The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1897-07-14

said she would never live With her moth
er again. and that she would not live
with young Hennessy just yet.
BIG KANSAS CATTLE INTERESTS
How Times Havs Changed Since the Abb.
| lsns Days
Russell, Kas.. July ia new era has
begun out here in the western counties
of the state. There is no more of the
old-time trust in the father capsious
favor Of the rainfall. The people are
starting into the cattle business on a
scale that may mean revival OF the
VESTS once promising conditions.
The west is in the cattle business in
earnest. Thousands and tens Of tinous-
ands OF Mexican and Texan long horns
have been driven up to the sites Of the
farms deserted by settlers and the loan
companies that were compelled TO take
in the lands by foreclosure are finding
tnat they have profitable property on
their hands. They have leased the farms
to the cattlemen who in turn have hired
the cowboys 10 herd the stock at 81 a
head for the season. Since the first of
the year fully 100000 head OF feeders
half as many more are there for breed
ing purposes. These stock cattle have
cost about $40 head.
The men who brought these cattle UP
from the ranches OF the southwest have
made Big money at it. One young dealer
started out with no knowledge Of the
business, but because of his striking the
right lead he has cleared $4,000 by the
sixx months work. The feeders that
were brought UP this spring will be ship
ped to the Kansas City market in the
fan and The settlers and spectators will
make money on them.
Cattle are getting short on the
ranges said a cattle dealer the other
day. land those who get them now will
be in luck. There IS no reason why the
prices should fall for at least five years.
for it will take at least that long ge
ne supply up to the neds of the nation.
The cattlelnen are pre-empting western
Kansas at a rate that will soon make
it one OF the busiest parts Of the west
and the cattle will make it productive
of wealth."
1 the methods by which this has been
broughts about and by which the holders
of western Kansas lands have been re-
Aeved are worth understanding. The cat
tie are 8old from the cars and bring from
$40 to $50 a head. with the white-faced
bulls at twice as much. Dealers at Kan
sas City and Omaha will contrac. to take
all the calves at $3.50, or the yearlings
at $50 head. Then, with the long sum-
mers and the fact that there is no need
to feed any more than two mon tbs in the
winter, hey can raise about 80 per cent
Of the calves and double their herds
twice in three years.
Western Kansas. however, IS not SO
much cattle-growing country as it is
cattie-moving country. 1t is the ideal
place to fl. the stock for the market and
he stock that comes up 5rom the hot
southwest for this purpose are put on
the yards in better shape than are those
that tine ranchers try to fit for beef
themselves. 1t is solving the question for
the land holders and as the cattle go out
in small punches there is no chance for
any very large losses except where it
can we'll be afforded
One man who came out from New
York TO find out about his section OF
land that he had acquired by the pro.
cess Of foreclosure discovered that it was
in the midst of ten-section range. sur
rounded by a barbed wire and occupied
by bunch of cattle. He went to the
ranch house and asked for the proprietor.
"Say," he began, when that worthy
appeared, do you know that you have
fenced in my land in your pasture?'
"Guess I have got somebody's; is it
yours?"
Eyes, It is mine. and want to sell it
to you"
ooh, I can't afford to buy ST do not
really need it."
"Then you must get your fence away
form IT,"
'I cannot afford to move that fence.
There are 200 cattle inside it and they
might get out"
'Then you will do nothing?"
That's about it, stranger"
"WeIl, say. have just one reques. to
make Will you kinly allow me to leave
my land inside your fence andnot charge
me for the PRIVILEGE"
The New Yorker rode away without
waiting for an answer. His experience
was typical Of the difficulties that the
eastern owners have to get their prop
erty in western Kansas cared for profit
ably. The cattlemen think they own the
earth and they come pretty near fore
closing their assumed title.
The eastern man scarcely understands
the changes that have taken place in the
western counties where the prairie
schooners used to fake people out by the
thousand It 3 the short grass coun-
try" but this year the grass is long
enough TO make all the pasture neces-
sary ard there are plenty of cattle 10 eat
the fodder.
In Clark county, near the southwest
corner of the state, there are s400,000
worth of chattel mortgages on cacttle
listed with the register Of deeds. The
cattle are mortgaged for about 81 head
and counting the number OF unmortgag-
ed ones the county has about 50 900
head The county is a grazing section
and most Of the land is owned by east
ern mortgage companies. In 1872 there
were about 500 people in it. Now there
are LOO and they are doing well enough
to stay One man has forty-two sections
of land, secured from some company
which he pays SIS section rent and on
IL has 1000 cows. This seasons calf
crop VIII be aoou. 700 calves. all con-
tracted 10 be sold a; 50 per head in Oc-
tober They show white streaks in
their faces and are on the up grade.
They are worth more than the mothers.
5u. OF course can not be sold for as
much inst VET The 2-yea--SId steers
are selling from So 10 $50 head, ac-