The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1903-07-02


the car is emptied The unlucky steer
that has fallen in the car is dragged
out, lifted to his feet and driven to
the pens, IL strong enough to walk
II badly injured. he is taken TO the
hospital" pen, where he is allowed to
get what benefit he can from rest
IL he lives he follows the herd to
green pastures and water; if he dies.
the skinner removes his hide and
leaves mis- carcass to the coyotes.
Plenty Of Rain and Food
Texas cattle are stronger and
heavier this spring than in years.
Plenty Of rain fell on the ranges last
fail and winter and herbage was plen-
tiful. Whole train loads have been
received at Fairfax without a dead or
crippled steer. In eight cars, however,
we're found eighteen dead steers. The
man in cherge of them was the sub
ject OF this conversation by a group
Of COW punchers:
"And did you hear what lovely
time Ike had comm up? Rode in the
caboose all the way slept all the first
night and climbed aboard once with
out usin' the prod when he saw three
COWS down in one car Them yaller
shoes Of his'n are what did the busi-
ness: was afraid of ruinin' the heels"
I ike's loss was due TO his not attend
ing to business and keeping his cat
tie on their feet. That is what causes
most Of the losses in transit.
When thu last car Is unloaded the
ranch outfit that has come in to re-
ceive the cattle moves away with the
herd to the ranch pastures. One the
drive there is a constant turmoil Of
crowding ard hooking. Once inside
the pasture. however. each steer
rushes to the green banquet that
spreads before him TO the far horizon.
The hungry cattle cannot eat fast
enough Their contentment grows and
grows. and soon the whole herd is
peacefully grazing. The earth is
moist, wild flowers are mingled with
the tender grass, the sun shines in
the clear sky. the plaintive notes of
the lark ard the curlew are borne
softly on the wind, spring is coming
baei, again and the earth smiles.
In six weeks the lean and hungry
steers will be glossy and growing fat.
In three months many of them will
be ready for market BY frost all will
have been sent to Kansas City and
consumed by the packing houses. The
best steers will weigh from 900 to b
IOO0 pounds. and II the market is favor
able will sell at from three and half
Ito four cents a pound. 1t is estimated
that tho cost Of shipping a 3 year old
steer from the Texas range, pastur-
ing aim in Oklahoma and finally sell
ing him in Kansas City. is about $40.
His previous cost was about IS. max
ing the total SIS. The Oklahoma pas
turage is figured at 81 head.
The Longhorn is Scarce.
The Texas "longhorn" will soon be
as rare as the buffalo One is rarely
seen in Oklahoma and about the only
ones remaining in Texas are on the
ranges south OF San Antonio. 81 have
seen old time steers with the horns
so long and broad that he could hard
lly pass through a car door, said a
COW puncher pair Of horns owned
by ]. c. Miller, superintendent OF
ranch 1O1 at Bliss, measures nearly
eight and one-half feet between the
points. A herd of 800 was brought to
lohahoma this spring They were
driven from Crockett county to San
Angelo for shipment, and ranged in
age from 3 to 10 years Among them
were many outlaws, or feet footed
renegades that had lodged the round
ups or bolted the herds for years. The
Mexicans call them "lathinas" These
outlaws" came into possession Of the
Val Verde Land and Cattle company
. two years ago, by purchase from n. T
Wilson. president OF the ~ d" outfit
and in cleaning up their pastures the
} Val Verde company sold the outlaws
to Baldridgc Bros. While being held
at Ozona, on their way 10 San Angelo
they stampeded, tore down fences
J and started tornado Of hide, hair
) tails and horns but were rounded al
! end penne, after twenty hours Of hard
! riding by the COW punohers. In speak
. ing OF these cattle. the San Angelo
; Express said; "As passed the Indian
and buffalo. thus pass the big bronehc
, lbovines OF the valley and the plain