The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1896-08-27

ly done away with the employment of
horses. In some of the districts
named the horses are increasing so
rapidly in numbers that they are
actually crowding live stock, used for
supplying the meat markets of the
country, off ranges where they find
grass on which to subsist.
The men who own this vast num-
Der of horses, ranging, as they do,
over such large expanse of territory,
can devise no means of relief, and
they are practically helpless. Excel
lent horses, unbroken, can be bought
6r from SIS to IS head, but even
at this low figure no buyers can be
found, while the horses, too valuable
to be destroyed, and at the same time
too expensive 10 keep alive, continue
to multiply.
AS a result of the liberal policy
adopted by the Northern Pacific and
other railroad companies ofthe North
west. after measures were adopted by
the government to circumscribe and
keep the Indians within certain
bounds, the great ranges at one time
occupied by elk, buffalo, deer and
antelope were quickly taken up by
capitalists who, having heard of the
fame of this region as hunting grounds,
established ranches there and began
raising stock on large scale. Humid
reds of thousands of dollars were in
vested in cattle and large herds of
stock bought in Texas, Arizona and
other States and Territories in the
Southwest and driven to the rich
ranges in Northern Idaho, North
Dakota, Washington and Montana to
fatten on the nutritious bunch grass
which grows SO luxuriantly there.
Immense fortunes were made in this
way and cattle kings were numbered
by the score. Many capitalists in
vested in sheep and raised wool, but
the rapid increase in the herds and
changes in the tariff laws so affected
prices that it was found that the in
vestment no longer paid.
Among these stockmen were many
who raised large herds of horses.
either separately or in conjunction
with cattle. When the Northern
Pacific Railroad was completed much
greater acc essbility to the horse
markets of the East was possible. So
encouraging was the investment in
horses that many owners increased
their herds to as high as ten or twelve
thousand head.
Attention was given to raising finer
grades of horses and abandoning the
halfbreed and broncho grades. Large
draught horses, at one time, found
ready sale in the Eastern States and
in Europe. 1t was also thought that
there would be an excellent market
for horses in larges cities where street
car companies use these animals for
motive power. For a number of
years there was much profit in raising
stock for street car use, but when
electricity and the cable system were
adopted the profits in horse raising
gradually diminished until, instead Of
there being gains, there was con-
stant loss.
Importations of fine breeding stock
from Kentucky and Eastern States,
as well as from England and Scotland,
were made, but it was found that the
horse industry was on the decrease.
Shipments to Eastern and Middle
Western States over one railroad
alone dropped from 10, 900 head year
ly to 1900. To such an extent did
the market depreciate that instead of
making money horse owners found
that they stood good chance of
going into bankruptcy.
Then the bicycle came into general
use and the horse raising industry
received its final blow. Those who
had been in the habit of using saddle
horses found that bicycle did not
require to be "broken in," nor did
it require feeding or stabling, while in
many ways the machine was capable
of being applied to greater use than a
horse.
This surplus of 1856 900 horses con-
sists not alone of bronchos or cattle
horses, but in it may be found such
stock as coach and Clydesdale horses.
nearly all Of which, however, are un-
broken. Among them are the des-
cendants of some very high priced
stations. One rancher near Walla
Walla, Wash, has 5000 horses on his
range, all OF which are finely bred.
These he is willing 10 sell at $40 per
head, "blg and little as the saying
is among cattle men, which means
colts as well as the grown animal. He
can find no purchaser for his stock