The Republican journal., 1897-11-25
The Western Ranches.

products has gone up on legitimate
scale, properly regulated by supply and
demand. About ten years ago vast herds
roamed these western plains, fortunes
had been easily made in live stock, cattle
kings were in the height of their glory;
and then came the crash. The ma mage
ment had not been careful of expense,
the market was over supplied, and as a re-
suit it was almost hard to give away
calves Cattle men ceased to breed and
began to sell everything they could, even
to the COWS. The over production stop
| ped and the herds were decimated. 1t
went too far and beef became scarce and
consequently dear. Calves that would
not bring six dollars five years ago are
now hard to buy for fo1hrt dollars, and
older cattle have increased in value in a
larger proportion. Good COWS are hard to
purchase, as their owners prefer to keep
them for breeding. Then, also, the
method of conducting the business has
improved. The immense herds have dis
appeared, and cattle are run in smaller
punches. Windmills pump water from
wells, and alfalfa and sorghum are raised
to feed the poorer animals in winter.
! The past summer and spring has been
very favorable to stock and all kinds
are looking splendidly. The indications
are good for a mild winter, but even
should there come a severe storm the
stock is 50 fat and in such good condition
that the loss would be very light. Proper
! ly conducted the cattle business is very
! profitable. The population Of our county
is rapidly increasing and the consumption
| of meat is becoming larger every year.
| The cost of labor and OF all rancho supplies
has decreased largely in the past five
years, and the shipping points are more
convenient. The cattle are herded princi-
| pally on government land, though there
are some large companies which own all
| their ranges. Land with living water on
it is valuable and most of it has been
taken up by the settlers. You will find
many cultured, educated people on the
| plains; those who have come for their
| health as well as those who are here to
| make a living. Anyone who has lived
comfortably out here for a while will feel
desire to return There is something
| in the life which is attractive, and this
high, dry atmosphere is the very essence
of health, The sheep industry has
benefited by the tariff and also by an in
creased demand for mutton and wool
Prices have doubled on them since the
first of the year and the outlook for the
ing. This town of Clayton, on the Gulf
Road from Denver, is an important ship
ping point, and long trains of stock cars
heavily loaded are leaving here daily
Sheep are silly animals and seem to have
no sense at all. 1t is very difficult to drive
them through gate or into pen, but if
one starts, the Others will follow pell- nell.
50 in loading them on trains goat train
ed for the purpose is used. He will walk
through the herd and then start through
the runway to the cars. The whole pack
is at his heels and he will lead them
around, and when the car is full nimbly
jump out. The look of Importance and
pride, which this Judas like animal bears
is amusing.
l have recently visited the sheep ranch b
of a Maine fellow, which is in the ex-
IRENE southern part of Colorado, a fifty
mile drive from here. There does not
exist finer country for the wooly ami
mails and with intelligent care it would
seem impossible for much loss in the
severest of storms. 1t is much broken by
small canons, which afford the best pro-
lection in a blizzard, and good springs,
well scattered about, afford excellent
water Then there is plenty Of wood. an
important item on a ranch. Quail and
rabbits abound in large numbers and
antelope and deer may be shot within a
few miles. We were obliged to camp out
one night and the beauty of an evening on
these plains is hard to describe. 1t is
glorious to watch the night march ma
jestically on, to see the moon and her sis
ter planets pace through their magnificent
circles of harmonious light and law; till
with a magic suddenness, the dense pur-
pie skies change to pearly gray, the
moon sinks pallidly out of sight, the
stars are extinguished one by one, like
lamps when the feast is ended, and morn
ing begins to suggest its approach in the
freshening air. The yelps of the coyotes,
the hooting of owls and the movements of
the hobbled horses bring you back to
earth again, and you are ready for the
camp breakfast. Speaking of eating, |
shall never forget the delicious meals |
had at this ranch on the Gallinas, and
could the habitues of Young's or Del
monicos', enjoy their repasts as much as
did we, they would decide the conundrum
by answering, "We live to eat.'' Dis
tances are so magnificent on these plains
that if one is to make a long Journey it
is necessary to camp at night But there
is no dampness here, and if you have a
i