Year: 1878

by the time the cattle are separated each dav
tne baggage wagons have come up, also the
nerds previously gathered, and each owner adds
TO his own herd the cattle bearing his brand
that he has collected in the DAYS ''rouud up."
But not yet are the labors of the day ended
All Is hustle and activity till late in the even
Ing and II the weather be stormy most Of the
men must be on the alert all night. Fresh DO
MES are to be caught up out Of the Cayallard
and saddled for night use in herding the cattle
already gathered; the men In charge of the
herds are to be relieved and others detailed To
lake their places; the condition of ths horses Is
70 be 'ked after; shoeing and repairInglmust
be done disputes settled and an eye had to the
contine oncies of wind and weather, for Il Ia ona
thing to hold herd of several thousand wild
cattle upon the open plain on fine, calm night,
and quite different thing to do 1t In a heavy
wind-storm or furious rain-squall,


Meanwhile the cooks 10 charge of the proyi-
sion wagons have got their camp-ires blazing.
and after the hurried supper Of fried meat
bread and strong coffee, the men detailed for
the first watch go on guard, while the rest roll
themselves In their blankets to sleep till their
turn comes to mount horse, shortly after mid
night, and stand guard with the second watch
until early morning.


The average hours of work during the round
up are from sixteen to eighteen daily, during
which the men are almost constantly In tho
saddle.


Eneir average pay during the busy season Is
about thirty-five dollars per month. The ma.
Jorlty OF them are young men from the East.
OF more than average intelligence, pluck and
ambition. for whom the excitement, novelty
and freedom of this out-of-door life have a
strong fascination. AS a rule they are temper
ate and save their earnings to buy few cattle
Tor themselves every year, while il is q point of
nonor with them to be zealously devoted to
their employers interests and never to let an
animal bearing his brand escape them. After
few seasons practice they become skillful
riders, able to vie in feats of horsen anship with
the Oldest Texan or Spanish-American Vae-
queras. Their mode of life insures splendid
health, and any disability, either from accident
or disease, is extremely rare.


The roundup commonly lasts about six
weeks, and is terminated for each owner when
he gets to his own ranch. Than begins tbe
process OF branding the calves born since the
previous autumn and which have followed THAR
mothers through all the vicissitudes of the
roundup. This process is continued upon fresh
relays OF calves during the summer and until
all the seasons increase are branded. Each
owner adopts whatever brand he pleases so il
does not too closely resemble that of anv other
owner, and the same is recorded in the county
srcnves like the title-dseds to real estate, and
Is also published in the newspapers and


Brand Book. THIS brand, frequently con-
slsting OF the owners initials or, where his name
is short one, of the full name, as in the case
OF my host, Is burned into the hide of the ami
NAL, usually on the left side, and effectually
prevents any future dispute as to Its ownership.
should an animal be sold to remain in the
country instead Of for slaughter or shipment.
the vendor oounterbrands it-that Is, puts on
another brand, also recorded, to show that his
right is extlnguished. To alter or obliterate n
brand is felony by statute, and one may claim
any animal bearing his brand wherever found.


ln the case of cattle stealing, now q ysry rare
occurrence in this part Of Colorado the ranch.
men commonly take the matter into their own
hands aud obviate the laws delay by hanging
the culprit. Many such cases have occurred in
former years, and it is very unfortunate thing





STOOD. Bad company is greatly to be avoided
IN these regions, as case that occurred hare
some time ago illustrates. Three men, travel
ling on the plains, desiring some fresh meat
shot calf and proceeded to cook It, A young
man happening along was invited by them to
dlnner. Soma ranchmen, attracted by the bel
lowing OF the cow, rode up and surprised the
party at their meal. The branded skin of the
calf and the distress of the mother explained
now matters stood, and the ranchnen forth.
with hanged the entire party. including the
innocent and unfortunate guest, who was yery
much out OF luck that day. This, although an
actual occurrence, Is too extreme a case to be
fairly representative Of the mode Of procedure
on the Plains; but it is fact generally under
stood, and one intended to be we'll understood.
that except in the way of friendly assistance
one NEEDLES with another mans cattle at the
peril OF his life, and that thief is pest to be
summarily extsrminated without pity or re-
morse. The suppression of theft has been
greatly furthered by the perfect understanding
and friendiness that exists among the cattle
owners. Every ones ranch is always open to
every ether "cattle-nan," and extends to him
unlimited disqualification that matter every
stranger is entertained as a matter of course
without thought Of remuneration; and shonld
q ranchman in coming TO the house Of another
ind no one there it is expected that he will
make himself perfectly at home and use the
provisions, cooking utensils aud bedding as IL
they were his own, In SO sparsely populated a
country as this no one is expected to 90 away
from home and Intentionally leave his house
locked; and should he chance to do so the first
passer-by who msy have occasion to enter will
only recognize the fastening as an accidental
oversight or act OF absent-miudedness on the
part OF the owner, aud will enter all the same.
Yet there are probably few safer places in the
world in which to leave any valuable article
that may not be continually under the owners
eye than these same open houses on the Colo
RADIO plains


The general roundup above described Is SUP.
plemented during the summer and autumn By
subOrdinsted cattle-hunts'' similar to it in cnsr-
acter, but on a smaller scale, for the purpose Of
gathering all unbranded calves and fat beeves
The average annual increase of calves is about
seventy-fve per cent, and heifers as a rule
commence bearing at eighteen months or two
years old. The steers are ready for beef at
-
not mature till year later.


The number of calves branded per annum at
this ranch exceedsa thousand head, aud about
eight hundred fat beeves are sold annually.
In September and October of every year the
fat cattle are selected from the herd and put on
board the cars of the X. P. R. R. at Hugo, and
shipped direct to Kansas City, which Is the
great cattle market of the far West. Over
half million head of beeves are sold Of that
point annually, mostly to Eastern shippers, By
whom they are distributed throughout the
Western, Middle and Eastern States-some of
them finding their way-to Liverpool and Lon
don.


The total cost of marketing the beef from
this ranch, including freight, commissioners
and all incidental expenses, is about four dol
lars per head, and the average price received
this season for three year old half-breed steers
was thrty-eight dollars (S38) per head at Kan.
sas City. With the branding of the late calves
ana final shipment of the beef in the autumn,