The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-12-08

a high corral. In the desperately severe
and binding snowstorms of the plains the
range cattle were driven against these
fences and corrals or frequently sought
shelter behind them. They would often
stand in these places until they starved to
death, and the farmer, plying their con-
dition and disregarding the fact that they
did not belong to him, would. when feed
ing his own cattle, throw a little bunch of
hay over the corral fence to these miser-
able, dying animals from the range.
DISCOURAGED KINDNESS.
II was a mistaken kindness in the eyes
Of the cattle owners, for having once OBJ
tanned a bite of feed at the hands of a hu-
name rancher, the range animal would
stay there the rest of the winter or until it
starved TO death, in the expectation of re-
ceiving further bounty. The most desir-
able quality in a range animal was consid-
cred the ability to rustic for food where
it was extremely difficult to set, and the
farmers and the cattlemen made indignant
protest when the farmers discouraged
stray cattle from hustling for themselves.
1t was not uncommon to see notices posted
in various places warning the ranchers
unuer extreme penalty to refrain from
@CGllAIS aAASO OdNNlCs anu - ASNAON1
would be signed by either the roundup
association itself. or by some cattleman
whose power was recognized throughout
his country.
There are still certain sections of the
West where these conditions prevail, but
they are now extremely limited to area.
New methods have been adoptd which,
while they may sound more humane and
49, -.oo;-o ;,Jor~or,ort from fIOSa uho
saw only the cruel side of the range cattle
business, are also more satisfactory and
profitable to the owner of the cattle than
those which prevailed in the earlier days
of the business. Il is not humanity alone,
or perhaps in any degree. which has
brought about the change in the handling
or range cattle. The old methods are now
impossible of application in many places,
owing to the fencing up of the water sup
ply and the overgrazing of the range. 1t
is also recognized that the old methods are
vastly extravaganza and unbusinesslike.
Improbable, as compared with those which
are now generally in force.
To-day the owner OF a big herd Of cattle
either owns, leases or otherwise controls a
large body of land. lie may range a large
number of cattle on the public domain. but
from his own land he cuts as much hay as
possible and pastures the weaker cattle,
cows and calves during the most critical
season Of the year. which is the last half
Of the winter and the early spring. The
amount of hay he buys is only limited by
the amount he can get at reasonable price,
for he finds more money in raising a thou
sand head of well-developed cattle of good
blood and always in fair condition. thus
showing a very small percentage Of loss,
than he did in owning ten thousand head
of inferior stock. with a small percentage
of calves and a loss account at the end of
the year, which often reached from 20 TO 50
per cent. of his entire herd.
1t has been said that more money is made
by an Eastern farmer. say in Wisconsin,
out OF three or four hundred head of sheep,
carefully herded and literally fed, than is
made by a Western sheep owner with a
herd of two hundred, who trusts TO Provi-
dence to bring him favorable seasons and a
small percentage Of loss. This is undoubt-
edly true, and is even more so in the cattle
business. The Western rancher who has a
liberal supply of LAND and an irrigated field
from which he can harvest an ample supply
of hay can take one hundred head OF cattle
and make a generous income from his COM
paratively small herd with a sureness and q
profit which Is impossible 10 the man who
owns a thousand head OF cattle. drifting
FROM ona range To another. trusting TO the