CHAPTER Y. 



MILLIONS IN BEEF. 



An Interesting Letter from One "Who Knows — A Generous Offer 

 of a Fortune— Just what can be done with Money and Brains 

 —Figures that Tell. 



Continuing the subject of what can be made out 

 of a given sum of money invested in cattle-growing 

 out West, we cannot better estimate the increase of a 

 herd than by submitting a letter written by a gentle- 

 man of means to his brother in the East, whom he 

 wished to put into the cattle business on their joint ac- 

 count. The letter, which I am permitted to copy, reads 

 as follows : 



Dear Brother, — I have bought a cattle-ranch, 

 and as you have long wished to engage in business out 

 West, I do not know of a better thing you can do than 

 raise cattle. As you have no knowledge or experience 

 in breeding, I will tell you what I think, with proper 

 care, we can make out of it. The ranch is twenty-two 

 miles from a railroad, and contains 720 acres of land, 

 600 acres of which is hay or grass land, and 120 acres 

 good timber. The meadow will cut annually 2J tons 

 of hay to the acre, and there is a living stream on the 

 land. The timber is heavy, and will furnish logs for 



59 



