Omaha daily bee., 1897-04-11

had been no storms to speak of and cattle
wers in fine condition. North of the Platte
river, in the district where nearly all of the
large herds are ranged, and in the western
part OF the state, the winter had not been
so good. 1t had opened up with some ee-l
we're storms in November; December and
January were fairly good months, but Feb
ruary and March were rough and stormy,
with much snow and cold weather, and north
OF the Platte the climax was capped by the
blizzard. The storm was mcst severe in the
southern part OF the state, where cattle were
in better shape to stand 1t than in the north
so that perhaps the losses were no greater
In one district. generally speaking, than in
another. 1t Will be impossible for the large
owners to figure their losses with any de-
gree of accuracy until after the roundups
or May and June. Some of the cattle on the
northern ranges have a clear, open range
extending several hundred miles, and stock
would drift many miles with the storm and
Dc safe, but the owners would not know it
until after the roundup and count While
the loss by the storm is locally heavy, no one
Is able to even approximate the percentage
OF general loss. Where one man may lose
10 or 20 per cent of his herd, others may
have but nominal losses, and ii is simply i'm
possible to say what the general loss has
been. The coming season promises good
prices and If the losses have been great
enough to show a noticeable depreciation in
beef shipments from the ranges this will
compensate stockmen for their losses of the
winter
NOT A STATE FOR BREEDERS.
r. M. Allen, manager for the Standard
Cattle company, owning upwards of 25, 900
head OF cattle, ranging along the Belle
Fourche river In Crook county, expressed
the opinion that the recent storm has dem
onstrated that Wyoming should be abandoned
az cattle breeding state. We're the bus-
ness in Wyoming confined to fattening steers
on the ranges the Losses from storms would
not be noticeable. The losses on the Crook
county ranges would be found to be mainly
among cows and weak stock mo one can
TELL" said Mr.. Allen, 'the percentage of
losses by the last storm with any degree of
accuracy 1t has unquestionaby been heavy
In some localities, but will not exceed 10
per cent of the aggregate number of cattle
in the storm district"
Ora Haley, member OF the Wyoming Live
Stock commission, Is large stock owner in
Albany county. On his ranges the storm
was very severe. Some Of his stock perished
by drifting in the storm onto lakes and
ponds, where they broke through the ice and
drowned. He saved many animals by having
his men ride the ranges Immediately after
the storm and dig cows and steers out of the
drifts Mr.. Haley would not venture an
opinion as to the percentage of loss sustained,
but thinks 1t VIII not prove to be as great as
at first feared.
X. S. VanTassell, owning stock in Laramie
and Converse counties had, comparatively no
losses. March is always "a treacherous
month" he said, "and ever since the first
day of the month have been prepared for a
big storm l had places built to shelter my
cattle and to this precaution owe my escape
from loss" .,fe
George Prentice, member, OF the Wyoming
Live Stock commission, and assistant man
ager or the Swan Land and Cattle company
the largest cattle concern In Laramie county. |
reports the storm as being very severe along
the valley OF the Chugwater, The region is
occupied to large extent by small ranch |
men, owning herds of from 200 to 1000 head |
Of cattle. Losses In the region will prove |
to be heavy. The country is pretty generally |
fenced up and cattle drift but a short |
distance with storms before being stopped |
by barbed wires, where, ffNthe storm is |
severe one, they hudde intb helpless groups |
and are covered by the fastodrffbing snow and |
perish. ,.s,,,,
From Natrena county adviess from stock
owners are to the effect that while the snow |
all was heavy, the loss In stock Of all kinds |
Is comparatively light. N.
SHEEP SUFFER SEVERELY.
Sheep losses. 1t Is believed, are about the |
same as cattle The greatest number of
sheep In the storm district are in Natrona |
county where losses are reported small. |
Shearing has not commenced In any part of |
the state and the heavy ieeces of the sheep |
saved their lives whenever the bands were |
kept together and not allowed to separate |
and get lost. Mr.. w. w. Gleason, manager |
Of the Warren Live Stock company, owning |
about $4,000 sheep in Laramie county, has |
received accurate returns from all OF his |
camps, which are scattered in all portions OF |
The county, and finds his loss to be 1900, and |
his loss, which is per cent. can be taken as |
the average in Laramie county. The loss in |
Albany and Carbon counties Is believed by |
experienced sheepmen to be somewhat larger |
than this, and may reach 10 per cent.
II may be safely stated that the loss OF |