Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1910-03-31
CHANGES in the West.

Changes IN the West.
At the meeting Of the Christian Broth
erhood Monday evening, about one hun
dred men listened with great interest to a
talk by John F. Mead on recent changes
in conditions OF the West, especially in
the control OF land, concerning which
Mr.. Mead could speak from personal OBJ
servRtion gained at the Mead brothers
ranch near New England, N. ID.
At first. he said, the eattlemen used to
Lerd their stock at large, driving the ami
mails up from Texas for summer grazing
and taking them back in the fall. Later
they abandoned the southern migration
and fell into the habit of leaving the cat
tie out all winter, during which the herd
Jared, il not sumptuously, at least well
enough to exist without much loss OF
life.
Then came the sheepmen, who drove
out the rattlemen because sheep can live
where cattle would starve, aud the long
horned Texas steer had, in great measure,
to retire from the landscape. The feed OF
the grazing lands was not rich hut 1t was
abundant when thousands Of acres offered
pasturage.
The sheepmen, in turn have now bad
to give way to the small ranchers, who
have taken up quarter sections OF govern
ment land and follow regular methods OF
farming, raising wheat, fax and oats as
the principal crops. These ranchers bave
a greater care for their hocks aud herds
and provide haystacks for their winter
use.
The old conditions have nearly passed
away, and the country is being built mp
in a permanent fashion with small towns
and farms. The population is mostly
Norwegian and swedish with some Rus
SLAMS. Mr. Mead has lately received a To-
cal paper from the West, giving an &C
count OF a meeting of the settlers, who
were addressed in three languages, Rus
sian, Norwegian and Bohemian, but not a
word OF English, apparently, was spoken.
In the early days OF ranching, il was
not best to inquire too closely into
mans past; for some of those who drifted
West were wanted East to satisfy the de-
mands of outraged law and order. On
he Mead ranch a man was once killed by
an accident and not even his name was
known. From something he had once
said, it was surmised that be had moth
er living but no one knew where and be
was buried in an unnamed grave.
Mr.. Mead was followed by II. NJ. Gay
lord. who gave a description OF his trip
two years ago to Vancouver and the lum-
Der region at Jervis, where ne Is interest
ed in a claim under the Canadian govern
ment. There grow the red cedars and
iirs, which attain a height OF $50 feet and
are from 25 to as feet 10 circumference.
Mr.. Gaylord explained the met hods Of
numbering ia that section and told also Of
bis iourneying down the coast of Cali
iornia, TO Los Angeles, San Diego and
back by way Of Salt Lake City, Colorado
Springs and Denver
Col. A. B. Chandler SPOKE briefly Of the
grest changes in electrical development
in the last 25 years, in which the tele-
phone has outstripped the telegraph IN
amount OF business. Twenty-Five years
ago he provided Professor Bell with the
v ire to string his first experimental tele-
phone line from New York to Boston.
Since then the telephone business has
grown until now it has seven times 81
much money invested and seven times e.
much wire IS the telegraph.
DR.. K. o. Blanchard was the last speak
ar and in few words gave some impress
sions Of California trip be had taken.
The Brotherhood is TO have two more
before closing the season Of
i909-10, which has been one Of no little
enjoyment.