The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-10-09
ON THE CATTLE RANGEs.
Tho Bonanza Kings Have Disappeared
The Business of the Present.

Tho Bonanza Kings Have Disappeared
The Business of the Present.
On the boundless cattle ranges In the western
part OF North Dakota and eastern Montana
the spectacular beef round-ups are and have
been In progress since early summer. and will
continue until late In the fall. All Is lone with
the regularity of clockwork. System and order
arc prominent. Regular circuits are drawn.
A foreman superintends the whole. Central
places are designated. 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 defective
and unmatured are turned back to the hills.
How many cattle are In q large range herd :
Between 300 and 1000. How many cattle are
on the Western ranges2 About 49, 0 head.
Within these figures are history and romance.
Here Is life In its prlmeval state. The draw
ing-room man Is not conspicuous by his abb
sence. Here the uncouth cowboy revels in his
element. and the crack Of the rife makes sweet
music to his ear. But the glamour is rapidly
passing. The below and roar OF trampling
herds will soon cease. Now all is concentrated
life and activity. No longer the sun rises and
sets on a hundred scattered herds browsing con-
tentedly upon the plains. The desert splendor
changes anew and the Virgilian cowboys ride
on In the panoramic round-ups. Bronzed faces
glow and voices rise 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 saddle
eat the supper. smoke the pipe. tell the story
and drop OF to sleep.
The bonanza cattle business Is dying. De
Mores, who wns recently murdered In Africa,
tried II TO his finite pleasure and infinite sor-
row. His ranch is the fixed star In the bonanza
geography. There Is neither glory nor profit
nor the natural Inducements to make IL q sue
cess any longer. Energetic ranchers have been
emigrating and settling for the last ten years
In the fertile creek valleys and watering places,
pre-empting the richest places. fencing of the
best spring ranging grounds for hay. and
operations. But the harvest has been golden
and bounteous. For twenty years the bonanza
kings have been unmolested; they have had
their Prineely golfers hlled to Overlooking. but
their knell has been sounded and their dream
Is vanishing.
Four kings WELD tho sceptre now, but. before
another year passes there may possibly be only
about 10000 head OF cattle. The other COM
binatlons, are known as the Three Stevens"
the Ok and the :" Seven Bar. Seven" Their
The last three are closing out their herds,
preparatory to quitting the ranges. The in
tiux Of tho small rancher and sheep farmer has
given them their commercial death sentence.
Who're no heavy life loss occurs an average
profit OF about $40 a head on steers Is realized.
When railroads are extended IN this region 1t
VIII be a paradise for individual efforts. Mon
boreai mildneSs. and the natural shelter az
forded by the contiguration of the Bad Lands
makes ths Wintsrlng OF cattle inexpensive and
OF these immense interests +? Business depres-
checked. Put the future will profit by Il. A hum
each, and cultiyatinR n certain define terri
torial sphere. viii change o desolAte Sahara 70
q DloominS garden