64 



Coal. — Statistics relating to the prodaction of coal will be found iu 

 another part of this report. 



STOCK-GROWINa. 



This industry has been not only a very important but a very profitable 

 one. During the last year or two, owing to a variety of causes— mis- 

 management being a principal one — the leading branch of the business, 

 cattle raising, has not yielded much profit. The "range" system of 

 raising cattle and horses, with its attendant cruelties and losses, is 

 gradually giving way to more humane and thrifty methods. Improved 

 breeds are being introduced, and no doubt in the near future the busi- 

 ness will be placed upon a much better footing than heretofore. In fact, 

 the immense grazing resources of the region are likely to be more fully 

 utilized in the future than in the past. 



The estimated number of cattle in the Eocky Mountain region at the 

 beginning of the present year(i8S7) was 4,919,113, and the value of the 

 same $101,981,067. 



WOOL- GROWING. 



This is a branch of the live stock industry which should not be over- 

 looked. In Colorado and ^^ew Mexico it has long occu})ied a promi- 

 nent place, and it is gradually gaining ground in the surrounding 

 Territories. Growing the mutton breeds of sheep is also receiving at- 

 tention. 



The number of sheep in the region now under review was estimated 

 to be, on the Istof January, 1887, 7,353,320, and their value $12,177,725. 



MANUFACTURES. 



Some of the leading manufactures are those connected with the min- 

 ing industry, such as the reduction of ores, manufacture of coke, char, 

 coal, machinery, and castings. Iron furnaces, steel and nail works, 

 rolling mills, foundries, etc., are mainly centered at Denver and Pueblo. 



The following is the product of the works of the Colorado Coal and 

 Iron Company, at Pueblo, for the year 1886 : 



Tons. 



Coal 615,360 



Coke 112,200 



Pig-irou (five months' ran only) 9,323 



Spiegeleiseu 9^2 



Steel rails (four months only) 5, 872 



Merchant bar iron 4, 240 



Castings (for their own use only) 621 



Cast-iron pipe 995 



Nails, kegs of 100 pounds each 53, 250 



Track spikes, kegs of 150 pounds each 3, 370 



Smelting and reduction works are in operation in all of the i)rincipai 

 mining districts. The many minor manufactures and productions of 

 thi^ country can not here be described. When one considers the ex- 



