came across. We were in
several small snow storms. What
is remarkable out here, is, that the
snow lies on the ground only few
weeks at time, except on high
mountains. The mountain, plains
and valleys, are covered with
nc thing but sage brush and grass.
Sage brush are snail bushes about
3 aud feet high, with II stem from
I, 8, 4 and 5 inches thick. Imagine
full limbed apple tree about four
feet high, and branches in proper
tion, and you will have good idea
Of Il sage brush. The sage brush
land commences with the foot hills
Of the Roekey Mountains ON the
East, AMI continue into Oregon, a.
far as have gone thus far. The
scenery becomes very monotonous.
| haye not seena tree as large as n
e'egraph pole, since crossed the
Mississippi, NJ but there l. very fine
pine timber land at the head waters
of the Payette River. u distance OF
about GO miles. There IL large
sieam saw mill At this Dlaee. and the