The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1900-03-23
CATTLE IN SOUTH DAKOTA.

the Country.
Frank l.. Campbell, prominent Oma-
ha man who has travelled extensively
through the West for number Of years,
recently returned from a trip through
| the Black Hills of South Dakota, Wyo-
ming and Texas. Speaking OF the cat
| tie industry as he observed it, Mr.
Campbell says: "Cattld raising in the
western States is not What it used to
| be- 1t has had its vicissitudes like all
other industries, and especially Is this
true on the ranges in Colorado, Wyo-
| ming, South Dakota and western Ne
braeka. / can remember the time when
eastern Colorado and Nebraska We're
the leading centers for cattle-raising,
and at present Texas and South Dakota
comes pretty near being the chief points
for this industry. Wyoming Is rapidly
developing into sheep country, and
there seems to be more money in sheep
raising and wool growing for Wyoming
ranchmen than in the cattle business.
The Wyoming grazing lands appear to
be better adapted for sheep-feeding than
for any other purposes. There is al
ways u uGDldIQ LUZ ldilibE, oild tAiN
sheep market is not so slow either Ihey
are prolific animal and the herds
multiply rapidly. A seasons crop of
wool is clean profit, and makes the
timid little animal a double money
maker. About the only expense attach
ed to this growing industry is the SER
vice of trained shepherd, who receives
on an average $40 per month and board.
He pitches his tent in some sequestered
nook behind the shelter of hillside,
and then stays out for months with his
focke, guarding them against the dan
ger of wolves and coyotes, and driving
them safely every night, where they
huddle together and remain quiet until
morning. A small herd. If properly
handled. will in a couple of years, al
most double in numbers, and their wool
will very nearly pay for their original
cost and the expense of caring for them.
The great cattle country now is in
South Dakota, Belle Fourche, little
town about 80 miles north of Deadwood,
is the greatest cattle-shipping point in
this country, if not in the world Five
hundred carloads a day left there for
several weeks laet October and the total
number amounted to several thousands
of cars, while the aggregate cost of the
cattle footed up well into the millions.
But, with all this good fat cattle are
scarce just now in this country and they
bring good prices when sold.
Il was sitting in a lobby of hotel in
Rapid City, S. D., not long ago, and
while there witnessed the most unique
and interesting bargain / ever heard Of
Two old bachelors, who lived there and
who had IA head of choice 'grassers, |
sauntered into the lobby and sat down |
near the stove. They were known as
eccentric characters and were men of
few words. Beside them sat stock |
buyer, well known in South Omaha. |
The latter heard of the cattle and was
anxious TO purchase them. He had a I
perfect knowledge OF the owners of the |
prizes he sought, and determined upon a |
crafty game to get a price on them. |
The converse tion of the group finally |
drifted to cattle, and the eccentric |
brothers pricked up their ears and be-
came deeply Interested. The talk drift |
ed to their herd, and one of the BROTH !
ers told how he had been offered $40 a I
head for them that very day and re- |
fused it.
How much do you want for them
/ asked, being somewhat curious to
know how valuable the animals were.
" I'll take just $50 head for them or
$500 cash for the bunch replied the old
er of the brothers in drawing tones.
1.-THE stock-buyer had remained silent
up to this point but without any more
ado he said. I'll take them He went
up to the counter, wrote out check for
cattle before that individual realized
that he had made a trade. The brothers
looked at each other curiously, and the
expression on their faces portrayed a
strong temptation to refuse trade but
they were game and took the preferred
check. The South Omaha buyer left
the hotel with them, and after the trio
were well on their way down the street,
The group began commenting upon the
unusual modus operandi pursued by the
clever buyer Why, that's nothing,
said the hotel clerk that fellow always
Guys quickly. Laet week he heard of
A. bunch of cattle Is miles from here
hat was for sale, and he walked over
% the telephone, called his man up and
asked him how much he wanted for his
lerd. The reply came back over the
wire that he would take $42 head for
hem "How many have you got?'
lsked the buyer, who knew just what
lie was buying and what they We're
worth to him. The cattle owner tele-
ohoned back that he had 260 head. 'Ill
give you just $1,000 for the bunch, take