TOLD by the PIONEERS - Washington Secretary of State
TOLD by the PIONEERS - Washington Secretary of State
TOLD by the PIONEERS - Washington Secretary of State
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Told <strong>by</strong> <strong>the</strong> Pioneers<br />
RANGES<br />
Early pioneers, seeing <strong>Washington</strong> for <strong>the</strong> first time, were impressed<br />
<strong>by</strong> <strong>the</strong> possibilities <strong>of</strong> great ranges for cattle, horses and<br />
sheep. A section <strong>of</strong> our central area is known today as Horse Heaven.<br />
Numerous springs, valleys and hills were named <strong>by</strong> <strong>the</strong> early rangeriders.<br />
"'Grass so high that yearling calves were hidden," or "belly<br />
deep 011 a horse," were phrases most frequently used in describing<br />
this luxuriant growth <strong>of</strong> forage. Early cattlemen drove cattle to <strong>the</strong><br />
mining regions, where <strong>the</strong>y were slaughtered and sold. Horses were<br />
driven in bands as large as 4,000 head, to St. Louis and o<strong>the</strong>r Eastern<br />
markets. Sheep were driven to a boat landing and put on wide flat<br />
boats for transportation to market.<br />
Early stockmen suffered two heavy losses prior to 1861. The Indian<br />
wars <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> late 50's caused <strong>the</strong>m severe losses, as <strong>the</strong> Indians<br />
made raids on <strong>the</strong> cattle and horses, driving <strong>the</strong>m away or killing<br />
<strong>the</strong>m wherever found.<br />
Immediately following <strong>the</strong> Indian wars, after <strong>the</strong> stock industry:<br />
had been established, came <strong>the</strong> big snow and freeze <strong>of</strong> 1861-62, when<br />
ninety per cent <strong>of</strong> all <strong>the</strong> domestic livestock in <strong>the</strong> '<strong>Washington</strong> Territory<br />
died, ei<strong>the</strong>r <strong>of</strong> freezing or starvation.<br />
Not daunted <strong>by</strong> <strong>the</strong>se two reverses, <strong>the</strong> stockmen brought new herds<br />
from Oregon, California, and <strong>the</strong> East and did a lucrative business<br />
until 1879-80, when again a big snow and freeze took its toll. This<br />
loss, coupled with <strong>the</strong> one that followed just ten years later, spelled<br />
<strong>the</strong> doom <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> large ranges.<br />
As a substitute for stock farming, many <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> early settlers turned<br />
<strong>the</strong>ir attention to grain growing. The restriction <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> government<br />
against settling in Central <strong>Washington</strong> was removed soon after <strong>the</strong><br />
Indian wars. The large ranges were taken up <strong>by</strong> homesteaders. Railroads<br />
were being built through a great part <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> state during <strong>the</strong><br />
80's, so <strong>the</strong> mines were provisioned <strong>by</strong> rail, and packing was discontinued.<br />
Grain was now easily marketed and proved more pr<strong>of</strong>itable to<br />
<strong>the</strong> settlers than stock raising.<br />
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