GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF THE TERRITORIES. 313 



rie; but its value would be greatly increased if tbe wall were so built tbat it could be 

 planted on tbe top witb Osage orange. Tbe boney-Iocust and tbe osage orange grow 

 rapidly, and, if properly attended to, in four or five years tbey will malic a fence tbat 

 will turn cattle. Tbe only cost of tbe live fence is tbe price of tbe seed and the labor. 

 However, a settler frequently finds it necessary to obtain returns from bis land before 

 investing even tbe smallest amount of capital in anyway but tbe most essential perma- 

 nent improvements. Under tbese circumstances, tbe berd-law of Nebraska bas a bene- 

 ficial operation. Tbe intent of tbis law is to fence crops from tbe cattle, and to fence stock 

 witbin inclosures. Tbe enactment provides, under penalty, tbat an owner of stock 

 sball not allow bis animals to trespass and commit damage on a ueigbbor's land. Tbe 

 result of tbis law is — as live fences bave to grow and board-fences are expensive — tbat, 

 wben a locality is settled, tbe cattle are herded together under charge of men or boys 

 who are ])aid for their labor from a fund jointly and proportionally subscribed by tbe 

 stock-owners. While at pasture the herd is taken to the best feeding-grounds in tbe 

 neighborhood. Every night the milcbers are returned to tbe owners, the other cattle 

 being corraled. The law is considered to work well. It prevents the necessity of 

 fencing when a f;irmer could not well afford tbe cost ; but it must also be added tbat 

 it is a check on fencing when tbe work ought to be undertaken. 



Question 9. Cost of getting stock and produce to market. 



Ansicer. Tbe local market for wool and beef is at tbe farmer's door, for tbe wbolesalo 

 merchants of Chicago and Saint Louis collect produce bj^ traveling agents. When- 

 ever a district becomes sufficiently settled to support a town, one comes into being, in 

 a conveniently central position, which depends for its trade on the surrounding country. 

 Produjce is, therefore, readily marketed, and the wants of the farm and tbe household 

 supplied. As the country, however, becomes more thickly peopled, and its industry 

 develops, tbe farmers and stock-raisers will probably deal more or less directly with 

 the distant consuming markets. The way to Chicago and the eastern ports is opened 

 by tbe Burlington and Missouri River Railroad, and westward by the Burlington Com- 

 pany and the Union Pacific Company. Tbe Atchison and Nebraska Railroad strikes 

 from tbe Missouri at Atchison, Kansas, and tbe Saint Josepb and Denver Railroad 

 from the Missouri at Saint Joseph, Missouri. As the mineral resources of tbe Rocky 

 Mountains are developed tbis section of country — Nebraska is tbe nearest agricultural 

 State to tbe mountains — will find a profitable market there, while, by tbe Missouri and 

 tbe Mississi]3pi, the southern markets are open. 



The drawbacks I alluded to are as follows : the difficulty iu obtamiug 

 buildiug materials and fuel, especially after you get west of Liucolu, 

 for exactly the same remarks made iu respect to Southeastern Dakota 

 apply here. Another difficulty, though uot a very serious oue, is, that 

 west of Crete vvells must be sunk to a considerable depth — from 80 to 120 

 feet — to find water; and streams being- scarce, it is difficult to obtain a. 

 supply of stock- water. A third drawback, which applies also with equal if 

 not greater force to Dakota and Southwestern Minnesota, is the severity 

 of the winter-storms. It is true these are not of very frequent occurrence, 

 but when they do come, and few wiuters pass without oue or more, they 

 are very severe, aud often occasion many hardships and much sufiteriug, 

 but experieuce will teach the settlers how to prepare for and protect 

 themselves against these. 



