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Mississippi valleys, and reaching from the extremes of the north and south, there is absolutely no spot where an unoccupied range can be secured for anything like a large herd of cattle. During what may very properly be termed the cattle boom, from 1880 to 1885, every breeding animal from Texas to Montana was saved, and the increase has spread out over the whole land. When the ranges were new, and grass was more abundant than cattle, fat animals were the rule everywhere, both in winter and summer. But the rapid increase has caused the winter range to be more or less eaten out in the summer, and the summer range is kept down so that in the autumn, when the fat is laid on by eating the cured grass, there is not enough to satisfy all the vast herds without going such long distances to water as to prevent the rapid taking on of fat. The result is that we are turning off feeders instead of beeves from most of our ranges in the fall, and the stock cattle go into winter in good condition, rather than fat, as formerly. Here lies the danger. If an animal goes into winter with a great roll of tallow inside to act as a steam heater for keeping up the animal heat it can endure an untold amount of cold and exposure without material damage. But if it goes into winter plump and round, yet without the full supply of tallow, the animal heat must be kept up by the daily food supply, which is not always obtainable. Hence the greater liability to loss.

The corn belts to the east are so near that our steers may be ripened on grain with a profit; but if we permit our herds to so increase that the cows and young stock all go into winter thin, we have no means of preventing heavy losses when a severe winter comes, as is liable at any time to happen. Safety lies in the direction of reducing rather than increasing our holdings.

But with breeding herds there is a continuously strong temptation to save the cows and heifers, hoping for a good winter, until calamity comes. This must be avoided by selling cows and spaying heifers until there is no surplus of stock on the range over what is absolutely safe against the storms of any winter.

The hard winters are what we must provide against. The good ones need no provision. A given area will carry through the year double the number of cattle when the summer is favorable for the growth of grass and followed by a dry autumn and mild winter that it will carry when the summer is dry, the grass short, and washed out by fall rains, to be followed by a winter of more than common severity. Yet this last-named condition is the one to be provided against, for there is the danger. Range men are beginning to realize that this is the vital question, and the next few years will witness a great change in this direction. The herds will be reduced. Until that time the danger-line will not have been passed. The only means whereby the range product may be increased is

ARTIFICIAL WATER SUPPLIES.

There are many high table-lands and ridges dividing the watersheds of the streams that flow from the mountains, where the grass is abundant, but the absence of water after the early spring renders it unavailable for stock. The sinking of wells on these ridges and plains, and the erection of windmills and tanks, would convert millions of acres of good grass into beef where now it is lost. But this. would require a very considerable outlay of money which, under our land system, stockmen are slow to risk. There is scarcely a doubt,

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however, but the time is near at hand when this will be done, for the reason that the increased thrift of the herds will more than repay the expense. Well-boring has been tried, and in many instances has proven satisfactory, and each year will, undoubtedly, witness more. and more of it, until all of the waste places are made productive. Let the good work go on, for it adds immensely to the comfort of the great herds that wander over the grassy plains, and will lead them up to winter's gate in much better condition to stand the stormy blasts.

While the above conditions are almost universal in the range country, it is particularly true of the great Southwest. A very large per cent. of New Mexico and Arizona consists of far-reaching mesas, or high plains, where there is a prolific growth of the celebrated black gramma grass, but no water save in the short seasons of rain. There are millions of acres of this kind of land now wholly unproductive that could be utilized for range purposes if an artificial water supply could be obtained at a reasonable cost, thus adding thousands of head of choice beef animals to the yearly output of the plains country. In a few instances stockmen have gone on to these high plains and sunk wells, putting up windmills, and arranging a system of troughs for watering their stock. One good well, properly provided with tanks so as to store the water and fill the troughs therefrom as needed, can be safely counted upon to furnish water for one thousand cattle. But to provide against accidents it is necessary to have the well supplied with an extra pump and a horse-power that can be used when the wind fails or the machinery gets out of order.

Experienced range men all admit that the lack of water, both in summer and in winter, is one of the greatest sources of loss to the cowman. It causes a double loss. First, the lack of a sufficient supply of water daily and within convenient reach causes a slow growth in the young animals and prevents the rapid ripening of the matured ones. Second, it sends many more into the winter thin in flesh, and the absence of tallow leaves them unable to endure the hardships of an exceptionally severe winter. Hence, this is a problem requiring careful thought by stockmen themselves and some consideration at the hands of the Government, whose duty it is to aid in every practicable way the increase of the food supply of the nation.

WINTER RANGES.

The arid region, as a range country, is absolutely safe under all ordinary circumstances if only stocked to its capacity; but a range that affords feed for one thousand cattle ought not to be expected to carry two thousand head. The grasses of this region generally spring early on account of the winter snow-fall and the spring rains, then cure as they stand, and make the best of fall and winter feed; but there must be enough of it to supply the herd. There is enough of the range country bare of snow, or with so slight a covering as not to cover the grass, always accessible to cattle for them to live upon and do well, if the grass has not been eaten down too short. The winter range should be reserved for the winter. If cattle are allowed to graze in summer over the winter feed they eat off the seed and tramp it down, so that the most nutritious portion is gone when most it is needed. Besides, if the grass remains standing it is not so apt to be covered up by the snow. There is always more or less wind on the plains and sweeping around the hill-sides. The tall stems of

grass that extend above the snow are caught by the wind, and in a few moments the motion creates an opening about it that permits a current of air to rush in, generating sufficient force to soon lay bare the ground and form a whirlwind that drifts and twirls until a large area is freed from its covering, and the cattle are enabled to get their fill. With the grass trampled down the wind passes over the smooth surface, and a much higher wind is necessary to lift the snow-fall than is required where the tall grass is caught as above mentioned. The rule to be adopted in the matter of stocking a given range should be its capacity under the most unfavorable circumstances. A dry summer and short grass are liable to be followed by a hard winter. The number of cattle that will live and do well under these circumstances should be looked upon as the maximum that the range will support in safety, and no more should be placed thereon. During favorable years a larger number could be kept, but no one can tell when the good or bad years are coming. So the only safe plan is to be content with this number, and get the benefit of the extra good years in the greatly increased growth of the cattle. In the early days of the cattle industry on the plains the losses were extremely light and the cattle were always fat. Winter and early spring beef could be gathered from every herd. Why? Because there was an abundance of grass for grazing all the year. The grass grows just as well now as it did then, but there are too many cattle to eat it, and the winter range is more or less disturbed during the summer months. Absolute safety means a considerable reduction of, the number of cattle now on the open ranges, if recourse is not to be had to hay-feeding, which in most cases is only partially practicable—that is, can only be done for a part of the herd. With the proper reduction of numbers the herds would be more profitable, the investment considered better than at present for the reason that losses from the inclemencies of the season would be unknown, and the growth of all the animals would be increased 20 per cent. at a low estimate. The temptation to overstock is very great, but range men must learn to withstand the temptation.

RANGE TENURE.

The question of range tenure is one that has caused considerable discussion of late, and is likely to become a matter of very great importance to the entire range country. This matter could be easily and speedily adjusted by the General Government if it would take hold of it and distribute the holdings under some uniform and reasonable basis of leasing. But opinion is greatly divided on this subject in the West, and in the East a general objection is raised. Many Eastern people believe that there is no arid region suited only for grazing, and assert that the whole of the great plains should be left open to the farmer who may desire to take up a 160-acre homestead. Under these circumstances the presumption is that the range country will remain as now, open to the herds of all who desire to occupy it. It remains, then, for the occupants themselves to adjust. the question of range rights by some mutual agreement that will insure safety to their herds and protect them against the intrusion of others. Experience thus far seems to point to "water rights" as the key to the solution. The great bulk of the range country is covered by the land laws of the United States, and title can be secured only to small areas of land, and this by actual settlement or improvement

under the desert act that make land ownings very expensive. Water holes and running streams are scarce and widely separated, and in consequence but a small proportion of the plains and mountains will ever be secured by virtue of occupancy or improvement under any of the present laws. The hardships and expense incident to securing title to these watered lands are far in excess of their real value, and no one would think of making the effort but for the fact that their ownership carries a sort of squatter-sovereignty title, or a right of occupancy to the waste lands lying back of the water. Without access to the water the plains and hillsides in the rear are entirely valueless; they will produce no crop but grass, and this is only valuable by reason of the herds thereon being able to go down to the water at will to slake their thirst.

There would seem to be but one standard by which to measure the range rights of ranch men as between themselves, and that is their individual water rights.. There is vastly more arid than watered land, and if each ranch man was held to that number of cattle for which he owned a necessary supply of water, there would be enough grazing territory tributary to maintain his herd with safety and profit. But even should this become recognized as the basis of settlement for this vexed question, its execution could only be properly entrusted to the local associations. There is such a wide difference in localities very near together as to the quantity of both water and grass, that the stockmen of one section would not be competent to sit in judgment on the claims of another. It is a subject beyond the reach of State or Territorial legislation, and can only be reached by arbitration, compromise, and general consent. This would be reasonable, fair, and honest between man and man. Of course there are no statute laws under which the provisions of such an agreement could be enforced; but individual and business honor between the parties would be a reasonable guaranty of its fulfillment if once generally entered into. Beside, under the widespread regulations of the stock associations of the range, the plan could be very generally made a success by reason of the rules of working that all are required to live up to under the penalty of forfeiture of membership and associated benefits. This rule has been adopted in a few districts, and the results have, so far, proven satisfactory. In some cases where, for instance, the public lands have not been surveyed, and there is absolutely no way in which titles to land can be secured, this rule might work a hardship. Actual possession in such cases would have to be recognized as ownership until the conditions were changed.

This is really a matter of grave and growing importance, and should receive the serious thought of all range stockmen until this or some other plan is hit upon to govern the question of "how many cattle. shall be placed on a given range area?" Its proper solution bears. directly on the main proposition, safety to our herds, and the one of all others that most concerns the future and the permanency of the industry.

SANITARY SUGGESTIONS.

Like the balance of the United States, the range country is more or less nervous over the existence of contagious pleuro-pneumonia in some of the States east of the Mississippi River. Western men realize the grave danger to the plains cattle should the germ of any contagion once be brought in, and while they have faith in the honesty

and good intentions of the Bureau of Animal Industry and its agents, they know that until the law is so amended as to give them authority to slaughter all diseased and infected animals there is danger of its being carried to the herds of the unfenced ranges of the plains. There are but two agents of the Bureau to cover the range country from Texas to Montana. This is so wide an area that nothing like a proper surveillance can be made by the employés personally. But by co-operation with the cattle-growers' associations and the livestock sanitary authorities a very complete system of inspection may be secured.

Every State and Territory in the range country has a State or Territorial stock association, and the officers of these organizations are in the fullest sympathy with the designs and efforts of the Bureau, Most of these range States and Territories have sanitary boards, or veterinarians with full power to act in emergencies, and most of the States immediately east of the range have created by law sanitary boards. Thus a network of co-operation may, by proper effort, be secured to guard the frontier and watch the range. Texas and Dakota are without adequate live-stock sanitary laws looking to protection. Governor Ross, of Texas, has made an earnest appeal to the legislature to pass suitable laws on this subject, and with the strong support of all the cattle men of the State it is believed the necessary laws will be passed this winter. Dakota is also making an effort in this direction.

The stock associations are made up of the best men in the West, and their influence is potent in shaping legislation. By cultivating the closest relations of co-operation with these associations their united labors may be secured to mould or aid in shaping uniform legislation under the reserved police powers of the States and Territories, of such stringency as to be.a real protection. In this way it is hoped a much greater degree of safety may be secured.

The railroads are another adjunct of strength that may be secured with little trouble. Every railroad leading to the range has a direct interest in the cattle of the plains, amounting to from 20 to 30 per cent. of the entire cattle investment. Interviews with the managers of several of these roads justify me in saying that they will fully co-operate with the Bureau agents and the sanitary boards in all legitimate efforts to keep diseased or exposed cattle from moving west. By the union of action thus outlined, and the promulgation of uniform rules and regulations covering the entire range frontier, it would be rendered comparatively easy for the railroad employés to effectively co-operate with the sanitary boards by giving notice of all stock distined for the west, when not accompanied by the proper bills of health.

The entire Western country may and should learn a lesson from the course pursued by the officials of Wyoming Territory. The law of that Territory makes the veterinarian a sort of autocrat, with full authority to quarantine everything at the border not showing unquestioned evidence of freedom from disease or exposure thereto. A clearly understood set of rules have been adopted, and their non-fulfillment is cause for quarantine. A simple examination of stock by an expert and his certificate of health is no evidence that there has been no exposure. If any difference, there is more danger than from diseased ones. Diseased cattle are at once slaughtered or quarantined, and healthy ones kept from them. Exposed cattle may be allowed to mix with the herds, and by the time of the development

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