The Coconino sun., 1920-07-30

The page of brands printed in The Sun arouses much curiosity among eastern readers, who have no idea of western ranges and the vast scope of country covered by range stock. The following story of brands may en- tighten many eastern readers as to why cattle and horse brands are ad- Vetised and what they mean to the western stockman:
 Romance, comedy, and tragedy, which .have played so large a part in the development of Texas and the southwest, cluster thick around those cabalistic signs by which the ranch CTS of Texas have identified their cat tie for the last few centuries. Around these "brands" have centered thrill ing deeds enough to fill several vol tunes, not to mention some thousands of feet of movie-film. The simple marks have been the means of bring ing swift retribution to a host of outlaws; they have served as the basis for transactions involving the sale of untold millions of head of cat tie. Men have died with great sud- denness because of an unexpected crook in "C" or an unusual angle in the placing of a "K". A writer for the New York Evening Post has made some investigations of these markings with the following interest ing results:
 The records of the Texas Cattle Raisers' association show that there are more than 5000 registered brands in that state, says an Austin cores pendent of the Los Angeles Times. No two brands are alike. Usually each brand represents a separate ranch. It is often the case that a ranch is much better known by the brand of it's cattle than by the name of the owner. Owners may change, but the brand never. When Herman do Cortez conquered Mexico, in the early part of the sixteenth century, he established ranch upon the 18th mus of Tehuantepec. The cattle bore his brand. Although that was nearly 400 years ago, the cattle upon that ranch today bear the original Cortez brand.
 The origin of the cattle brand dates back to the dim dawn of history. In the days of free grass and open range the brand was an absolute ne- cessity in order that the owners might identify their cattle in the annual round up. With the coming of wire fences this necessity was largely ob- viated, but the brand served still to place guilt upon cattle thieves. This purpose is still served and this fact accounts largely for the retention of the brands by all of the ranchmen.
 Ingenious methods are sometimes used by cattle thieves to change ex- isting brands upon stolen stock. Most of the members of the Texas Ranger force are experts in the matter of de- tecting the disguising or changing of brands.
 The cattle brands of some ranches are an intangible asset of great value. These brands have come to stand for honesty in dealing, honesty in weight, and breeding, just as the heraldry of mighthood stood for honor, for brav- cry, and for noble deeds and accom- plisment. The announcement that cat tie of certain brand are offered for sale is often sufficient guaranty so that no precaution against fraud of any kind is taken.
 In the record of brands every let ter of the alphabet is represented, and some letters are found in three or four positions. An exception is "O", which has but one shape, in any posi- tion, and therefore can be used only