They drew back and righteously pulled their robes about them, shrinking from me in horror as if I were a witch conjuring up war, signing the death warrants of good young men that I might make a puny few dollars on my cows. How peaceful, by contrast, to individual negotiations, is the auction sale. You may be disappointed, but no flare-up of temper need hazard a heart attack nor stir up a fist fight. The arrangement, often, is much like a partnership. They are the industry's aristocracy.
Some longtime operators send their yearlings to well-fixed midwestern grain farmers every year.
The selling and buying are all taken care of when the calves are born, or before. That is big business and it involves other people's money-banks or credit associations. But for the independent family-size farm or ranch, and for all loners and little operators, the weekly livestock auction holds the solution to all kinds of problems. It is the handiest device that has come along since they started putting pockets in shirts. The Arizona Board of Regents.