Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1902-02-22
Good Profits |l Sheep 0nd Collie.

Among Burleigh county's farmers
and stock growers, who have been
successful and thus assisting in blaz-
ing the way for the Missouri slopes
future greatness, is F. Carstens, whose
ranch is located in Cromwell town.
ship, about Is miles northeast Of this
city.
Mr.. Carstens came to Bismarck in
1885 as a farm laborer and engaged
as such for two years until he had
accumulated sufficient meal to buy
teams, and necessary equipment to
commence farming on a small scale,
and he engaged in exclusive grain
raising during the seasons of 1899
inclusive. While fairly good crops
were raised during those years, the
methods that were in vogue at that
time would not admit Of the same
profits that accrue under present
methods, and Mr.. Carstens found his
accumulations represented in the
value of his farm equipment and i'm
provements.
In the summer of 1890 Mr.. Carstens
bought 800 ewes wholly on credit.
Now it will be remembered that it
was at this time that sheep values
were at their zenith, and soon after
commenced to decline. Yet notwith-
standing this handicap the profits and
increase on this sheep venture were
such that at the end of three years
they had paid for themselves with
the high rates of interest that pre-
vailed in those times. and increased to
$50. 1t was at this time that Mr..
Carstens moved from his farm in Sib-
ley township to his present ranch in
Cromwell, and has from the profits
from this band of sheep made
extensive anu valuable improvements.
Two years ago he sold out his sheep,
and bought cattle, bringing in from
South St. Paul 1913 head of cattle,
100 of which were steers.
Mr.. Carstens has. 32O acres of land
and a five years lease of 800 acres of
school land, with Apple creek run
ming through the entire tract. A
large portion of this is first class
meadow land. Here he has a small
but comfortable house, and a barn
with conveniences for sheltering 300
head of cattle, with loft room for 100
tons of hay.
To a Tribune representative Mr..
Carstens said: During the time I was
engaged in. sheep growing values
ranged from 47c to 81 per head, so it
will be seen I lave had to take some
of the bitter with the sweet notwith-
standing which I have found the sheep
business fairly profitable, as you can
figure from the statements already
made-very closely approximating 100
per cent. How I shall come out with
my cattle venture is of course wholly
pToblematical, as I have not sold any
yet; but if present values are main
tanned until another fall I feel quite
sure of at least a fair profit, as with
the equipment l have my hay costs
me not to exceed 60 cents per ton,
and with an average winter but about
one ton per head is required for win
tering, and an expenditure of a equal
amount will pay for herding them dur
ing the grazing season.
"Of course I am fortunately situat-
ed at the present time, as I can use
all the land that adjoins me for graz
ing purposes, but at present land val
ues it would not require a very large
sum to secure by purchase sufficient
land for summer grazing"
While Mr.. Carstens' accumulations
during his 16 years experience do not
assume fabulous proportions-prob-
ably close around S1O,00O-the in
stances where such results have been
accomplished are exceedingly rare in
n country outside of the Missouri
slope, and while such a sum cannot
be said to place one in a position Of
affluence, the accumulation of it b
the farmer or ranchman must be in
d large measure the result of those
habits of frugality that places him
in a position to enjoy it in a far
greater ratio than would be the case
of the possession of an equal amount
by the tradesman or professional
man. to whom the ordinary ~luxuries
of life have come to be regarded as
necessities.