Arizona republican., 1917-06-17
No. of Animals

Year No. of Animals
lSVV OV,fAO
1910 81, 745
In the report of the government on
the Territory of Arizona in 1882 we
find many facts mentioned regarding
the cattle industry in the county. At
this time, the cattle industry ranked
second in Importance to mining in the
county. The yearlings sold for $500
per head, 2-year- olds for $1,000, while
the 3-year- odds sold for $500 per
head. 1t is stated in this connection
that the cattle on foot brought five
cents a pound. Judging from these
figures We may conclude that the ami
mails must have been small and they
were probably of Mexican type and so
wild that they could not be made fat.
The following year it seems that the
demand for cattle in the county had in
creased and the size of the animals
was greater for the price was reported
to be $4,000 for 3-year- olds, $4,000 for
2year-olds, and $500 for year4ings.
Certain reports give an estimate of
J 5000 head of cattle in the county as
early as 1888. This figure seems ex-
aggerated, but no doubt the industry
was well developed even at such an
! early date.
In Eearly Days
Hinton in a book written on the
Resources of Arizona" says in 1873
that ella county offers many advan-
tages to the stock raiser and in fact
the entire county is one vast range
| clothed from end to end with some
of the richest grasses to be found in
| the territory. Little of this is now in
use. Water can be secured at little
cost The county is open to occupation
and cattle in the county are estimated
at l 900 head" This is an evidence that
| the county must have been recognized
to have excellent grazing qualities al
a very early date.
The next report available regarding
| the county is in the year 1899. when
there were reported to be 5S.645 cattle
1t is apparent that there has been much
Improvement effected in the quality
of the animals as there had been ami
mails of superior merit shipped into the
county. In 1873. Hinton states that
there were a few head of cattle in the
| White Mountains and some of them
came from the finest stock in Missouri
1t is fortunate that the stockmen al
this early time appreciated the advant-
ages resulting from good blood These
! improved animals must have beer
stolen by Indians or killed, for back in
1890 it was reported that there Were
no pure bred cattle or even high grades
in ella county.
| The cattle in the county increa sed
so rapidly that in 1898 the ranges were
erstocbed. although the total num-
Der of cattle in the county at that time
was not any greater than it was il
| the few proceeding years. During this
year, there were over 100000 head Of
cattle shipped out of Arizona, many
because of lack of feeding and over
grazing of the range. At this time
there were over $4,000 head of cattle
worth $405, 202.00 in the county. Sew
eral years ago, we note the statement
that there We're sold from ella county
10000 head of cattle that brought the
owners s300,000.00 in one year
Effect of Railroad
When branch line of the Southern
Pacific railroad reached Globe, there
was big sale made of the cattle. Ir
1898 there were 42,757 cattle in the
county and ella ranged fifth in point
,, of numbers and value among the coun-
ties of the state.