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 ones that are yet lean to the corn-fields of the Missouri Valley for fattening.

Many of our large stock growers have already provided themselves with Eastern feeding grounds and have constructed suitable structures for fattening their beef.

To give an idea of the increase and volume of the Wyoming cattle business, it may be stated that the Union Pacific delivered at Omaha 48,220 head of beef cattle in 1876, increased the number to 121,554 in 1883, and 166,000 in 1884. Since the period above mentioned cattle business in the Territory has changed quite a little. There are more herds, but of smaller size, and greater care is taken to provide shelter and feed for the weaker ones during the occasional storms of winter. The business, so far as the natural increase, healthfulness of stock, favorable winters, good ranges, etc., are concerned, is still very successful, but the extremely low markets prevailing the past two years for cattle products have been a discouraging feature.

While it is claimed the total number of head of cattle in the Territory has diminished, the following figures will give some idea of the magnitude of the business at present:

During the fall of 1888 and the spring of 1889, including the shipments of cattle for one year, there were inspected: Cattle en route to market at the several stock-yards, 343,054 head of Wyoming cattle, with the exception of about 20 per cent. of those inspected at the one point, St. Paul, which were from Montana and Dakota ranges. As but 102,000 were inspected at St. Paul, this would still leave the number of Wyoming cattle inspected during that time upwards of 300,000 head.

Good profits can be made in the cattle business of to-day, if properly conducted; and an encouraging feature of the business is that stockmen are adopting better modes of management. A reasonable increase in price of the cattle product, which is most sure to come soon, will make cattle raising in Wyoming one of the most lucrative industries known anywhere under the head of legitimate pursuits.

The settlement of farmers and grangers upon agricultural lands has caused a division in the area of open country, but there yet remains a wide field for the business, conducted in the open-range way, on the very large tracts that can be used for grazing only, for many years. The lands taken by settlers are being improved by irrigation, tilling,

and fencing, so that the portion withdrawn from the public range will support more live-stock than before.

While the contraction of the open ranges and the decrease in animals handled in the old way has necessarily lessened the cattle industry in Wyoming the last few years, yet it is believed that ultimately stock farming, or the combining of agriculture and stock raising, crops being raised on the streams and arable lands, aud live-stock ranging outside on mountain-sides and on the near ranges, will greatly increase the total number of cattle; also the grade, weight, quality, and profits in the Territory until there will be more cattle raised in Wyoming than at any time in the past, the total amount of grass, hay, and grain-growing having largely increased.

Reports issued by the Department of Agriculture in Washington report the number of cattle in Wyoming to be: Milch cows, 8,323, aver age price, $36.75 per head; number of oxen and other cattle, 1,107,173, average price, $19.59. It is my opinion the total number of cattle in Wyoming now will reach 1,500,000 head, the average price being, during the present great depression, about the same as quoted by the Agricultural Department.

The present is a favorable time to invest in the cattle business in Wyoming Territory.

Sheep. There are probably more than 1,250,000 sheep in Wyoming. The business was later in getting a start than cattle-raising, but is now far beyond the experimental stages, and established on a permanent and paying basis. The low price for wool during the tariff agitation has been discouraging, but confidence is returning with the friendly attitude of woolen manufactories and Congress regarding protective tariff, and there is a steady and growing market for mutton which is doing much for the future development of this industry.

Sheep-husbandry in this Territory requires care and watchfulness to prevent loss from storms, disease, and accident; but with care all conditions are favorable. The only contagious disease is scab, and this is easily cured. The laws of Wyoming provide for county sheep-inspectors to prevent the spread of disease. Foot-rot is unknown, the dryness of the soil acting as a preventive, and will speedily cure without the application of remedies when Eastern sheep are brought here affected with it.

Sheep graze the year round, but when an occasional snow fall is deep enough to prevent their reaching the ground it is necessary to feed hay. On an average during the past ten years not more than fifteen days of each year has it been necessary to feed hay or grain to strong, healthy sheep. The weaker animals require more nourishment, but in many instances they have done well without hay or other feed than that found on the open rauge, for several years in succession.

Nearly all the grazing lands in Wyoming are adapted to sheep-growing. The sheep now raised are of good grade and will yield an average per head throughout the flocks of 6 to 8 pounds of wool.

Goats.-There are perhaps 5,000 Angora goats and 1,000 or more common goats in Wyoming. The altitude being about the same as Asia Minor-the home of the Angora-this animal thrives well in the Territory. The mohair fleece brings a higher price per pound than wool, but the animals do not shear so heavily,

Mules.-There seems no good reason why mules should not be extensively bred and raised in Wyoming. The few persons who have engaged in this business have been quite successful.

Swine.-Hogs are raised only for home consumption, but not in suffi.

cient quantities to supply the demand. This branch of stock-raising deserves more attention and will be found to yield good profits.

Horses. The raising of horses in Wyoming is becoming a very profitable industry, and it is safe to estimate the number in the Territory at 150,000. No class of live stock is as hardy or as free from disease, and the percentage of loss is only nominal. When the snow is deepest horses will paw their way through it until the grass is reached; and in cases where the water is scarce and the distance many miles between streams, they find no difficulty in trotting out far enough from water to obtain fresh range. The pasturage furnishes all the necessary food for growing horses, and as they are able to graze closer to the ground than other live stock, an abundance of food is always assured.

The number of horses in Wyoming is steadily increasing, and the quality being improved by careful breeding. Thoroughbred and standard-bred stallions, many of them imported, are being brought to the Territory in large numbers for breeding purposes. Wyoming racehorses have won laurels the past two years at home and abroad. Draft and driving horses are establishing excellent records in eastern cities, and the time is not far distant when Wyoming horses will be as famous as those of Kentucky, even surpassing them in lung development, sound feet, and power of endurance.

I cheerfully indorse the following, written by Mr. A. S. Mercer, of the Northwestern Live Stock Journal, a man thoroughly informed on the subject:

This section is the natural home of the horse and here he is developed in a more perfect and uniform manner than anywhere else on the continent. The altitude and consequent rarity of the air develops a large and healthy lung; the dryness of the atmosphere protects against sudden changes of the thermometer; the sandy, dry, and hard character of the soil gives a foot (a hoof) as hard and durable as iron; the rolling and hilly character of the range over which the horses travel in search of food develops large and hard muscles, and the great healthfulness of the climate gives the best of constitutions. In a word, the nature of the soil and the climatic conditions give wonderful lung capacity, sound feet and legs, with endurance and high courage. And these make the horse. Seventy-five to 90 miles are common drives for double teams in a day over our trackless prairies, with the common ranch horses. What we may reasonably expect from the young crop of improved animals now coming on is so far in advace of our past experience that we hardly dare to name it.

It is safe to say that the time is not far distant when the horses of Wyoming will be as widely known and as generally appreciated as are the record-beaters of California and Kentucky of to-day. To the lover of the horse who contemplates entering into the business of raising good ones there is no other spot in all the broad land offering greater inducements than our Territory. The wonderfully nutritive qualities of our native grasses give a development elsewhere only secured by the feeding of the best varieties of grains. All the conditions are favorable in the highest degree to the most perfect development of the horse.

Long observation has shown beyond any question of doubt that different types of animals are produced by the continued operation of climatic influences. It is well known, for instance, that in low-lying countries, where the soil is wet, the atmosphere heavy with moisture, and the growth of vegetation is rapid, coarse, and rank, animals are produced of large frame, with loose, soft, flabby muscles, poor, flat feet and of weak lung-power. On the other hand, the opposite climatic conditions combine to produce a type of animals exactly the opposite of that just described, i. e., one of compact build, with fine, clean bones, muscles of iron, great lung power, and constitutions that withstand the greatest strain of every day wear and tear.

During the past year Wyoming horses have been shipped to many of the Southern States for breeding purposes.

FISH CULTURE.

While most of the streams and lakes of Wyoming had a natural supply of trout and other food-fish, there were others entirely devoid of fish of any description, and the success attending the stocking of streams containing native fish as well as the barren waters of the Territory has been very gratifying. Under the fostering care of the legislature the fish hatchery at Laramie has been enabled to accomplish the most satisfactory results. The Territory is under obligation to the United States Fish Commission for frequent donation, of valuable varieties of fish. Over a half million fish have been annually distributed in the streams of Wyoming for a number of years, and many streams that were barren have been stocked and found well adapted to the raising of trout and other superior fish. Trout planted in 1885 have been caught the present year that weighed from 3 to 4 pounds, and measuring 20 inches in length each.

The fish hatchery under the direction of the commissioner made a large and very interesting exhibit at the Territorial fair this season of fish grown in Wyoming streams that had been planted from the hatchery. The operations of the commissioner have been considerably curtailed on account of the withholding of Territorial appropriations for improvements that would double the capacity of the hatchery. The hatchery is on what is known as the abandoned Fort Sanders military reservation, 2 miles south of Laramie, and until title can be obtained to this land the Territory is unwilling to make further appropriations. Under the head of military reservations will be found a recommendation urging the opening of this reservation to settlement or sale.

MINING.

The mining industries of Wyoming present perhaps the greatest pos sibilities of any of its resources. They comprise not only the precious metals, gold and silver, but inexhaustible quantities of coal, petroleum, iron, and soda. Copper, lead, tin, asbestos, mica, magnesium, sulphur, graphite, kaolin, fire-clay, glass sand, and other valuable deposits exist, aud many of them in large deposits. Building-stone is also abundant, including granite, marble, slate, sandstone, limestone, etc. There will be found attached to this report (in Part II) extracts from an interesting and valuable report by Mr. L. D. Ricketts, Territorial geologist, in which the mineral resources of Wyoming are more fully described. Mr. Ricketts has spent the summer in the. field, and gives the result of his examination in certain localities. It is shown that the area underlaid with coal exceeds 30,000 square miles, or equal to double the coal area of the great coal State of Pennsylvania. More than 2,000,000 tons of coal are annually mined and the output is being constantly increased. The coal product already exceeds $5,000,000 annually.

The oil region extends over a country more than 300 miles in length, and in districts averaging 50 by 100 miles in extent. Two hundred thousand dollars are said to have been spent within the past year in developing the petroleum industry. A number of flowing wells have been plugged and only await better transportation facilities.

Gold quartz and placer mines are being profitably worked in several localities, and the mining of copper has also been found profitable; but, with the exception of coal, the mining industries can hardly be said to be developed. Wyoming is a great store house of mineral wealth, and it will not be many years before it will employ the highest skill of capital and labor. More railroads are needed to assist this development.

FORESTS AND THE PRODUCTION OF LUMBER.

The United States laws prohibiting the manufacture of lumber from forests on the public domain, except for the use of actual settlers, are not calculated to promote the growth of this important branch of industry. It is no doubt a fact that the protection afforded by mill-owners to forests from destruction by fire is greater than the amount of timber which they annually consume in manufacturing lumber. Legislation providing for the leasing of timber lands under certain restrictions would, in my opinion, provide a remedy for many of the existing evils that are now complained of.

Fire is the great destroyer of the forests, and the timber cut and used for all purposes does not perhaps reach 5 per cent. of the total amount consumed by forest fires. The use of timber by settlers, mill-men, and others under proper regulations would in a great measure prevent the spread of the fires which every year devastate such vast areas.

The following is from a report on Wyoming by Mr. Robert C. Morris, compiled for the United States internal commerce report for 1889:

The timber area of Wyoming has been variously estimated from 7,000,000 to 15,000,000 acres, a variation probably owing to the fact that the sparsely-timbered land has been included in the larger estimate. A recent estimate of the forest area of Wyoming, based upon 12,060 square miles, divides as follows:

The forests of Wyoming are confined mainly to the mountain ranges between 4,500 and 10,000 feet above the sea level. Some of them are of wide extent, and the timber quite dense and heavy. The best timber is found in the southern part of the Big Horn Mountains, the central portion of the Laramie range, Medicine Bow and Sierra Madre Mountains, and the northern spurs of the Uintah, which extend from Utah into southern Wyoming. The Shoshone, Teton, and Snake River ranges also bear quite heavy forests. The timber upon the eastern extension of the Sweetwater range and western portion of the Rattlesnake Mountains is light and scattered. The widest timbered area is in the northwestern part of the Territory, covering the Wind River, Shoshone, and other mountains of the main range, including the groups of Yellow'stone Park.

There is considerable timber, mostly yellow pine, upon the Black Hills near the Dakota line.. Measurements of the timber limits of various mountains have been made, which show the heights in their respective altitudes, above which coniferous trees-the hardiest of any species-will not grow. The timber line of Mount Washburn is 9,900 feet above sea level, while the altitude of that mountain is 10,388; the timber line of Mount Hayden, of the Teton range, is 11,000 feet, while its altitude is 13,858 feet above the sea level; the timber line of the Wood River range is 10,160, while its general altitude is 11,500 feet above the sea.

Yellow and white pine and white spruce are the principal timber. Many regard the yellow pine as the best and most useful tree, while others think the white spruce furnishes the best timber for all purposes. Lodge pole pine is the prevailing forest tree in a wide area along the mountain range north and south of Laramie. It is also common in the northwestern and other portions of the Territory. It often replaces the original growth after fires. These trees have an average growth from 8 to 12 inches in diameter, but are occasionally found 3 to 4 feet in diameter and 60 to 100 feet in height. Red cedar has a scattering growth along the foot-hills, and at lower elevation the streams are fringed with cottonwood, box-elder, willow, scrub oak, and other small shrubbery.

The forest land of the Rocky Mountains is still largely owned by the General Government, and its preservation is of vital importance. The principal demands upon the