Under these circumstances the company managers were forced to ship beef steers, dry cows and heifers, every fat, available two-year-old and sometimes the thrifty yearlings, in order to balance the expense and dividend account. But to these temporary make-shifts there must eventually come an end. Thus it is evident that the general managers of cattle companies found themselves in exceedingly hot water--between the devil and the deep sea, so to speak. Something had to be done; their integrity and financial reputation demanded action. Dividends were passed and shareholders demanded the reason. To explain that the herds had been systematically robbed of future beef steers in the shipment of unripe cattle would be to impeach themselves. To admit that the hard winters and overstocking of ranges had decimated the herds would not be in harmony with official reports rendered. Some other excuse must be found. Eureka, says one. “Thieves!” he ejaculated, and forthwith the cry echoed and re-echoed over the entire range cattle country. Of the evolutions following this remarkable discovery a description will be given in another chapter. Cattle and horse stealing are old industries, older than modern civilization. Christ was crucified between thieves, and the books of Moses are not silent on this ancient and modern accomplishment. Cattle stealing on the ranges by means of changing the brands has been practiced to a certain extent by a limited number of disreputable people ever since the beginning of the range cattle industry, and it will always continue. The enactment of laws restrains but it does not prevent crime. As a matter of fact there is less stealing and less lawlessness generally on the plains of the West than in any other part of the world. However contrary to the general theory that our advancing civilization is elevating and refining it may seem, it is nevertheless true that with the increase of years and population there is an increased percentage of crime. The great mass of Wyoming’s population is made up of honest men and women, as the following figures from the United States census report of 1890 fully establish: “While the Northeastern states, which are supposed to be most civilized and with the least number of criminals, have just 1,600 prisoners to the million of people, Wyoming has only 1,200 to the million--one-fourth less. The states and territories from Nebraska to the Pacific average 2,200 prisoners to the million; but Wyoming scarcely more than half this. Idaho has 1,700 to the million; Colorado, 2,200; California, 2,800--Wyoming has a remarkably small ratio--nearly three times as many. Nevada, with one-fourth less population than Wyoming, has 3,300, two and three-fourths times as many; Arizona, with about the same population as Wyoming, has 4,200, three and one-fourth times as many offenders as Wyoming.