36 



THE BEEF BONANZA. 



They used their men for other purposes as well as herd- 

 ing. They employed one man with the first 1000 head, 

 and got an extra roan with the second 1000 head. They 

 were obliged to have two men, as one would not stay at 

 the ranch alone. Mr. Keith could not give any very 

 close figures, as his partner kept the books, but the ac- 

 count of the ranch stood nearly as follows : 



Cost of cattle and ranches from 1867 to 1875, inclusive $55,000 

 Sold on hoof, 1000 head, mostly cows, which brought, 



net 33,000 



Butchered, 1000 head, which brought .... 30,000 



Total $63,000 



Deduct actual cost of cattle 51,000 



Balance $12,000 



Cattle Remaining on Hand. 



1400 improved calves, worth $12 each 

 1200 yearlings, worth $18 each 

 800 two-year-olds, @ $25 each 

 300 three-year-olds, © $30 each 

 200 bulls, @ $50 each . 

 1300 cows, @ $25 each . 



Total value of stock on hand 



$16,800 

 21,600 

 20,000 

 9,000 

 10,000 

 32,500 



$109,900 



These figures I can indorse as substantially correct, 

 except the value put upon old cows, which I think is a 

 little excessive. Mr. Keith keeps now only one herds- 

 man. This man, when questioned aside from Mr. 

 Keith, said it would be perfectly fair to put the value 

 of the whole herd — old, young, good, bad, and indiffer- 

 ent — on the ranch at $18 per head, or $93,000 for the 

 lot ; and he thought they would bring that figure if sold 



