PROOF PILED ON PROOF 787 



Richards & Comstock. This firm, at one time very 

 prominent in Nebraska, running as high as 70,000 

 cattle, bought its first Hereford bulls in 1882, a por- 

 tion of them coming from T. L. Miller. The cow 

 herd at that time consisted of native Montanas. 

 Richards & Comstock were pleased with the Here- 

 ford cross, and used for the most part Hereford bulls 

 ever after. It was their opinion that continued cross- 

 ing from Hereford bulls would not tend to increase 

 the weight, but was apt to decrease it. They admired 

 the Herefords, however, as "hardy, producing good 

 colors and giving the best cross for market pur- 

 poses. " 



Richards & Comstock testified that their outlet va- 

 ried, according to grass, and market conditions. Some 

 years ago they only produced feeders, while again 

 they had good beef. For their feeders they found a 

 market in Omaha, for good beef they favored Chi- 

 cago. They secured their bulls from various breed- 

 ers in Nebraska, Missouri, Iowa and Illinois, paying 

 for them at different times from $75 to $200 per head. 

 They never attempted to raise the bulls required for 

 the herd. They preferred two-year-olds and allowed 

 twenty to twenty-five cows per bull. In selecting 

 Hereford bulls for breeding on the ranch they always 

 aimed to select those that were inclined to be a little 

 coarse and rough, rather than those that were fine 

 in the bone. Their experience was that they had to 

 constantly be on their guard lest they get their cattle 

 "too fine. " 



Big Horn Land and Cattle Co. This company, 

 controlling property valued at approximately $750,- 



