Omaha daily bee., 1909-06-27

they could not be shipped or disposed Of
to advantage.
While holding cattle for these purposes
the great advantages of Custer county as
a stock country were discovered and soon
became generally known. Not all the
ranchmen locating In Custer county, now
ever, came from the south and west. Some
came from Iowa and farther east. But
shortly after the discovery OF its advan-
tages as a grazing ground, Custer county,
with it's numerous, constant streams Of
pure water, its valleys OF hay land and its
hills OF splendid grazing land, became the
mecca Of the cattleman. Prior to 1872 it
was practically unoccupled.
In the winter Of 1869 and 1870, Captain
Streeter for the first time wintered cattle
in the territory now comprising Custer
county. He turned out in the fall on Ash
creek, a short distance south of Broken
Bow, S21 cattle, OF which $50 we're year
lings. They were all Texas cattle; the
following spring he rounded up $40, a loss
OF only two head. In 1872 John Harrington,
q cattleman from Texas. located a ranch
eight miles northwest OF tho point where
Galloway is now located, and he turned
out 1000 head of cattle.
Probably In the settlement OF the United
States no agricultural or grazing territory
OF a similar area witnessed such a rapid
accumulation OF wealth. Up to the winter
of 1901 the profits from the business had
exceeded the most ~sanguine expectation of
the ranchman.
The winters were mild and pleasant, with
plenty OF moisture during the springs and
summers. The buffalo grass on the hills
each year made a splendid growth. During
the spring and summer the cattle did not
Craze on this grass, for there was plenty
of blue-stem, grama and rye grass In the
valleys and lagoons. But with the advent
Of freezing weather the cattle at once went
to the hills to feed upon the buffalo grass.
No more valuable winter forage exists
than buffalo grass properly cured. Cattle
fed upon the best wild hay will not be in
better condition in the spring than those
which nave wintered upon buffalo grass.
In the economy OF nature, this grass seems
to have been created and brought forth es-
pecially for winter feed.
In those days there was a greater profit
in buying young Texas steers and holding
them than in raising calves, Yearling
steers brought here from Texas could be
bought at from IS to Sc per head, 2-year-
old for 50, 3-year-old for S2 to S14, COWS
from SO to s12. These same steers kept
on Custer county range for from eighteen
months to two years would sell from S25
to 40 and S5 per head. For a number Of
years no taxes were levied against the
cattle. No investment in real estate was
necessary. The cedar canons furnished
material for houses, corrals and fuel.
There was no expense for fencing, nor
wells. The increase in value was nearly
all profit. The only important items Of
expense in the business were supplies for
and wages to the cowboys. They received
s85 to $40 per month.
In 1877 three men and a cook were hold
ing a band OF 1000 Texas steers on the
Muddy, where Broken Bow no stands.
They had to night-herd the cattle every
night. They saw only one man pass dur
ing the three months they were there.
They received no mail and had nothing
to read. AS they were all young men who
had been reared in the far east, they ex-
perienced a lonely time shut In from the
outside world.
The winter Of 1851 marked the termina-
tion Of extraordinary profits In the cattle
industry OF Custer county. Already farm
ers had begun to migrate to the county
and select for their homes the level and
more fertile portions. This immigration
soon became a great stream n by 1881
all those parts OF the county most suitable
for agriculture had been taken. Free range
was at an end. The few ranchmen remain
ing after the winter OF lSS0-l were in q
constant struggle with the homesteader.
BY the close OF 1884 there were fully lS,OOC