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The Siart A Range Man’s Library An indispensable first book in any range man’s library is a good J. C. DYKES bibliography. Until December Assistant Administrator for Field Services, Soil Con- 31, 1959, when THE RAMPAG- servation Service, U. S. Department of Agriculture, ING HERD (Norman, 1959) by Washington 25, D. C. Ramon F. Adams was issued such a book was not available. As an amateur range man I My recommendations are re- It lists a total of 2,651 books and should not attempt to discuss the stricted to the more recent books pamphlets on men and events in technical working tools of the and pamphlets on the men and the cattle industry. While it is profession. I would soon be out events of the range. They are by no means selective, it will of my depth. On the other hand also selective, mentioning main- provide much guidance to any I should not write as an es- ly the worthy books that will range man building a library. tablished collector of the litera- help build a library rather than As a collector, I have found J. ture of the range. A collector has a collection. There are two pri- Frank Dobie’s GUIDE TO LIFE been defined as one who tries to mary reasons for sticking to the AND LITERATURE OF THE accumulate all that has been m o r e recent books-cost and SOUTHWEST (Austin and written on a subject-the worthy availability. While it does not Dallas, 1942, and revised and en- and the unworthy. Certainly it hold for all kinds of books, most larged, Dallas, 1952) very useful. would be out of place to urge of the older range life books are In the chapters on Range Life, that you buy the unworthy and both expensive and hard to find. Cowboys, Cattle, Sheep; Cow- become an all out collector of boy Songs and Other Ballads; range books. The late Charlie Balance Needed Horses, Mustangs and Cow Ponies; and The Bad Man Tradi- Everitt, b e 1 o v e d Americana There should be balance in a dealer of New York City, tells range man’s 1 i br ary. There tion, Dobie comments on range books in his own particularly this tale in his delightful book, should be books about the range pithy and penetrating fashion. THE ADVENTURES OF A country; biographies and auto- You will find this book highly TREASURE HUNTER (Boston, biographies of cowboys and cow- entertaining as well as useful. 1951). A man walked into his men; histories of their associa- Make no mistake-Frank Dobie shop one day and said, “I’ll buy tions; accounts of the trails and is a range man with a deep love any damn thing that mentions a trail drivers; ranch histories; of the land, grass and animals .” Note the mark of the studies of the range wars; books collector, “any damn thing.” that shines through everything about cows, sheep and range he has written. Some minutes later Charlie ran horses; and the literature of the a total on his adding machine. range including the novels, The greatest single book about The stranger tore off a piece of ballads, and art. These are the a major segment of the range Charlie’s wrapping paper and books that a range man should country is Dr. Walter Prescott wrote a check for $1,243. The read and reread for pleasure and Webb’s THE GREAT PLAINS check was signed, Philip Ashton for an understanding and essen- (Boston, 1931). The first printing Rollins. Rollins wrote THE tial background of his profession. is now a collector’s item. A much COWBOY (New York, 1922), one It is perhaps happenstance more recent book, GRASS - of the classics on the cowboy, that I am in a position to discuss LANDS OF THE GREAT his equipment and his work. He recent range books. I am a PLAINS, THEIR NATURE AND revised and enlarged it in 1936 collector of range books but also USE (Lincoln, 1956) by J. E. and that is the best edition. I have two close associates, B. Weaver and F. W. Albertson, Rollins was one of the great W. (Bill) Allred and F. G. (Fred) with contributions by other ex- collectors of range life books and Renner, who collaborate on a perts including Bill Allred, the collection is still intact in the monthly review column, WEST- brings together a tremendous Princeton University Library. ERN BOOK ROUNDUP, carried amount of knowledge about the by several magazines. In each IPrepared for the annual meeting of vegetation of the mid-continent the American Society of Range Man- of the past five years we have prairie between the Saskatche- agement, February 1960, by J. C. reviewed about 150 wan and the . Dykes, Assistant Administrator for books. Practically every new Carl Frederick Kraenzel’s THE Field Services, Soil Conservation range book issued during that GREAT PLAINS IN TRANSI- Service, U. S. Department of Agri- culture, Washington 25, D. C., and period has been reviewed by one TION (Norman, 1955) is worth- presented by F. G. Renner. of the three of us. while.

118 RANGE LIBRARY 119

Unfortunately, so far as I 1927) by another range man, R. other publisher recognized its know there is no book about the Farrington Elwell-former man- value and reprinted it. Roscoe intermountain ranges that is ager of ’s Wyoming Sheller’s BEN SNIPES, NORTH- comparable in environmental ranch and well known Western WEST CATTLE KING (Port- coverage to these three. A book artist now living in Phoenix, land, Oregon, 1957) is a rags to that will be harder to find but . Frank Dobie’s UP THE riches story of a man whose cat- worth the search is WESTERN TRAIL FROM (New tle ranged over much of central GRAZING GROUNDS AND York, 1955), primarily for Washington. He had competi- FOREST RANGES (Chicago, younger readers, is a dandy book tion from Pete French of Ore- 1913) by Will C. Barnes. Leon about real trail drivers. Wayne gon. There is a book about V. Almirall in FROM COLLEGE Gard’s THE French, too, and while it is TO COW COUNTRY (Caldwell, (Norman, 1954) is the best book classed as novel it is said to fol- 1956) has some pertinent re- in print on that drove road just low closely the life of this well marks to make on- ranching at as the late Walter S. Campbell’s known cowman. It was written the nine thousand foot level. (Stanley Vestal) QUEEN OF by Elizabeth (Lambert) Wood Two books which give consider- COW TOWNS, DODGE CITY and is entitled PETE FRENCH, able information on desert (New York, 1952) is the best book CATTLE KING (Portland, Ore- ranges are worth mentioning- in print on Kansas cowtowns. gon, 1951). Here is one more- Earl J. Larrison’s OWYHEE, The late Floyd B. Streeter’s PIERRE WIBAUX, CATTLE LIFE OF A NORTHERN PRAIRIE TRAILS AND COW- KING (Bismarck, 1953), a pam- DESERT (Caldwell, 1957) and TOWNS (Boston, 1936) was is- phlet reprinted by the State His- Edmund C. Jaeger’s THE sued in a small edition and is torical Society of North Dakota. NORTH AMERICAN DESERTS now very scarce and expensive It is about a Frenchman who did (Stanford, 1957). THIS IS THE but most of the text, revised and well in cattle and became a well WEST ‘(N.Y., 1957) edited by expanded, is available in his known cowtown banker. Frazier Robert West. Howard .has much later book, THE KAW (New Hunt’s CAP MOSSMAN (New to say on the whole of the range York, Toronto, 1941). THE CAT- York, 1951) is a top biography. country. It was issued first as a TLE DRIVES OF DAVID Mossman made his reputation as paper-back at 35 cents and then SHIRK FROM TEXAS TO THE manager of the Hashknife in in hard covers, with numerous IDAHO MINES, 1871 and 1873 Arizona where his success in fine illustrations, at 6 dollars-a (Portland, Oregon, 1956) was dealing with rustlers led to his bargain either way. edited by Martin F. Schmitt and appointment as Captain of the includes some later experiences Arizona Rangers. Later Cap and . The Trail Driving Era of Shirk as a cattleman in east- his associates controlled a mil- The days of the spread of cat- ern Oregon. lion acres of range, all under tle from Texas into the North- fence, in South Dakota. There ern Plains and of trail driving Cattle Kings are many books about cowmen to rail heads in Kansas is one Some cowmen started as cow- but none better than these-and of the most thrilling periods in boys, many cowboys never be- these have the added advantage the history of the West. This pe- came owners, and some owners of being readily available. riod has been very thoroughly were never cowboys. CHARLES documented in both fact and fic- GOODNIGHT (New York and Associations tion. No book on trail driving Boston, 1936) by J. Evetts Haley Historically, cow m en, begin- will compare with Andy Adams’ is the best biography ever writ- ning with the roundup, have THE LOG OF A COWBOY (Bos- ten of a range man and may be worked together in solving their ton and New York, 1903). Frank the best biography ever written mutual problems. The books Dobie in his GUIDE puts it so about a Westerner. The first about their associations are a well-“ If all other books on trail printing of this great book is part of the history of the range. driving were destroyed, a reader scarce and expensive but it has Maurice Frink’s COW COUN- could still get a just and authen- been kept in print by the Uni- TRY CAVALCADE (, tic conception of trail men, trail versity of Oklahoma Press since 1954) is on the 80 year old Wyo- work, range cattle, cow horses 1949. Edward F. Treadwell’s ming association. Lewis Nor- and the cow country in general THE CATTLE KING (New dyke’s GREAT ROUNDUP (New from THE LOG OF A COW- York, 1931) is good on Cali- York, 1955) is the saga of the BOY.” The first printing of this fornia’s big cowman, Henry Mil- Texas and Southwestern. Ray book is getting scarce but the ler. Like the Goodnight book the H. Mattison’s ROOSEVELT publisher keeps it in-print with original publisher permitted Mil- AND THE STOCKMEN’S AS- colored illustrations (added in ler’s biography to go OP but an- SOCIATION (Bismarck, 1950) is 120 DYKES of much interest. Teddy was nancing and stocking. THE The Women’s Viewpoint quite an organizer. KING RANCH (Boston, 1957) by The viewpoint of the women Tom Lea, talented Texas writer on range life is entertaining and Autobiography and artist, is a handsome two sometimes informative. A g n e s The books about cowboys are volume set, designed by the Morley Cleaveland’s NO LIFE many. The first was Charles A. equally talented Texas typog- FOR A LADY (Boston, 1941) is Siringo’s A TEXAS COWBOY, rapher, Carl Hertzog. It belongs generally conceded to be about OR FIFTEEN YEARS ON THE in any range man’s library. LIFE the top account. It is certainly HURRICANE DECK OF A ON THE KING RANCH (New spritely enough without an over- SPANISH PONY (Chicago, York, 1951) by Frank Goodwyn, dose of sentiment but so is Sallie 1885). The first printing is ex- is good on the life and legends Reynolds Matthews’ INTER- ceedingly rare, but it has been of the Mexican vaqueros, who WOVEN (Houston, 1936 and El reprinted many times. Siring0 make up the working force on Paso, 1958). The beautiful re- claimed that a million copies of the ranch. Frank was raised on print, designed by Carl Hertzog, it were sold in his lifetime. This the Norias division where his is illustrated by E. W. (Buck) seems to be an exaggeration but father was the manager. J. Schiwetz. Mary Kidder Rak’s it was justifiably popular-a rol- Evetts Haley in THE XIT A COWMAN’S WIFE (Boston licking account. Fortunately, it RANCH OF TEXAS (Chicago, and New York, 1934) and MOUN- is again in print with an enter- 1929) spoke quite plainly about TAIN CATTLE (Boston and New taining and informative intro- some folks who started their York, 1936) are sound matter-of- duction by J. Frank Dobie, il- herds with XIT cows. A suit was fact ranch history. Mary Tay- lustrations by Tom Lea, typog- filed and the unsold remainder lor Bunton’s A BRIDE ON THE raphy by Carl Hertzog, and the of the first edition was im- OLD CHISHOLM TRAIL (San Sloane imprint (New York, 1950). pounded by the court. It is a Antonio, 1939) refutes the con- Rated just below the Siringo, very scarce and expensive book. tention that women didn’t go up and not much at that, is Ike However, with some changes, it the trail. Emerson Hough’s good Blasingame’s’ DAKOTA COW- is now again available with the historical novel NORTH OF 36 BOY (New York, 1958). Ike was imprint of the University of (New York, 1923) really stirred a Matador cowboy and bronc Oklahoma Press. The State of up the critics because he has the peeler and this is a tremendously Texas traded the land which be- young woman owner of the herd entertaining book that is also came the XIT to a Chicago syn- on the trail with it. down to earth on all cow coun- dicate for the Capitol building try happenings. Fred Gipson’s in Austin. FLAT TOP RANCH Range Wars COWHAND (New York, 1953) is (Norman, 1957), edited by Bill The range wars, the big owner matter-of-fact on the day-to-day Allred and the writer, is a dif- versus small owners or nesters jobs of a working cowboy. Rich- ferent kind of a ranch history. It and cattle versus sheep, were mond P. Hobson, Jr. has written is the story of the creation of of ten bloody. The moves and two very entertaining books a ranch from a number of counter-moves by the partici- about the discovery and develop- eroded, cropped-out farms and pants make interesting reading. ment of the last great cattle fron- some depleted, brush-infested The Johnson County Wyoming tier on this continent-GRASS range. It also is the story, about affair is perhaps the most wide- BEYOND THE MOUNTAINS the only one in book form as yet, ly publicized of all range wars. (Philadelphia, New York, 1953) of modern conservation ranch- A. S. Mercer’s THE BANDITTI and NOTHING TOO GOOD ing. Since neither Bill nor I re- OF THE PLAINS (, FOR A COWBOY (Philadelphia, ceive a royalty from the sale of 1894) was the first of several New York, 1955). Ranch life be- the book I am not too modest to books on it and is now exceed- yond the mountains in British say it also belongs in every ingly rare. It has been reprinted Columbia was high adventure range man’s library. WYO- several times. THE LONGEST indeed. Walt Coburn’s STIRRUP MING’S PIONEER RANCHES ROPE (Caldwell, 1940) as told by HIGH (New York, 1957) is his (Laramie, 1955) is a big hand- Bill Walker to Mrs. D. F. Baber story of his first summer on the some encyclopedic volume on seems to be the only other ac- family ranch in Montana-it is ranches of the Laramie Plain by count of the Johnson County completely charming. three native sons, R. H. (Bob) troubles still in print. Will A. Burns, A. S. (Bud) Gillespie and Keleher’s VIOLENCE IN LIN- Ranch Histories Willing G. Richardson. There COLN COUNTY (Albuquerque, Ranch histories include much are other ranch histories, of 1957) is by far the most authori- on the owners and their hired course, and nearly all of them tative book on the so-called Lin- help as well as operations, fi- are worth having. coln County War. ARIZONA’S RANGE LIBRARY 121

DARK AND BLOODY one book is J. Frank Dobie’s THE TANGS OF THE MESA (Holly- GROUND (Caldwell, 1936 and LONGHORNS (Boston, 1941) wood, 1941) is well written but revised and enlarged, 1948) by based on a terrific amount of re- no longer easy to find. Walker Earle R. Forrest is an entertain- search and written as only Mr. D. Wyman’s THE WILD HORSE ing account of the Pleasant Val- Southwest could write it-a OF THE WEST (Caldwell, 1945) ley War in Arizona. major contribution to the his- is based primarily on the written tory of the West. The cattlemen records and has a fine bibli- County Histories took the lead in settling much ography. Luis B. Ortega’s CAL- I want to call attention here of our west and it was the long- IFORNIA STOCK HORSE (Sac- to another type of book-the horns, walking to their new ramento, 1949) is well illustrated county history-which often con- homes, that went with them. with photographs and is informa- tains -biographies of early cow- Paul C. Henlein’s CATTLE tive. John A. Gorman’s THE men, accounts of the establish- KINGDOM IN THE OHIO VAL- WESTERN HORSE (Danville, ing of the first ranches, and LEY (University of Kentucky Illinois, 1939) is always in de- something of the range troubles. Press, 1959) adds some important mand and therefore, in print. I hope you will carefully scan links in the spread of the Brit- Wayne Gard’s FABULOUS the county histories available in ish breeds westward from the QUARTER HORSE: STEEL your own State, for in them you Atlantic. It was on the prairies DUST (New York, 1958) is the will find range history not avail- and savannahs of the Ohio Val- story of one of the famous sires able elsewhere. Here are some ley that these breeds were first of this purely American breed of the recent examples of county crossed with the longhorns of so popular as cow horses. histories of considerable range Spanish origin. Today the Here- Despite the importance of interest: George Francis Brim- ford is the dominant beef breed sheep in our range economy they low’s HARNEY COUNTY, ORE- in this country. The newest and have been practically ignored in GON AND ITS RANGE LAND best book about the whitefaces range literature. A range man’s (Portland, Oregon, 1951), Ira A. is Don Ornduff’s THE HERE- library, to maintain balance, Freeman’s’ A HIST’ORY OF FORD IN AMERICA (Kansas should include some books on MONTEZUMA C 0 U N T Y , City, Missouri, 1957). Robert J. sheep. Fortunately there are COLORADO (Boulder, 1958), Kleberg, Jr. of the King Ranch some very good ones. The best Cornelia Adams Perkins’ SAGA has written a pamphlet about of all is the late Archer B. Gil- OF SAN JUAN (Monticello, the first beef breed to be devel- fillan’s SHEEP (Boston, 1929), Utah, 1957), Harry N. Campbell’s oped in this country, THE truly a Western classic. It was THE EARLY HISTORY OF SANTA GERTRUDIS BREED reissued by the University of MOTLEY COUNTY (San An- OF BEEF CATTLE (Kingsville, Minnesota Press in 1957 with an tonio, 1958). The latter is essen- nd, and revised and improved in illuminating introduction by J. tially the history of a great format by Carl Hertzog, El Paso, Frank Dobie. Hughie Call’s ranch, the Matador. Minnie 1954). The Santa Gertrudis are GOLDEN FLEECE (Boston, Dubbs Millbrook’s NESS, WEST- becoming popular in the Gulf 1942) is good social history as ERN COUNTY, KANSAS (De- Coast country. Frank W. Hard- well as informative on sheep- troit, 1955) has a place of honor ing’s MOSTLY ABOUT SHORT- herders. Winifred (Thalmann) in my own collection because it HORNS (privately printed, 1947) Kupper’s two books THE was in Ness County that I is a little harder to find but real GOLDEN HOOF (New York, learned some forty years ago Shorthorn fans will do it. The 1945) and TEXAS SHEEPMAN that a cowboy is no longer “a books by Alvin H. Sanders on (Austin, 1951) are about sheep hired man on horseback” much the Hereford, Shorthorn and and sheep folks in the Hill Coun- of the time. Angus are now scarce but worth- try of Texas where she grew up. while. His THE CATTLE OF Both are authentic and charm- Range Livestock THE WORLD (Washington, ing. Towne and Wentworth’s “No cows, qp cowboys. No D. C., 1926) is profusely illus- SHEPHERD’S EMPIRE (Nor- sheep, no shepherds. No live- trated and somewhat easier to man, 1945) is based on the writ- stock, not much American West.” come by. The number one book ings of others but worthwhile. This quotation, I believe, should about_ range horses is J. Frank Colonel Wentworth’s AMERI- be credited to the late Colonel Dobie’s THE MUSTANGS (Bos- CA’S SHEEP TRAILS (Ames, Eddie Wentworth, teacher, au- ton, 1952). This is one of the best, Iowa, 1948) brings together much thor, and long-time educational if not the very best of all of information. It is not a book for director for Armours. A range Dobie’s books. In it his love of reading but does have consider- man’s library will include books the wild and free sings on every able reference value. Will C. about the critters. The number page. Rufus Steele’s MUS- Minor’s FOOTPRINTS IN THE 122 DYKES

TRAIL (Denver, 1959) is a de- of Eugene Manlove Rhodes are a 1956) reproduces many of the lightful book of nature stories part of the literature of the pictures of range life made by by a scribbling shepherd. Minor range but all are now believed the pioneer Montana photog- says sheepherding allows him out of print. Several of the rapher, L. A. Huffman, LIFE more opportunity to study the Rhodes novels were reprinted in ON THE TEXAS RANGE (Aus- whole of nature than any other paperback series and can occas- tin, 1952) is profusely illustrated manner of making a living he ionally be found in the used book with the very fine photographs has yet discovered. He may be and magazine stores. Conrad made by the pioneer Texas a worthy successor to Archie Richter’s THE SEA OF GRASS camera artist, Erwin E. Smith. Gilf illan. (New York, 1937) is a beautifully The text is by J. Evetts Haley. written novel with a sound Ed Borein, like his friend Literature Diverse range conservation moral. Owen Charlie Russell, was never a top The literature of the range is Wister’s THE VIRGINIAN (New cow hand because he was too certainly diverse. It encompasses York, 1902) was the beginning of interested in sketching the man, the ballads and other verse, the the deluge of “Westerns.” It is cow and horse action that is legends and tall tales, the novels still in print and while it does inevitable on the range. After and short stories, the writings not smell strongly of cows, it has Ed’s death his friends published of certain range men, cartoons become an American range two handsome volumes-ETCH- and art, and the heraldry of the classic. The short stories and INGS OF THE WEST (Santa range. I am also including here tall tales of Charles M. Russell, Barbara, 1950) and BOREIN’S two additional books by Ramon the great cowboy artist, are ter- WEST (Santa Barbara, 1952)- F. Adams, COWBOY LINGO rific. Many of them are included in which most of his great range (Boston, 1936) and WESTERN in TRAILS PLOWED UNDER sketches are saved for our future WORDS (Norman, 1944). Both first issued in 1927 but still in edification. Harold Bugbee illus- were labors of love in which print. His GOOD MEDICINE trated several Haley books; Tom Ramon strives to preserve for contains a number of brilliantly Lea several by Dobie; Ross San- posterity, in dictionary form, the illustrated letters. It was first tee many of his own books as idiom of early range days. With issued in 1929 and is still avail- well as range books by others. the possible exception of the able. Both the illustrations and Will James stuck pretty much Negro spirituals, cowboy songs Russell’s words mirror the range. to illustrating his own works. and ballads are believed to be Russell illustrated many other These and such other great the major contribution of this range books but unfortunately western artists as “Buck” Dun- country to folk songs. John A. nearly all of them are out of ton, Maynard Dixon, R. Farring- Lomax spent thirty years col- print. Mody C. Boatright’s TALL ton Elwell, Nick Eggenhofer, lecting and preparing such bal- TALES FROM TEXAS COW Harvey T. Dunn, and Frederic lads for publication. Any of the CAMPS (Dallas, 1934) is no ‘Remington illustrated range books of cowboy songs he has longer easy to find but worth books. Watch for books with compiled and his ADVENTURES seeking. Dr. James Cloyd Bow- drawings by these artists. They OF A BALLAD HUNTER (New man’s PECOS BILL (Chicago, are marks of quality. York, 1947) are worthwhile. The 1937) is the best of several books late Badger Clark’s SUN AND on this legendary cowboy. Life on the Range SADDLE LEATHER (Boston, A range library should also 1915) received the approval of Carbons and Photographs include books that cover the the severest critics of all, the The late J. R. Williams’ COW- sweep of men, cattle, horses, and old-time range men. It is in BOYS OUT OUR WAY (New country in their relation to one print and enlarged to include the York, 1951) is a highly enjoyable another. Such a book, for poems which appeared in a num- true-to-life book of cartoons. J. example, is Ernest Staples ber of other small books of verse Frank Dobie liked it and gave Osgood’s THE DAY OF THE by Badger. “The Badger Hole,” his reasons in the introduction CATTLEMAN *(Minneapolis, his log cabin bachelor home near he wrote for it. Ace Reid’s COW- 1929 and reprinted 1954). Here, Custer, South Dakota is now a POKES (Kerrville, Texas, 1958) too, belongs Granville Stuart’s State shrine. Omar Barker’s won’t equal Jim Williams’ expert FORTY YEARS ON THE SONGS OF THE SADDLE MEN work but Ace is a comer. The FRONTIER (Two volumes, (Denver, 1954) speaks to all those photographs by certain pioneer Cleveland, 1925 and in one who love grass, blue skies, cattle cameramen. do much to docu- volume, Glendale, Calif ., 1959). and horses. ment the flavor of the range. E. C. Abbott, better known as Novels Brown and Felton’s BEFORE Teddy Blue, was Stuart’s son- The novels of Andy Adams and (New York, in-law. Teddy told his story to RANGE LIBRARY 123

Helena Huntington Smith and the late seventies and early ered series, The Western Fron- the book which resulted from eighties. Younger sons, experi- tier Library at $2 per volume. their collaboration, WE POINT- enced breeders, and British In this Library of classic western ED THEM NORTH (New York, visitors followed their capital to reprints of particular interest to 1939 and Norman, 1955, with the West. Unfortunately, there range men are: Mercer’s THE Eggenhof er illustrations) is isn’t a book by one of these edu- BANDITTI OF THE PLAINS frank and highly entertaining. cated gentlemen in print today. (1954) with a long introduction Walker D. Wyman’s NOTHING Mostly, they are expensive and by William H. Kittrell; Pat F. BUT PRAIRIE AND SKY (Nor- hard to find, yet a range man’s Garrett’s THE AUTHENTIC man, 1953), based on the notes of library should include one or LIFE OF Bruce Siberts, is just as frank more of these volumes. Perhaps (1954) a major Lincoln County on the early days on the Dakota the best of all, and probably the War item with an introduction range. Both deserve high liter- most expensive, is John Clay’s by the writer which shows it ary ratings. MY LIFE ON THE RANGE isn’t so authentic; Charles L. Three books have been com- (privately printed in Chicago, Martin’s A SKETCH OF SAM piled recently in which the 1924). Clay, an educated Scot, BASS (1956), a cowboy and trail records left by pioneer range was tenderfoot, ramrod, man- driver who turned train robber, men and those who reported ager, owner and founder of a with an introduction by Ramon their doings are made available great commission firm. His book F. Adams; Nelson Lee’s THREE to modern readers-Ramon F. is tops in writing style and con- YEARS AMONG THE COMAN- Adams’ THE BEST OF THE tent. William French’s SOME CHES (1957) with an introduc- AMERICAN COWBOY (Nor- RECOLLECTIONS OF A tion by Dr. Walter P. Webb (Lee man, 1957) THE COWBOY WESTERN RANCHMAN (Lon- was a horse and cow trader and READER (New York etc., 1959) don, 1927) and John Culley’s trail driver to Louisiana before edited by Lon Tinkle and Allen CATTLE, HORSES AND MEN he was captured); Will Hale’s Maxwell and C1ifford.P. Wester- (, 1940) rate just TWENTY - FOUR - YEARS A meir’s TRAILING THE COW- below Clay’s book. R. B. Town- COWBOY AND RANCHMAN BOY (Caldwell, 1955). Wester- shend’s A TENDERFOOT IN IN SOUTHERN TEXAS AND meir also wrote what is prob- COLORAD’O (London, 1923), A OLD MEXICO (1959), one of ably the most realistic book on TENDERFOOT IN NEW MEX- the rarest and most sought-for the , MAN, BEAST, DUST ICO (London, 1923) and LAST range books; and General James (Denver, 1947). The classic book MEMORIES OF A TENDER- I. Brisbin’s THE BEEF BONAN- on brands is Oren Arnold and FOOT (London, 1926) are all ZA or HOW TO GET RICH ON John P. Hale’s HOT IRONS good. They were reissued in this THE PLAINS (1959), one of the (New York, 1940) but Duncan country in the twenties and are books credited with inducing Emrich’ THE COWBOY’S OWN somewhat less expensive than eastern and foreign financiers to BRAND BOOK (New York, 1954) those mentioned above. The one invest in the cattle business in is a minor classic for readers 7 range book by an English author the West. It was first issued in to 70. It was only after reading you are most likely to find, MY 1881 and was really an expan- Hortense Warner Ward’s REMINISCENCES AS A COW- sion of the first promotional CATTLE BRANDS AND COW- BOY (New York, 1930) by Frank piece of its type done for the HIDES (Dallas, 1953) that I Harris, is utterly worthless. It Union Pacific Railroad - Dr. learned why I couldn’t read the was issued in wraps in what Hiram Latham’s TRANS-MIS- Mexican brands I had encount- must have been a huge printing SOUR1 STOCK RAISING ered in the lower Rio Grande and is still rather common. (Omaha, 1871), a very rare range Valley thirty years ago. One or There are many others, fortu- book. two of his own State or county nately, and most of them are Other Reprints brand books should be in each good. The famous reprint house range man’s library. Grosset and Dunlap has included Western Frontier Library two great books in the Grosset British Books There never was a time before Universal Library, issued in Some of the best writing ever when so many good range books paper covers, to sell at $1.25- done about the range is by edu- could be bought for so little. D o b i e ’ s THE LONGHORNS cated men from the British For example, Savoie Lotinville, (1957) and Webb’s THE GREAT Isles. The investment of foreign the canny businessman and PLAINS (1957). Bantam Frontier capital in livestock enterprises scholar, who heads the Univer- Classics, issued in 1959 in paper in the American West was a sity of Oklahoma Press, is issuing covers to sell at four bits include major financial phenomenon of a well printed, hard board cov- Dobie’s THE MUSTANGS, Gip- 124 DYKES

son’s COWHAND, Santee’s Two other reprints in 1959, Frank Dobie-the Freeman one LOST PONY TRACKS and both by the Antiquarian Press by Ramon Adams. The price of Campbell’s (Vestal) D 0 D G E of New York, rank in impor- each is $100. This is the first CITY. Pennant Books issued tance with the issuing of THE reprint of each of these exceed- Dobie’s A VAQUERO OF THE RAMPAGING HERD as news ingly rare books. A good copy of BRUSH COUNTRY in wraps in in the field of range books. They the first of either brings $500. 1954 to sell for two bits-this is are cheap only in comparison If you have the time, the a somewhat abridged edition of with the prices commanded by patience, and the money, by all the 1929 First that is one of my the originals when one or the means get the first edition of all other does infrequently appear favorites among all of Frank’s the books mentioned. The firsts on the market. James Cox’s fine books. Watch the racks of will give you a feeling of pride HISTORICAL AND BIO- of ownership as long as you live paperbacks in the book stores, GRAPHICAL RECORD OF THE and will constitute a substantial newsstands and drug stores. CATTLE INDUSTRY AND THE addition to your estate. But, More and more good range books CATTLEMEN OF TEXAS AND first editions are not mandatory are showing up on them. Also ADJACENT TERRITORY (St. in a range man’s library. The watch the remainder tables Louis, 1895) and James W. Free- reprints provide the same or an (sometimes labled “Publisher’s man’s PROSE AND POETRY improved text at much less cost Overstocks”) in the bookstores- OF THE LIVESTOCK INDUS- and can be had now. There is no occasionally a publisher overes- TRY (Denver and Kansas City, valid reason for a range man to timates the number of copies of 1905) were the two reprinted in be without a library to supple- a good range book the public handsome numbered editions of ment his working tools and to will take at the original price 500. The Cox, in two volumes, enrich his understanding of his and has to sell them cheaper. has a new introduction by J. calling.

mountain ranges lie warm val- The Rangeland’s Northern Frontier1 leys which are often semi-arid in the rain shadows of high W. R. HANSON ranges to their westward. Chief Forester, Eastern R o c k i e s Forest Conservation East of the Rockies lies the Board, Calgary, Alberta northern extension of the North- ern Great Plains, the Boreal For- Since the time of Columbus with farming following in its est and the Arctic Tundra. The there has been a movement of wake. In a few cases settlement northern plains fall into two western man from Europe to- was not established on an agri- vegetative regions; the open ward the northwest. Following cultural basis, but moved west- prairies in the south and the the early discoveries in America, ward in the search of gold with parkland (alternate poplar people sought anxiously, but in farming and ranching coming bluffs and moist p r a i r i e s ) vain, for a northwest passage to along to supply meat and farm toward the north. the Orient. This search opened produce to the miners. Such was By the year 1900 ranching was up a lucrative fur trade in Amer- the case in parts of , established on most of the open ica which remained the chief Montana, and the interior of plains country and in the south- commercial enterprise in the British Columbia. ern valleys of British Columbia. northwest for nearly 200 years. An expansion of the use of During the next three decades, Agricultural settlement and rangeland for livestock produc- grain farming east of the Rockies modern industry have gradu- tion is still going on today in and fruit farming in British Co- ally replaced the fur trade. In Canada but has become north- lumbia began to take over the most cases, ranching with its use ward instead of westward. This rangeland and to push north- of open rangeland, was the first northern extremity of the ranch ward even beyond the limits of type of agricultural use of land country may be termed its ranching. The demand for food Northern Frontier. in the first world war and the development of short-season Northern Frontier wheats sent farmers into the SPresented at the Convention of the American Society of Range Man- Most of British Columbia is valley of the mighty Peace River, agement at Phoenix, January 29, occupied by the Appalachian 500 miles north of the 49th par- 1958. Highlands. In between the allel. Surprisingly enough it be- 0