The evening times., 1898-10-20
CATTLE RANGES.

Nothing impresses the Eastern visitor
plains in the western part of North Da-
kota and the eastern part of Montana,
especially when the cattle are rounded
up" at the end of summer. All is dons
with the regularity of clockwork. Sys-
TEN and order are pre-eminent. Regular
circuits are drawn. foreman superin-
tends the whole. Central PAGES are des-
ignated, and here the cowboys drive the
herds, where all marketable cattle are
separated and driven TO the nearest rail-
way station and shipped, while the defsc-
tive and unmatured are turned back to
the hills, says the New York Sun.
How many cattle are there IN a la ge
herd? Between 1900 and 2 0G0. HOW
many cattle are on the Western ranges !!
About "a, 000 head. Within these figGrs $
are history and romance. Here is life in
its primitive state. The drawing-ro-
man is not conspicuous by his absence.
Here the uncouth cowboy revels in his
element, and the crack of his rife makes
sweet music TO his ear. But the 3 amour
Is rapidly passing. The believing and
roar of trampling herds viii sooa c a e.
Now all is concentrated life and acti. ity.
hundred scattered herds browsing con-
tentedly upon the plains. The desert
splendor changes anew and the Virgi ian
cowboy ride on the panoramic ROUNDUP
BronZed faces glow and voices ri e IN
cadence from morn to morn. from noon
to night. The wales are dark and the hills
are light. Around the appointed mess
wagons the exhausted sons OF the sa Idle
eat the supper smoke the pipe, tell the
story and drop off TO sleep.
The bonanza cattle business is dying.
De Mores, who was recently murdered in
Africa, tried ii TO his finite pleasure and
infinite sorrow. His ranch is the fixed
star III the bonanza geography. There IS
neither glory nor profit nor the natural
inducements to make it a success any
longer. Energetic ranchers have been en-
igrating and settling for the last ten
years in the fertile creek valleys ana
watering places, pre-emptinG the richest
places fencing off the best spring rang
ing grounds for hay, and otherwise re-
stricting and debarring extensive opera
tions. But the harvest has been golden
and bounteous. For twenty-years the
bonanza kings have been unmoleSted
they have had their princely Golfers filled
to overflowing, but their kneil has been
sounded and their dream is vanishing.
Four kings WELD the scepter now but
before another year passes there may
possibly be only one left, Pierre WibauN.
a Frenchman, who has about 20.UO0 head
of cattle The other combinations are
known as the Three Stevens the 'OI
and the ''Seven-B Bar-Seven Their COM
bined property is valued at 100000. The
last three are closing out their herds, pre-
paratory to quitting the ranges. The in
fiux of the small rancher and sheep farm
er has given them their commercial death
sentence.
Where no heavy life loss occurs an av-
erage profit of about $50 a head on steers
is realized When railroads are extended
in this region II will be u paradise for in
dividual effort. Montana and North Da-
kota are noted for their boreal miidness,
and the natural shelter afforded by the
configuration Of the Bad Lands makes
the wintering of cattle inexpensive and
safe What will be the result OF the de-
parture of these immense interests? Busi-
ness depression, higher tax and progress
temporarily checked. But the future Will
profit by it. a hundred small ranchers,
owning 100 head each and cultivating
certain defined territorial sphere, viii
change a desoIate Sahara to blooming
garden.