GEOLOGICAL SUEVEY OF THE TERRITOEIES. 313 



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

 planted on the top with Osage orange. The honey-locust and the osage orange grow 

 rapidly, and, if properly attended to, in tour or five years they will make a fence that 

 will turn cattle. The only cost of the live fence is the i^rice of the seed and the labor. 

 However, a settler frequently finds it necessary to obtain returns from his laud before 

 investing even the smallest ainouutof capital in any way but the most essential perma- 

 nent improvements. Under these circumstances, the herd-law of Nebraska has a bene- 

 ficial operation. The intent of this law is to fence crops from the cattle, and to fence stock 

 within inclosures. The enactment provides, under penalty, that an owner of stock 

 shall not allow his animals to trespass and commit damage on a neighbor's land. The 

 result of this law is — as live fences have to grow and board-fences are expensive — that, 

 when a locality is settled, the cattle are herded together under charge of men or boys 

 who are paid for their labor from a fund jointly and proportionally subscribed by the 

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

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

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

 fencing when a farmer could not well afford the cost ; but it must also be added that 

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



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



Ansicer. The local market for wool and beef is at the farmer's door, for the wholesale 

 merchants of Chicago and Saint Louis collect produce by 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. 

 Produce is, therefore, readily marketed, and the wants of the farm and the household 

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

 develops, the 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 the Burlington antl Missouri Eiver Eailroad, and westward by the Burlington Com- 

 pany and the Union Pacific Company. The Atchison and Nebraska Eailroad strikes 

 from the Missouri at Atchison, Kansas, and the Saint Joseph and Denver Eailroad 

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

 Mountains are developed this section of country — Nebraska is the nearest agricultural 

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

 the Mississipxfi, the southern markets are open. 



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

 building materials and fuel, especially after you get west of Lincoln, 

 for exactly the same remarks made in respect to Southeastern Dakota 

 apply here. Another difficulty, though not a very serious one, is, that 

 west of Crete wells 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 winters pass without one or more, they 

 are very severe, and often occasion many hardshii)s and much suffering, 

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

 them.selves against these. 



