The vast region of country lying between the Missouri River on the east and the Sierra Nevada Mountains on the west, an area covering nearly two-fifths of the surface of the United States of America, was until recent years considered an unproductive waste, suited only to occupancy by wild beasts of prey, the bison and the Indian. In the “days of ’49,” when an almost unbroken line of wagons stretched across the plains, and for a decade following, it was supposed to be forever set apart as the summer grazing grounds of nature’s untamed herds; to be the home of man--never. About this time belated freight trains, drawn by hundreds of footsore oxen, were caught in the eastern foothills of the Rocky Mountains by the early snowfall. Human nature revolted at the suggestion, but there was nothing left for the train masters but to get into such winter quarters as they could construct, turning the dumb brutes loose on the creek bottoms to perish or live on such herbage as they could find. Many a tender-hearted frontiersman was moved almost to tears at the thought of his faithful beasts being left in the wilds as food for wolves. What, then, was their joy when the springtime came and the cattle were found not only to have escaped the fangs of the wolves and mountain lions, but to be fat and sleek, ready for the onward march. These revelations becoming generally known, and mineral discoveries being made in the mountain valleys that attracted a considerable population of gold seekers, adventurous cattlemen brought herds from the old states and from the grassy plains of Texas to supply the mountain markets and the military posts scattered through the Indian country for the protection of the miners and immigrants. These herds all readily adapted themselves to their surroundings, grew and waxed fat, thus demonstrating that the grasses of the plains, the valleys and the foothills were of the most nutritious character. Ascertaining that no preparation of winter food was necessary for the roving herds, the whole region was soon filled with cattle, the farmers of the states and the ranchmen of Texas were all called upon to contribute to the great herds being located wherever grass and water could be found in juxtaposition. These herds numbered all the way from one thousand head up to fifty thousand, and in two or three instances over a hundred thousand were claimed by one company. The price of beef ruled high on the Eastern markets, and for a time all the ranchmen made money rapidly. The cost of caring for or “running” a herd was lessened in proportion to the increase in numbers, and this necessarily led to consolidations by purchase or the formation of companies and the absorption of small herds. Large dividends were declared and a craze for cattle company investments was created in the East and also in the British Isles. Soon the bulk of the holdings passed into the hands of corporations and high-salaried officers took charge of the business,