Cattle On The Plains

How the cattle business is conducted on the plains, very few outside of those engaged in the business there, have any deflnite idea. The Sidney (Neb.) Plaindealer's description of the methods folio wed will not be devoid of interest: First ach owner selects some brand for his herd, and every head of stock is branded and then turned on their respective ranges. ïhe stock thus turned loose go where they choose, sometimes remain on their range, but generally drifting here, there and everywhere over the vast prairies of western Nebraska, Wyoming and Colorado, finding their own food, care, water and shelter. Ech spring, beginning early in May, the cattle owners meet and appoint a certain time for the beginning of the round up, and on that d;iy representativej from the cattle owners or the owners tbeinselves asseinble at an appointed place; a wagon is provided tor each mess as they style it, in whieh the men, ranging ïroin six to fifteen, put their baggage and blankets. The cook's mess box is on the back end of the wagon. Ahnost military precisión and discipline are observed. From tive to ten ponies are in use by each man. This nurnber seems to an itiated person more than necessary for the prosecution of the work, but when it is remembered that most of the time these horsfs are on the keen juinp af ter some stray cow, calf or buil, which from the freedom they have enjoyed for a year in roaming the plains or liills are as wild as an untamed buffalo. then it is plain enough to the most unsophisticated that horses are soon run down. ïhese riding ponies arekept inabuneh by each mess and are in charge, day and night, of men hired for the purpose oï herding them. Grain is never fed to them, the nutritious grasses of the hills and plains furnishing abundant sustenance. The men ride the ground all over, searching every bluff and ravine in order tofind all the stock, and as fast as an animal is found it is driven to a herd f i om which each owner cuts out those of nis brand and takes them to h's own herd and so on. Every day the cattle are gathered togetl'er, all unbianded calve3 are branded, and this thing is kept up till the entire route previously agreed upon as the field of opevations has been thoroughly scoured, and each man takes his cattle to his range. The round-up naturally is an expesive business, extending as it does over a territory of 300 to 400 miles square. But its etliciency in proving property, and keeping cattle on the ranges where they belong makes it necessary, as long as cattle are permitted to run at laige.