The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-09-30

Within the past three years there has
been great change in the stock raising
business in the state OF Washington. The
large herds that. prior 10 1897. roamed
over the prairie grazing land and along
the foothills are fast being broken into
smaller lunches, caused by the rapid set
Ting up OF the agricultural lands Of the
state. While there are probably just as
many cattle IN the state. 1t is said. the
days OF the big herds are over and from
noy on any growth that may come must
OF necessity be by an Increase In the
numbers engaging in the business In a
small way and not from immense herds.
Yet II Is the opinion OF cattlement that
within few years there will be an in
crease in the number of stock raised
in this state. and that at all times there
VIII be sufficient amount to care for
the home markets and to supply n certain
amount to the Alaska trade.
Among the large stock raisers in Wash
inston Is Henry +. Waechter and his two
brothers, of Spokane. Since the opening
of the klondike each year Mr.. Waechter
has accompanied shipment of live stock
TO Dawson. where tho beef was retailed
and handsome profit realized. Last
May the three brothers took a shipment
to Cape Nome and. although the returns
were not what II was expected they would
be. they were satisfactory. and next year
ahothet, ShpHicnt Will % inauo 70 thc
same place
Henry r. waechter returned from Nome
on the Tacoma and today will go TO
his home in Spokane.
'Our shipment OF stock TO Nome this
year was satisfactory" he said at the
Stevens yesterday. ''whne We did not
make much as we thought we would,
we have no reason 10 complain and Will
take up another shipment next year
The stock business in Washington has
undergone change since 1887. There
are no longer. any big herds. The rapid
settling up OF the agricultural lands OF
the state has made the ranges short, and
those who owned big punches have been
forced to sell. and now nearly all OF the
business Is in the hands of small farmers.
This however, does not mean that there
is any less number of cattle In the state
than there was three years ago. In fact. Il
is my opinion that there is a larger num-
Der than there was at that time. A lot OF
small bands count up very rapidly. and
while, in the absence OF large herds.
we are apt to think that the number Is
decreasing. In reality Il Is increasing.
There is a shortage Of grown
steers in Washington At tho pres
ent time. Three years ago when
had been for several years. there was
general disposition among Washington
stockmen TO sell the young stock. We are
now forced TO go to Montana for por-
However in another year or so we viii
again be stocked up. and will have all
the beef we want here st home
THE opening OF tho Colville reservation
will be another blow TO the owners OF
large herds. The reservation has. in the
past, been practically the only large
range we have had. Its opening up and
settlement Will drive the stockmen out
and many of them win be forced to take
their herds to Montana to Craze. At the
present time much OF our young stock Ia
taken to Montana and allowed to remain
there until such time ns they are grown
and we have need for them here.
There is this. however, that while tha
herds are passing into the hands OF small
raisers. this class OF stockmen IL increas-
ing so rapidly that II will only be A
short time until Washington will nave
enough cattle within her own state 20
supply all local demands and also take
care Of beef orders from abroad"