Omaha daily bee., 1898-06-13
ROUNDUPS II ABOUT OVER.
Losses on south Dnkota Range Not
Over One Per Cent.

Over One Per Cent.
PIERRE, S. D., June 12.-(Special)-A
large portion of the range has been worked
over by the roundup wagons and those
who have been out on the work report the
best possible conditions existing in the
range country, both as to the condition of
the country, and as to the cattle. Early in
the season there was scarcity of water on
portions of the range and in some sections
losses were reported on this account, but
with the rains of May and so far this month,
every stream and water hole has been filled
to the brim, and where the losses were re-
ported they are being accounted for by the
| roundup finding the cattle strayed away
from the home range to where they could
more easily find water, and the loss at
that time has proven only an imaginary one.
All reports put the loss at much below l
per cent; in fact, so light that 1t is not
worth considering.
The calf crop Is immense, and is esti-
mated by those who have been buying in
other sections of the cattle country to be
at least % per cent greater than for any
other range state of the union. This in
crease, with that of the cattle which have
been shipped and driven onto the Sioux
! range this spring, is going to put a larger
number of cattle in the country west of the
Missouri than ever before. The shipments
TO this point have fallen off lately on &C
eount of the high price which prevailed, but
they are again beginning to come in. Be-
/, sides the shipments here a large number
OF southern cattle are coming in, being
shipped to points in Nebraska and Wyom-
ing and driven to the home ranches, the
largest of these being about 5000 head by
the Minnesota and Dakota Cattle company,
managed by Scotty Philip, and $500 head by
W.. b. Stearns of Yankton. A large number
OF high grade bulls have been placed on
the range this year, being principally Here
iords, Shorthorns, and a few G%alloways.
but this latter breed does not take well
for some reason, even where hornless cattle
are desired, the raisers preferring to de-
horn the other breeds.
About 10000 head We're Skinned out of
here last year and it is estimated that the
shipments this year will fall below that
number, as many of the holders cleaned up
SO closely last year that they will be short
on shipping cattle this season, besides the
market for feeders, which took such n large
number last year, does not develop this
season.
The sheep men, as well as the cattle men,
are jubilant over the outlook this year.
The price of wool has so materially ad-
vanced that they will reap almost double the
proht from the same amount of clip this
year as they have for several years past
and the increase In number of their focks
VIII give them far more wool to ship, and
on which to secure a profit. While shearing
is yet in progress, many have completed
their work, having sheared early to give the
new growth Of wool a chance to start before
shipping their wethers to market, as they
Will present a better appearance than IL
shipped Immediately after shearing. The
estimates of the amount of wool which will
be shipped from this point this year are
as high as 800, 900 pounds, some going even
higher than that figure. In this connection
a securing mill is being talked of for this
city. The water from the artesian wells
here is said to be just the thing for the
purpose and the same well would furnish
the water desired for the purpose as well as
the power to run the machinery required,
and 1t could be operated very cheapIy with
such power. Such a move would save thou
sands of dollars to wool growers In freights,
as the secured wool could be more easily
handled, and there would be no freight to
pay on dirt. Wool grown all along the
river could be cheaply delivered to such a
mill by boat and the amount to be easily
and cheaply secured would make such a
project a paying one from the start.