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THE BUFFALO HUNTER.
Mr. William Cody Tells of Anticipated Indian Troubles.
THE WESTERN CATTLE TRADE AND OTHER INTERESTING MATTERS.
"This is a Herald representative, Mr. Cody."
"Glad to meet you," and with a hearty shake of the band the handsome specimen of the genus homo went on, "I have just returned from visiting some of my relatives; will you step up into my room!"
The invitation was gratefully accepted and the reporter soon found himself seated on one side of the cosy fire in room No. 73 at the Striebinger House, and the veritable Buffalo Bill on the other.
"You have relatives here, Mr. Cody!"
"Oh, yes! My father once owned a farm on Euclid avenue when Cleveland was a small village; his name was Isaac Cody. Some thirty years ago he removed to Iowa, in which State I was born. Joseph Cody, who died recently, and who lived on Broadway, was an uncle of mine, and it is that family that I have just returned from visiting."
"Then you have more than a passing regard for Cleveland!"
"Yes, I have always been so well received here, and early ties connect me so closely with this city, that I bear Cleveland in affectionate remembrance. In three weeks from now my company disbands, as I am anxious to get home to North Platte, Neb., where I have a wide and two children, and where, from letters recently received, I learned that the Indians are becoming troublesome, making frequent raids on cattle. My nearest neighbor lives thirty miles away, and the nearest post-office is sixty-two miles distant."
"Could you tell me something about the cattle trade!"
"I have a ranche in Nebraska where I breed cattle. This trade is carried on to a large extent in that State, which will eventually become the Texas of the North. We buy Texas cattle and cross them with American, and then raise them for beef, Our expenses for feeding them per head does not amount to over $1. In the winter the cattle are allowed to run loose and live on the grass, which is of the bunch order and cures itself in August. The snow troubles us but little for the fall is so light that it is swept off by the winds, and this year there has been none at all. The trading is chiefly done with the Union Stock Yards in Chicago. They send out buyers who sell upon the different breeders, asking them how many head of cattle they will have to dispose of, and then strike a bargain, so that really the cattle-dealer has now no difficulty in disposing of his beef, and gets a higher price through competition, whereas in former times, after the cattle were once raised, a market had to be found for their disposal. In the spring of the year occurs what is known in that part of the country as the round up, but the nature of which, I believe, is little known in these parts. We will say that this table (pointing to a square table in the room) represents a large tract of land. On one corner is situated my ranche, and the other three corners are owned by different stock raisers. Well, in the winter time we send our cattle on the plains to wander at their pleasure, and do not look after them again until the spring. There are, say 3000,000 head of cattle, all branded with the owner's mark, to be divided up amongst us. Then occurs the round up. We send men out to surround the tract of land and drive the cattle together. Then the brands are separated and each man takes his own cattle, and they are driven back to his ranche. We have a system of postal cards which we find very convenient. At the beginning of each year owners of cattle exchange cards, on which the various brands and to whom they belong are written. These are stuck up in a conspicuous place, and should at any time any stray cattle be found. upon reference to the card it will be known who are the owners, and they are at once notified. This is the way the cattle business is carried on in Nebraska.
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