720 A HISTORY OF HEREFORD CATTLE 



year at the head of the Dry Cimarron in Colfax 

 Co., N. M., and in the spring every one of these cat- 

 tle was found in good condition within 15 miles from 

 the spot where they were turned loose. This seems 

 an almost incredible statement, and yet even if ap- 

 proximately true demonstrates what a splendid cat- 

 tle country that region was at that date, in respect 

 to feed, shelter and water. Cattle on the open ranges 

 of course drifted great distances in time of storms 

 when there was lack of natural shelter. 



These herds were all started with Texas cows 

 driven up from southern and central Texas. The 

 Jones brothers were probably among the first in 

 their country in the early 70 's to improve their 

 herds by turning loose pedigree Shorthorn bulls. 

 The Halls a little later did the same. Shortly after- 

 wards the Herefords began to attract attention. 

 But good Herefords were difficult to procure before 

 1880 and commanded high prices, the result being 

 that thousands of grade Hereford bulls were turned 

 on the range, many of them of inferior quality. 

 There was a keen demand from all parts of the range 

 between 1878 and 1883 for white-faced bulls, and as 

 late as 1884 a good Shorthorn bull without pedi- 

 gree sold' for $50 as a yearling, while a white-faced 

 yearling would bring $75 and often prove a very in- 

 ferior animal at that. 



The Halls had purchased a few Herefords, but 

 very few before they turned over their property. 

 Probably the first large bunch of Herefords bought 

 for this herd was that purchased in 1886 by W. J. 



