THE PROFITS OF THE AMERICAN STOCK OWNERS.

Waikato Times, Volume XV, Issue 1300, 28 October 1880, Page 2

THE PROFITS OF THE AMERICAN STOCK O WNERS.

The profits of the stockowner are very great, having averaged for years 33 per cent. No doubt this is by far the most remunerative branch of American farming, but to secure the greatest return a large amount of money must be employed. For instance, it is computed that the owner of 10,000 cattle with 150 horses ought to have 7000 dols. or 8000 dols. more in cash to work the range profitably. Small herds do not answer like large ones. It is almost as cheap and easy to manage 5000 cattle as it is to attend to 1000. A herd of 5000 must have 100 horses for the cow-boys or cattle men, while 10,000 would only require 150. The horses are worth from 25 dols. to 40 dols., and are chiefly bred in Texas. The expenses of keeping a fair-sized herd of cattle for 12 months do not exceed 1^ dols. per head, and in some instances they are as low as 1 dol. Within 100 square miles of Cheyenne, in Wyoming Territory, are herds ranging from 1000 to 35,000 head of cattle. Their average value is now stated to be 20 dols. per head. 11l this territory the losses among cattle from all causes are only put down at 2^ per cent, per annum. In Texas and other districts the losses are estimated from sto 10 per cent, A herd of 10,000 cattle should annually produce from 1500 to 2000 head of fat stopk, of these 20 per cent, will be cows, the rest three and a half and four-year-old steers, with a value of 25 dols. to 30 dols. The cost of raising such a bullock, including losses and all expenses, could not be more than 10 dols. The costs of ' shipping ' cattle by rail from Cheyenne to Chicago is 7^ dols., including freight, feeding, attendance, and commission. Arrived at Chicago, they are generally sold in the market at so much per 100 lbs. live weight. A few may be disposed of as stores, but most of them are killed in the great slaughterhouses of that city. Some are sent another 900 miles to New York, and are there killed, but a few of the very primest do not end their long and toilsome journey until they are landed in Great Britain. — Mcssn Read and FeWt Report.

A man was sawing wood in a backyard. He severed two sticks as thick as your wiisfc, and then went into the house. '•Alary/ said he to his wife, "my country needs me; there's no u&e of talking ; we've jus>t got to slaughter all these Injuns ; no true patriot can be expected to hang around a v/ood pile these days." '•John," saii his wife," if you fight Injuns as well as you saw wood and support your fcimily, it would take one hundred and eighteen like you to capture one squ.iw, and you'd have to catch her when hhe had the ague, and throw pepper in her eyes." John went back to the wood pile, wondering who told his wife all about him. —Salt Lake Tribune. The thirty-third anniversary of the first entrance of the Mormons into their "happy valley" was celebrated by them with much pomp and rejoicings on July 24th. There was no disorder aud no drunkenness, while the manner in which the polygamies spent their public holiday compares favourably with the excesses which too often mark the holiday revels of monogamists on this side of the Atlantic. There was plenty of noise, but it proceeded from the instruments of ten brass bands, which formed part ©f a gigantic procession which paraded through the city. The big tabernacle, where the ceremonies were concluded, presented an impressive spectacle. It was profusely decorated, aud full to overfiovriug. The speeches on the occasion were diversified by music, and Were unusually eloquent. Not the least interesting feature of the day's proceedings was a waggon with a large family in it which accompanied the procession. The family carried a banner with the motto, "The Happy £olygamic family."

Curious Spectacle —The spectacle of the sun shining at midnight attracts manyforeigners to Swedish Lapland during the month of June. For six weeks there is scarcely any night in the north of Sweden; the sun never sets, and the soil, constantly heated, produces in a month and a half, barley and other crops. At that time of the year the Laplanders pen up their reindeer and move their huts towards the cultivated fields. Being very hospitable, they greet with joy the arrival of tourists, who generally meet at Mount Gellaware, 148 kilometres from Lulea. From that hill, which is 580 metres high, the beautiful spectacle of the " midnight sun " can be admired in better conditions than from, any other place. June 24th is the day selected for the ascension; it is the longest day in the year, the sun being twenty-two hours above the horizon. This year June 24th was not favored by fine weather, and owing to a cloudy sky, the sun was not visible at midnight; but the following day travellers were well rewarded for their trouble, the sun shining brightly at midnight. It is reported that the new Finance Minister of Rupsia found the finances of the empire honeycombed with corruption and defalcations,