Brookings weekly register. (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1898-1903, 1900-09-13

Cattle Business In south Dakota
Better Than an AlaskS Gold Mine.


Nothing could emphasize the wonder
full possibilities OF the South Dakota
cattle ranges more than do the Ship
ments of cattle recently made from
Chamberlain. and II is doubtful II more
| remarkable results have ever been at
fained in any legitimate line OF INDUS
try. 1t appears almost incredible that
men with comparatively no capital to
begin with could, in a dozen years or
so, acquire property that yields net
yearly income of from $25.0O0 TO $780,
000 and yet the cattle ranges Of South
Dakota contain many such.
Among the most successful Of the
cattlemen, three were represented in
the shipments from Chamberlain last
week, in the persons Of Corbin Morria,
Charles X Howard and Mike Quinn.
The lunches marketed by each Of these
gentlemen were about equal In value,
and represent at least $4,000, and each
yet this sea son.
With but 100 head or 80. Mike Quinn
embarked in the cattle business twelve
years ago. and 1t is now estimated that
he annually markets $4,000 worth Of
feeders on his range.
The record of c. X. Howard is pretty
generally known. for he has. for long
period of years been a conspicuous fig-
ure in the Northwest. About 1855 he
failed in business for about 100000 but
he retained the faith of his creditors,
who staked him on a modest scale In
the cattle business. Their faith was
not misplaced. and he is now able TO
read his title clear and ship about s7S,-
600 worth Of cattle yearly. anad also
retain large bunch of feeders on the
ranges.
Corbin Morris Is another OF the living
examples of what energy and strict ap-
plication to business can accomplish on
South Dakota's prairies. His shipmsn
are estimated at 100000 yearly, and yet
he began In the business working for
others until he had accumulated suffi-
cient capital to go II on his own hook.
To-day he has one of the largest herds
Of cattle that roams the prairies.
These successes are remarkable. and
yet they are in no sense exceptions.
The prairies are covered with men who
have, during the past ten years. from
very modest beginnings In many cases,
gathered together herds of cattle or
sheep. which. IL sold would provide
the most generous of competencies. I.
w. Seaman, Colin Macbeth, J. O. And
erson. William Dent, Henry & Young,
Kaufman & Winter. w. w. Anderson,
and hosts of others have become sub
stantial capitalists through the instru-
mentality Of the stock industry. Nor
is II remarkable in one sense that the
industry should yield such substantial
returns. and that there are no failures
to be recorded among those who have
engaged "a the business. for in no other
place in the world are the conditions
more ideal for cattle raising than on
the pfairies OF Western South Dakota.
The grasses are, according to scientific
tests in several OF the agricultural col.
leges of the West. the most nutritious
OF any of the wild grasses Of the coun-
try, while water is abundantly supplied
IN the numerous streams or through the
agency Of dams which hold the surface
wafer. The cattle, too. range upor. the
prairies throughout the entire winter,
and the instance is indeed, rare when
hay or shelter have been necessary.
The shipping season now commenced
promises to be notable In the sense that
more south Dakota stock will be placed
upon the market than during any other
season In the history of the state Sew
eral causes contribute to this result
During the past season there has been
an immense expansion of the Industry.
The total number OF cattle upon the
ranges has increased like magic. and
there is general feeling that the range
is gradually becoming overstocked.
The high prices, too have an influence
upon shipments. and It is stated that
the value of shipments from Western
south Dakota alone viii this year ex-
ceed the sum of $300O.000.
Cattle raising in South Dakota is no
longer an infant industry.