Report of the Governor of Wyoming to the Secretary of the Interior (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1878 Excerpt: ... size and a general looseness in the conducting of the business. This condition, with occasional severe winters, resulted in great losses to those who invested recklessly or were unfortunately located, and many cattle companies, built upon inflated values and uncertain numbers, collapsed. I quote the following from my report of 1885: The business of cattle raising in this Territory can scarcely be longer regarded as in its infancy, nor can the business be called experimental or speculative as to its generalities. The rearing of cattle in the Territory is to-day as profitable as it ever was, but it has lost much of that speculative "sell and buy without tally, anything and any price to get into the business " buoyancy that has characterized it. The prices of stock cattle have advanced to a figure where investors, while willing to pay current rates, want to know to a certainty that they are getting what they pay for, as to numbers, grade, and condition of cattle. There is also a growing conviction that this business will not longer "run itself," and that owners must give it, at least, some small percentage of the attention necessary to accomplish success in other industries, and there is also a prevailing disposition to better provide against emergencies, such as the putting up of hay for the weaker ones, the providing of shelter for thoroughbred and fine stock, the separation of bulls from the herd, and special care given them during the winter, etc. Perhaps the greatest reform is the determination on the part of owners to discontinue the pernicious practice of shipping to market unripe beeves, but, instead, to ship only those of proper age and that are really fat, leaving the younger ones to grow longer on the range, and taking the older...