The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1902-08-02
THE BENEFIT TO CATTLEMEN.
LATE TEXAS RAINFALL. TRANS.
FORMED WESTERN CONDITIONS.
Ceplous Water Supply Never More
inely--Will Revive Rusiness--Feed-
ers Can Go on Range.

No"menting on the improved conditions
Win Texas cattlemen, the Yves, rexa.
stoekman says;
Inc West Texas stockmau who 4. no,
feeling good al the present wr,t,.g can
not be easily located. for a wonasrrui
chanse has come over the situation when
has so materially changed existing cond.
lions as to render the future outlook Just
about all that anyone could desire.
little rain can work a wonderful trans.
formation in West Texas. and never rails
to bring In its train a material blessing.
Tightening the hearts OF range men IN due
proportion with the amount OF precipita.
ton. And when the rainfall assumes the
proportions OF genuine food. turning al.
most an average one years moisture loose
within a space Of six dave, II would an.
pear that the benefits must also accrue III
something like equal ratio.
During the past week this section or the
state has had a rainfall OF thirteen inches.
which is performance without parallel
In the history of the country. This rain
mas been badly needed for nearly two years
and puts an end TO one OF the most dis.
tresslng periods this country mas ever
known illustrative OF the condition oil
affairs prevailing before the coming of this
am one OF our leading cattlemen Informed
/ the editor of this paper a few weeks opo
that unless rain came within thirty days
/ ne would have to put his cattle on feed
/ Just as he did Inst winter.
II Is true that we had been visited by
/ fairly good rains at different periods during
| the spring and under ordinary conditions
these rains would have been ample TO Keep
the range In fairly satisfactory shape. But
the rainfall having been deficient for the
| pas two years. pastures generally over
| stocked and almost deuuded OF grass the
| little moisture that fell did not penetrate
! the earth to any considerable depth and
was soon taken from the soil by the rays
! OF the sun. Grass would get q fair start,
/ nut the rapid evaporation OF the moisture
soon put a check upon its growth, and It
W.thered and passed away.
II was such conditions ms these that
/ caused general stagnation In the local
/ movement Of cattle. When the cattle sold
/ to Northwestern parties were delivered,
4 there was an end to the movement, There
was no demand for yearllngs TO take tine
| place or the twos and threes shipped out
/ Of he country, because no man was GER
tain that he would have grass enough to
carry what he already had on hand AS a
result. the country has remained full OF
yearling steers for which there has been
! no demand. and the small number sold
/ have only found buyers at considerable
reduction in values.
Inc coming OF the long'hopeu-for ram
has entirely changed the aspect OF the gen
! erGl situation. II has been ample to MI
all the lakes and water holes IN the coun.
try and make the finest winter grass we
have had IN q number Of years. and the
country will also make the largest feed
( crop ID has ever produced. Cattlemen Will
az once throw on the inertia that has char
acterized their former attitude and viii
buy an thu yearings their pastures viii
carry until spring There will also he a
renewed demand for stock cattle. 70 take
the Mace OF those dead and shipped out OF
the country for pasturage, and altogether
the outlook is more promising Just now
than IL has been for a long time.
Confidence has been restored all aIone
tho line. and IL is TO he hoped thar 4
means the return OF that general pros
perity the entire range country was enjoy
ing prior TO the coming Of the drouth ana
lis attendant chain Of diasters and erue
disappointments