The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1901-11-16
CATTLE RANCH.
Description Of . Typical North Da
kota Ranch In Logan County.

Description Of Typical North Das
kota Ranch In Logan County.
The cattle ranch and stock farm Of
James o. Gilfllan Of Minneapolis, ten
miles north Of Napoleon, on the 500
road, typify a great Industry that is
the source Of no inconsiderable portion
OF the growing wealth and Importance
Of the -Tlickertail state. They are very
like other cattle ranches and stock
farms in the Northwest. yet so extens-
i've and well ordered that they stand as
exemplary. MI
The range takes in 1900 acres-a
whole township and 8 half. The land
is, rolling, excellently adapted for graz
ing. The grass Is of the buffalo variety
and cures on the ground. so that n
winter, when the snow is light, h
stock get considerable food on the
ranch. The danger Of heavy snow,
however, makes 1t advisable to put up
several hundred Tons of hay every
summer. This is left at convenient
points on the ranch. and is protected.
by -straw-covered shacks. Water Is
supplied on this great ranch by two
great windmills, which never lack for
power, and a good-sized lake, fed by
springs, and two large springs on other
parts of the ranch.
The herd on the Gilfllan ranch usual
ly consists Of about 600 head. There
are divided into punches Of from 100 to
300, and are looked after by three COW.
boys, broncho-busters of the true
Western type, and a head ranchman.
In the vicinity of. the ranch there are
myriads of cow-birds.s These feathered
friends of the ranchman and cattle are
invaluable to a herd, and are always
protected. They keep the cattle clear
of insects. They light upon the backs
OF the cattle, which seem to appreciate
the favor. The cow5irds build no nests.
but lay eggs in the nests of other birds.
The .fearsome prairie fire would have,
a hard time getting in its. work on
the houses and stacks at the Gilfllan'
ranch. Every known precaution is TAX
en- against the destroyer. Kidder }coun-
ty has put In fire breaks at its own ex-
pense. They are plowed. six burrows
wide, In two rows, sixty feet apart, ev-
cry thirteen miles clear across the
county. These fire breaks are made
by contractors. A gang of men is en-
ployed, who make their homes in
shacks on wheels. The breaking is
very hard, and four horses are required
to turn a furrow. North DalSotans have
found the prairie a serious and costly
thing. 1t destroys the grazing and fire.
quently the hay, causing ~irreparable
loss on the large ranches. "A short time
ago, in Kidder county. fire burned a
strip ten miles wide n thirty miles
long. At one sheep ranch fifty tons.
and at another, 400 OF Of hay were
burned.
Two miles south Of Napoleon Mr..
Gilfllan has another rsnch, with good
buildings, for wintering a part Of his
stock. When the cattle are fat enough
to ship they. are corralled. This Is an
interesting and exciting part Of the
work Of the cowboys, who have to pick
from the herd those fit for h market
and ".cht them out" from their fellows.
This is where the experienced COW pony
plays an important part. Those Sc
lected for market are then punched
and herded to Napoleon, loaded into
stock cars and shipped to Chicago
Minneapolis Journal.