THE PASTORAL LANDS OF AMERICA. 305 
To show how cattle are managed, one or two cattle and sheep ranches 
and ranges may be described. The herds of Messrs. Edward Creighton, 
Charles Hutton, and Thomas Alsop are grazed on Big Laramie, a tribu- 
tary of the North Platte. The Laramie Valley lies between the Black 
Hills and the Medicine Bow range, and is about one hundred miles long 
by thirty miles wide. About midway in this valley and six miles from 
the railroad station at Laramie, these gentlemen have located their stock 
ranches, where they have extensive houses, stables, and corrals. Leav- 
ing the station, we follow up the windings of the Laramie on a smooth 
road, which is like rolling the wheels over a floor. The stream is clear 
as crystal, and pure as the snows from whichits waters come. We first 
meet a herd of 4,000 half and three-quarters bioods, that is, none more 
than half Texan and many only a quarter, known among cattle-dealers 
as Short-horn Texas cattle. There are 1,000 calves in this herd that are 
one-half to six-eighths Short-horn. The cattle have been on the plains one 
winter and two summers. All the dry cows are exceedingly fat, and 
many of those with calves at their sides would make good beef, whilemany 
of the two-year-olds and yearlings are fit for the butcher, so far as condi- 
tion is concerned. The herd contains 4,000 cows, 3, 600 beeves, 1,000 
two-year-olds, and 500 yearlings. The cattle range over a country fif- 
teen by twenty miles in extent. The cows and calves run together the 
year round. In fact they are never separated, but run in tamilies of 
four generally—cow, calf, yearling, and two-year-old. ‘These cattle are 
to be found on river bottoms in the middle of the day, where they come 
about 11 o’clock for water. They return about 4 o’clock in the after- 
noon to the high grounds where the rich bunch and grama grasses are 
abundant, and feed till night, when they lie down on the warm sandy 
soil till the next morning, and then feed again till the heat of the day. © 
The habits of these cattle when unrestrained by herders is interesting. 
They travel back and forth to the water and grazing ground in families 
und little herds, in single file, like their predecessors on the soil, the 
buffaloes, and like them forming deep paths or trails. 
Passing over the river from this herd, we cometo the beef herd, which 
consists of 3,500 Texas cattle, in the best condition to which grass-fed 
cattle can be brought. These cattle have been here one or two seasons, 
and will weigh, on an average, 1,300 pounds live weight. Still higher 
up the stream, and nearer the mountains, there is a stock herd of year- 
lings and two-year-olds. Crossing to the Sand Creek, a smal! branch 
of the Laramie, we find a herd of American cattle which, including Hut- 
ton’s and Alsop’s, numbers 400, mostly cows, and as fine stock as can 
be found anywhere. In this herd are several fine graded Short-horn bulls 
and two thorough-breds that were bought in Ohio at high prices. The 
parties named are owners of 300 blooded bulls, from which the finest 
calves are being raised by the cross between them and the graded Texas 
ows. These calves show the Short-horn clearly in every instance, giving 
another proof of the general law that the stronger and better blooded 
ot two races will give form and impress to the progeny. This fact 
is strongly illustrated in these herds, the second and third crosses hav- 
ing no traces of the Texan blood. On this ranch are 300 brood mares 
and some young stock, yearlings and two-year-old colts, w hich have 
been raised here, and have never been fed or sheltered. These colts 
are as large and fine as any raised elsewhere. The brood mares and 
colts are herded, but are neither stabled nor fed in winter. The flock 
of sheep numbers more than 13,000 head, including 3,000 lambs. A 
portion ef this flock is from New Mexico, but the great majority is 
irom lowa, and consists of fine Merino sheep, averaging five pounds ot 
20 A 
