ceptions that establish the rule. In Southern breeding ranges, where breeding outfits are at work during the greater part of the year, steers are necessarily moved about and disturbed to that extent that they will not take on fat as when allowed to control their own movements. In the North on fresh ranges, with abundance of water and shelter during favorable years, satisfactory calf crops have been secured. Experience has demonstrated that during severe winters occasionally to be experienced the per cent. of losses falls on the she cattle and calves. A knowledge of these facts has caused prudent investors to take advantage of the natural condition of things, and to utilize Southern ranges for breeding purposes and Northern ranges for fattening, necessitating the annual movement of cattle from South to North. Owing to the drought which was so prevalent over the greater part of the range country last season, and the low prices. that beeves were bringing in the markets of slaughter, Northern buyers limited their purchases of Southern cattle to a number that was considerably less than had been anticipated. The total number of cattle en route to Northern ranges last season that passed Trail City, in Colorado, on the Arkansas River near the Kansas line, was 184,052 head, as reported by the Colorado Veterinarian. The era of good feeling which was inaugurated at the range cattle growers' meeting a year ago between the stockmen of the South and North was fully secured by the labors of Mr. F. B. York, Arthur Gorham, R. G. Head, and myself, who were selected to adjust all questions which had been in controversy between the two sections. These gentlemen formulated the following agreement, which was signed by Messrs. York and Head:

Whereas, F. B. York, of Saint Louis, Mo., representing certain parties holding and ranching cattle along what is known as the Dallas trail upon the one side, and R. G. Head, of Colorado, certain drovers of Texas cattle upon the other, realize the great annoyance, the loss of property and general dissatisfaction affecting both parties hereto which have resulted from the movement of cattle in previous years over the various trails leading from Texas, and more especially during the year 1885, over what is known as the Dallas trail, which trail runs north from Wichita Falls, Tex., passing through the western portion of the Indian Territory, and from thence through the western portion of the Cherokee strip; thence to a point near the northwest corner of the Panhandle of Texas; and

Whereas it is believed that cattle from certain sections of Texas in their migration from the South to the North have imparted or communicated to the native cattle along the line of this trail with which they come in contact, splenic fever; and Whereas the absence hitherto of any rules or requirements by which the movement of such trail cattle might be governed, with a view of respecting and protecting the rights, holdings, and property of each, has caused great inconvenience and given rise to murmurs of general discontent and dissatisfaction, to say nothing of the heavy expenditures of money and losses of property entailed upon all concerned, and interruption of interstate commerce which has followed:

Therefore, we, the representatives of the above-mentioned interest, have formally made and entered into the following agreement, and we firmly believe that by a strict observance of the same by all parties each and every interest involved will receive just and adequate protection; that fr.endly relations will be restored and cemented, and the general welfare of all concerned will be promoted to a high degree of satisfaction. The following is the agreement:

First. That all cattle driven or shipped from that portion of Texas lying west and north of the following line, which area it is believed is absolutely safe ground and free from contagion and infection, are to be permitted to pass over what is known as the Dallas trail through the Cherokee strip, without hinderance or 'restriction. The following is the line: Beginning at the Red River, at the northeast corner of Wilbarger County; thence south along the east line of Baylor, Throckmorton, Shackleford, Callahan, and Coleman Counties to the Colorado River in the southeast corner of Coleman County; thence with the Colorado River to the southeast corner of Llano County; from thence along the east line of Gillespie County, the east and south line of Kendall County, the east line of Bandera County, the east and south

line of Medina County, and the east and south line of Zavalla County; from thence due west to Eagle Pass, on the Rio Grande.

Second. All cattle moved from that portion of Texas lying east and south of the above-described line, and west and north of the following-described line, are to be permitted to pass over what is known as the Dallas trail, through the Cherokee strip, when driven the entire distance by trail from their native ranges, but when shipped by rail any part of the distance forty-five days must elapse from the date of being unloaded from the cars before an entry shall be made into the said Cherokee strip.

The restricted locality.-The following is the line to which these restrictions will apply: Beginning at a point on Red River in the northwest corner of Grayson County; thence south to Dallas, and from thence due south to Waco; thence south, following the line of the Missouri Pacific Railroad to its junction with the International and Great Northern at Taylor; thence southwest, following the line of said International and Great Northern Railroad, to Laredo, on the Rio Grande.

Third. All cattle moved from the remaining portions of Texas, east and south of the last-described line, shall be permitted to pass over the said tract through said Cherokee strip, after a period of sixty days, when driven the entire distance by trails from their native ranges; but when shipped by rail any portion of the distance a period of seventy-five days must elapse before an entry shall be made into the said Cherokee strip. In the absence of other evidence as to the lapse of time where cattle are driven by trail, the bill of sale and inspectors' certificate will be accepted as evidence, and where cattle have been shipped by rail the shipper's contract, showing the date of release from the cars, will be accepted as evidence.

Held to the trails.-All cattle driven over the said trail through the said Territory shall be confined strictly to the limits of said trail; and further, all cattle so driven shall pass through the chutes or lanes, erected along the line of the trail by order of the Dallas convention, and the ranch men along the route to cross the trail with their native cattle, so as to secure freedom from exposure to disease.

It is expected, and we most respectfully request, that Texas drovers will use all possible care in passing over the route indicated to protect the range interest, and not permit their stock to mix with the range cattle along the route where it is possible to avoid so doing.

F. B. YORK.
R. G. HEAD.

So far as my knowledge goes, this agreement was generally observed. There were two violations which were probably unintentional, and would not have occurred had time permitted full knowledge of the agreement to have been disseminated. These two herds were from the infected and prohibited districts of Texas, and were shipped to Harrold, Texas, and driven thence north, arriving at the Colorado line before the lapse of a sufficient length of time to purge them of infection. The Colorado authorities, obtaining information of the facts, promptly quarantined these herds, where they were held the required length of time.

The results of the drive were just as the parties to the contract anticipated. No splenic fever was developed anywhere north of Texas so long as the terms of the compact were lived up to.

After the violation of the agreement there were few Northern cattle, or these from north of the fever line, moved over the trail, and in consequence but little damage. There was one herd moved from the Indian Territory over the trail after the passage of the Southern herds mentioned as not complying with the agreement, and about twenty head of cattle died in consequence.

The experience of last year demonstrates very conclusively that if this agreement is honestly lived up to no trouble will follow. It also proves that its violation brings trouble, and that the agreement must be strictly enforced.

This demonstrates that the movement of cattle from even the infected districts of Texas to Northern ranges can be made without endangering the health of Northern cattle by the adoption of such re

strictive measures as experience has shown will prevent the communication of the disease.

It affords me pleasure to say that general good feeling prevails among the stockmen of the arid region, and a willingness to comply with the necessary sanitary regulations, which is well illustrated by the following resolution introduced at the recent range cattle growers' meeting by Mr. Ike T. Pryor, of Texas, which was unanimously adopted:

Resolved, That we, as representatives of the range-cattle industry, do hereby recommend and request that all parties driving cattle from any State or Territory to another where quarantine regulations exist do faithfully comply with such rules and regulations as their respective sanitary boards may agree upon, and we heartily disapprove of any attempt to violate said rules and regulations.

WESTERN HORSES.

For the last decade the breeding of horses has increased very rapidly in all the Western States and Territories. This has been especially noticeable during the past few years. Seeing that ranges were largely overstocked, feed on some eaten off and short, and that recent winters have brought loss in cattle, there is a growing disposition among parties predisposed to investment in cattle to prefer the breeding of horses. This preference is induced not only by the large demand and remunerative prices paid for really good horses in large cities, but from the fact that however severe the winter, and however heavy the loss of other live stock, the percentage of horses reported dead is always very light.

When snow is not deeper than their knees, sheep will paw away the snow to reach grass, but other cloven-footed stock, especially cattle, will not paw through snow to reach feed. During deep snows cattle go to the hills where the wind has swept away the snow, leaving feed exposed, or where the grass is tall and projects above the snow. Unless the snow has laid on the ground a long time, and their noses have become sore from such continued use, cattle will nose" and root down through snow to reach grass. If the snow is encrusted and hard on top they can not do this, but rely upon following the strongest of their band, and eating the grass exposed in the trail made by their footsteps. But range cattle are never known to paw away snow to reach feed.

On the contrary, horses will paw away snow several feet in depth and obtain grass at any time, where the depth of the snow does not reach up to their bellies. There is only one condition in which horses will not paw down to feed, and that is where the surface of the earth, under the snow, as sometimes happens, is covered with a glare of ice several inches thick. This soon cuts away their hoofs, rendering them foot-sore and unable to paw for feed. Horses bite off the grass much closer to the ground than cattle, and will exist on short ranges where cattle would starve. It is because of their ability to obtain feed under unfavorable circumstances that horses thrive on the range, during winter, better than other range-bred animals. This fact, together with increasing demand and better prices year by year, has made the horse business of the West remunerative and attractive.

We can not answer why the demand for horses continues to increase year by year more rapidly than steam and electric motors invented seemingly to supersede them. But the fact remains. What

ever the cause of the demand, it must be supplied from the best and cheapest source. Increasing sales of Western horses every year indicate that the demand will be largely supplied from the West. Recognizing the profit to be made in supplying this demand, Western stockmen have imported largely and bred to Percherons, Clydesdales, Cleveland bays, French coachers, Belgians, Hambletonians, Arabs, Morgans, Canadians, and every strain of pure-bred horses, not even slighting the Shetland, Iceland, and other pony breeds. To such general extent has this grading up been brought that the horsebreeding establishments of the West are now prepared to sell any class of horses desired, from the smallest pony for ladies' and children's use to the heaviest draft-horse for city trucks, stylish coachers, carriage horses, saddlers, serviceable, heavy, "all-round" horses for farm use, and thoroughbred racing stock. It is not the prophecy of an enthusiast, but a fact readily established by personal inspection, that the finest horses of the world are to come from our Western plains and mountain valleys.

One of the reasons of the superiority of Western horses is attributable to the dry, exhilarating, pure air, and an equable climate. The admitted superior constitution and endurance of Western range-bred horses is due largely to the fact that the colt, being born in mountains or valleys, frequently miles from water, is compelled to travel with its mother, before twenty-four hours old, on her journey for a drink, and this is thenceforward a part of its daily exercise. The horse is in many respects like a man. To be useful he must possess will power, and the roaming life on the plains imparts this characteristic to both.

Eastern horses have been bred in bondage generation after generation, while the range horse has known only the freedom and exercise of the range. The result is that the range-bred horse has "lungs of leather, hoofs of iron, and sinews of steel." Western horses are very much like the people-made up of all nations and in many instances better than those they came from.

When the Western stockman first recognized the increasing demand for horses his impulse was to improve his stock of natives by importing and breeding to the best thoroughbred stallions obtainable from the East, Canada, and Europe. While this has been so far productive of fine classes of grades and undeniable improvement and enhanced usefulness and value, there are certain qualities in both our native horses and native cattle which can not be bred away without losing some essentially good characteristics. We refer to their rustling qualities, reproductiveness, rapid breeding, and to the care and success of the mothers in raising their young, and to their ability for long-continued service and rough usage. It seems these well-known qualities of the original rough, range-bred native pony stock-the Mustangs, Marsh Tackeys, Cherokees, Sioux, and Cayuses have something in them worth preserving, if possible.

In the general improvement and breeding-up, it may be well not to breed our range-horses too fine, or, as with cattle, it may be found that they will lose to a great degree their qualities of reproductiveness and ability to endure rough usage.

It will be seen, then, that this branch of animal industry, employing millions of dollars of capital, with brightest promises of producing millions more, merits the encouraging and protecting care of our Government. The East, with her great industrial centers, must look to the West to supply her with the draft-horses of commerce.

The farmers of the East have failed to so do in sufficient numbers, and they never can raise and supply a horse as cheaply as the West, because our range-bred horses are never fed until they are taken off the range at three and four years of age and put to work.

Peace is a thing devoutly to be prayed for, but it is a condition that has never existed continually in the history of any government. Therefore in time of peace it is wise to be prepared for war. In the event of war our Government would have of necessity to rely on the West to mount her cavalry, as the West is the only section today prepared to furnish horses in any quantity at all suitable for cavalry use; and while Western horses may not at this date fill the entire requirements of the present army standard for cavalry horses, there are hundreds of thousands of Western range-bred horses whose hardiness and endurance would be especially valuable for irregulars like the Cossacks of Russia, the Uhlans of Germany, and for mounted infantry.

It is said that France expends $3,000,000 annually in the improvement of her horses. Some encouragement from our Government, with a few years more of judicious breeding up to a proper standard, would enable our Western horse-raisers to supply an unlimited number of superb horses, entirely suitable to the standard and requirements for cavalry horses. Looking to the future of the horse business of the West, there are a few simple things that will continue to render the industry profitable for long years to come; first, freedom from disease; second, favorable climatic conditions; third, ability of horses to feed far back from water where grass is untouched and best; and fourth, the ability of horses to thrive where cattle can scarcely live.

So great is the confidence in the future continued profit of the Western horse business that one company, operating in Idaho and Oregon, runs" 8,000 native mares on the range. The grades of these, bred principally from Percheron and Hambletonian stallions, when broken, are sold readily in eastern markets for street-cars, trucks, deliverywagons, and carriages. From the stock of this one firm alone may be obtained well-broken and serviceable horses of any class for commercial and family use, and wherever tested their good lungs, powers of endurance, and sound feet have proved them especially valueable for service on the stone-paved streets of cities. In California the large amount invested in thoroughbreds in the Palo Alto stables implies confidence that the racing stock bred there will continue to maintain their reputation for producing horses that make fast time.

A further reason for the continuance of the range horse business is the ability of horses to feed far out from water. Horses will "use" dry stretches of range which could not be utilized for other live stock without the expenditure of large sums of money in affording artificial supplies of water. Owing to this fact horses can be run on the same range with cattle without detriment to the latter, and a large amount of grass thus economized that otherwise would rot on the ground and be wasted.

To realize the largest profits from Western horses breeders must put them on the market broken and gentled. Eastern buyers have neither the inclination nor the horse-taming experience to handle unbroke and range-bred horses. They desire to buy well-broken animals, ready for immediate service.

With the rapid development of the semi-arid lands on the border of the range country, and the consequently largely increased number