of farms shows an increase of 355.3 per cent and the value of Hvestock 866.2 per cent.
The twenty years from 1870 to 1890, or thereabouts, was the heyday of open range stock-raising in the Pacific Northwest. During that time the stockman was free to increase his herds to any practicable extent, secure in the knowledge that his pasturage was unstinted and that few would interfere with his use of the public lands surrounding his homestead. Afterwards restrictions began to be felt, until by gradual stages the old type of ranching was forced to give place to the system of enclosed ranges.^
Changes in the ranching business; the great cattle companies. While the advance in live-stock w^ealth has continued down to 19 10 and a large proportion of the increase is still due to the ranges of the Inland Empire, the conditions of stockraising have changed enormously. The picturesque "cowboy "of a quarter century ago is rarely met with today on the sage plains, and the historic "round-up "is now enacted as a pageant before throngs of hilarious spectators.
When the stockman became convinced of the necessity of retiring to his own enclosed pasture, he usually tried to provide himself amply with lands for his future operations. Many failed in the endeavour and went out of the stock business. A few, by means not al 1 Except in certain districts, and in connection with the grazing of the forest reserves.
