GEOLOGICAL SUEVEY OF THE TEREITOEIES. 253 



•warm sandy soil till next morning, when they feed till the heat of the day. It is inter- 

 esting to see the habits of these cattle when unrestrained by herders. They travel bade 

 and forth to the water and grazing ground in families and little herds, in single file, 

 like their predecessors of the soil, the buffalo, forming deep paths or trails like them. 

 After having spent three or four hours looking at this herd we pass up the river to the 

 beef herd, which consists of 3,500 fat Texas cattle, in the very highest order at which 

 grass-fed cattle arrive in this world. These cattle have been here one or two seasons, 

 and will weigh upon an average, live weight, 1,300 pounds. They could all be sold 

 to-day for eastern markets at good figures. They have yet three months of good weather 

 to fatten this season, when, with 5,000 more, bought by these enterprising men and 

 on the way here, they will be sold east or slaughtered and sent east in the quarter. 



There is, still higher up the stream and nearer the mountains, a stock herd of year- 

 lings and two-year-olds, that occupy our time for an hour or two. 



Blooded stock cattle. — Then we cross over to Sand Creek, a small branch of the Lara- 

 mie, and see the herd of American cattle, which, including Hutton's and Alsop's, num- 

 bers 400, mostly cows. They are as fine stock as can be found anywhere. Among this 

 herd are several fine-graded Durham bulls and two thoroughbreds that were bought in 

 Ohio at high prices. These parties are owners of 300 blooded bulls, from which the 

 finest calves are being raised by the cross between them and the graded Texan cow. 

 It is interesting for the stock man to see these calves, which show the Durham so clearly 

 in ever y instance — another proof of the general law that the stronger and better blooded 

 of the two races will give form and impress to the progeny. This fact is remarkably 

 illustrated in these herds. The second and third crosses, leaving no trace of the Texan 

 blood. 



Here on this ranch are 300 brood mares, and some young stock, yearling and two- 

 year-old colts which have been raised here, and have never been fed nor sheltered. 

 They are as large and fine colts as are raised anywhere. These brood mares and colts 

 are herded, but never stabled nor fed winters. 



Sheep. — We next proceed to these flocks of sheep, which in all number more than 

 10,000 head, besides the lambs — of these there are 3,000 — making in all 13,000. Some 

 of these are from New Mexico, but the great majority are from Iowa, and are fine 

 Merino sheep. They will average fully five pounds of wool per head. Ample shelters 

 have been provided them in case of storm. Much the larger number of these flocks are 

 ewes. The owners expect to raise 6,000 lambs, and to shear 65,000 pounds of wool next 

 year. 



These parties have about five miles of fence, inclosing hay grounds, pastures for 

 riding stock, and other purposes. They have, in all, more than $300,000 invested here, 

 which is a sufficient commentary upon their enterprise, foresight, and courage. They 

 are the great stock princes of the mountains. Of all living men they have done most 

 to solve this question of winter grazing. 



We next proceed to the Little Laramie, where Messrs. Mantle & Bath have 400 head 

 of American and half-breed stock; they are at the old stage-road crossing, and have 

 some fine blooded stock. Above them, behind Sheep Mountain, directly under the 

 white top of Mount Dodge, named after General Dodge, on the head of the Little Lara- 

 mie, is a valley twenty miles long and ten miles wide, divided about equally by the 

 north, middle, and south forks of that stream. These are rapid running streams that 

 never freeze in winter. They have groves of timber on their banks and bottom lands, 

 furnishing shade in summer and shelter in winter. This valley is a pocket in the 

 mountains, having only one point of ingress and no egress but by the same way. Here 

 are 2,900 cattle owned by Lambard & Gray, of New York, Captain Coates, of the Army, 

 and the subscriber. Three men are able to herd them, from the nature of the valley, 

 and it is certainly a cattle paradise. Of this herd, 1,200 are cows, 700 two-year-olds, 

 300 yearlings, and 700 calves. This stock is short-horned Texan, and a good lot of 

 stock cattle. 



Iliff 's herds on Crow Creek. — After leaving this herd, we take a three-hours' run on the 

 railroad, which takes us across the Black Hills to Cheyenne, which is the headquarters 

 of J. W. Iliff. His cattle range is down Crow Creek to the Platte, twenty to thirty 

 miles. On this grazing ground he has 6,700 cattle, classed as follows : 3,500 beeves, 

 2,000 cows, and 1,200 calves. The stock cattle are half-breeds, except yearlings and 

 calves, which he has raised, and which show the Durham cross. The beeves are 

 heavy, fat cattle, ranging in live weight from 1,200 to 1,400 pounds. This whole range 

 down Crow Creek, from Cheyenne to the Platte, affords the best of grasses, and the 

 creek bluffs shelter the stock completely from storms. Mr. Iliff has been the owner of 

 great herds of cattle in the last twelve years, and is firm in the faith that this is the 

 place to raise beef for eastern markets. His cattle have sold in Chicago market from 

 five to six cents per pound, live weight, this season. The whole 3,500 head of beeves 

 will be shipped east this fall. Mr. Iliff is another of those who have demonstrated to 

 the world that we have winter grazing, and in so doing he has made a fortune. Long 

 mav such men live to enjoy their fortunes ! 



