Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1893-01-20
DAKorA's CATTLE INDUSTRY.


The Remarkable Developments winch
Has Taken Place IN Two Yeas.
ONE Of the most remarkable devop-
ments OF industry in South Dakota dur
ing the past two years has been the
growth OF the cattle business on the
ceded lands west OF Pierre. The great res
ervatiOn OF the sioux was bought by the
Government late in 1889 and the cOun.
try comprising 1000, 600 acres, thrown
open TO settlement AT that time, OF
course, no white man lived west OF
Pierre. Yet in this short space ranches
have been established and vast herds
of cattle, sheep and horses range over
the rolling country. Atleast two years
are required for this industry 10 make
showing in point of shipments, ana
consequently this years record Is the
more worthy OF note. During October
aud November between 10000 and H.
900 head OF fat steers were shipped
from lierre alone, while far larger
mum ber went from the stations OF the
Black Hills. Between $50 and COO cars
were required to transport thcm to
market More than ioriy special trains
loaded solely with cattle pulled out OF
Pierre for Chicago during these two
months. These steers brought in the
Chicago yards q price ranging from $50
to 500 and the total amount returned
to the Pierre banks considerably ex-
ceeded $500, Goa. One lurge ranchmAn
figured u net profit for the year OF Si5,-
600. Horses are also raised OH these
lands in immense numbers. More than
1000 head have been brought here from
the west of the river aud sold this sea-
son. The horse ranches are the
largest in the world and the herds prob
ably equal anything in the country,
while the ranges are unapproachAble
In the luxuriance and nutrilious quxli-
Ties of their grasses. During the past
year the ranchnien have added some
nne blooded stations to The ranges and
their irsiutentioa Is TO rapidly advance
the quality OF their stock. Immense
numbers OF sheep are now raised on
these lands. They are being driven
into the ranges by the Thousand. This
part OF the business did not exist two
years ago, but this season u barge oi
wool was shipped down the river.
The country west of'the Missouri has
probably the best stock range in the
world II Is broken and rolling mos,
OF the way from Pierre to the Black
Hills and affords ample shelter from the
cold winds la winter. II Is divided by
numerous streams and the cattle have
no difficulty in obtaining water. Blu,
tho feature which mostly distinguishes
II from others is the luAurlan. growth
of rich grass. There is said to be moth.
ing equal to 1t in the country except in
ranges of Montana, and they are simi.
lar. The highest prices ever obtained
on the Chicago market were for cattle
4 an Ia
here grow larger framed and heavier
by . great per cent than those kept vi
home. aud experience tea hes that the
proportion Of loss through drought OF
cold or storm, is far below that of any
othor country known. This year In
Texas tho stock has been dying oil by
the thousands on account OF short feed
caused by three years OF drought, bul
IN this South Dakota range the feed
has never been short and loss from
storm has never occurred.
Little or no breeding Is DONE The
winter climate Is not favorable to rear,
Ing calves. But the big ranehmen g6
to Texas or Colorado anu buy yearling.
or two-year-olds, ship them in here, Ia,
them Craze the rich grasses until they
are four or five years Old, and then shit
| them to Chicago aud sell them. A prof.,
OF to 10 per cent Is often realized. i
costs about $40 u head TO buy yeariing.
down on the range and about IS q heat
| to mature them. They sell in Chicago
| for from $50 for q three-year-old to So.
| for u hve-ycAr-oid.
The big cattlemen have made for
tunes from the range during the thres
years In which they have operated
| Charlie Howard, George Matthieson
| Dupree. and several Others ate alread,
rich. This was the first Year OF ship
ment since the reservation was opened
and naturally the output was small
But there are fattening on the range,
/ now tens OF thousands OF steers which
will next year make the stock train,
rolling out Of ierre several times =.
numerous as this Moreover. the hors,
| raisers are giving great attention /,
| quality and have imported y large nun
Der OF Perchcrons, Clydesdales, ant
! other standard stations. They expoc
In few years TO send from here In,
best-blooded and most capable horses
raised anywhere