Cedar Falls gazette. [volume] (Cedar Falls, Iowa) 1860-1895, 1870-06-10
Where is the Beef to
come FROM


If reliance can be placed upon the
statistics compiled by the Depart
ment of Agriculture, then this Re-
public of the United States is Woe
fully deficient in cattle, and beef
promises TO be at famine prices with
in very short time. Certainly, it
can do no harm for the consumer TO
look this matter of beef supply and
demand squarely i'm the face, and 1T
may benefit the producer to do so,
and stimulate him to put every pos
sible pound of meat he profi;ably
can upon his animals before sending
them to the SHAMELESS.
The census of 1866 shows that there
were in the hands of the producers of
the United States, at that time, 25,-
$40, 337. This does not in elude cattle
held in towns and cities or i'm transit
to market-of which number S,728,~
1888 were milch cows, and the whole
number of cattle bore the proportion
of 81 to each 100 people, such having
been substantially the ratio Of cattle
to population for the thirty years
proceeding 1860. We find on eSami-
nation of the tables published in the
last report of the Department of Ag-
riculture that the whole number of
neat cattle in the United States, had
February, 1S69-decreased over A.
600, 900, the aggregate being but 81
433, O9S, to which should be added
some 200, 900 for Territories and the
States of Oregon and Nevada not re-
ported. OF this reduced number
however, 9,247, ia are milch cows,
showing that this class of cattle have
increased SIS, Sal, while there Is a net
decrease i'm other classes of 4, 726 900,
with an increase of nearly or quite
one-third in the population drawing
its supplies of beef from this greatly
diminished source.
In 1860, there were, exclusive of
mich cows, 1871 Ats neat cattle, be-
ing in the ratio Of fifty four animals
for each one hundred people; calling
the present population 5000, O00-a
fair estimate-now, however, there
are Exclusive of milch cows) but
12,1S5 1856 cattle, being only thirty
animals for each one hundred per-
sons, showing that the beef supply
rs but fifty five per cent. of what it
was ten years since, and what the
experience of the thirty years had
proved to be necessary. What en-
y
and really reduces the supply Of beef
below what cursory comparison of
these figures would indicate, is the
present small proportion of matured
animals in the country, the high
prices Of the last few years having
been instrumental in forcing upon
the markets an undue proportion of
young or unripe cattle, until nothing
the butcher will buy is left in the
producers hands.
The Chicago Live Stock Reparter,
Of February 18th, in speaking of the
demand for and supply of cattle says:
I'VE 1o,O begin 10 believe the supply
of ma, Nrcd cattle sCM nerer be equal
to the demand, uticSs Ucry much more
rapid progress be seen than has been
made since the close Of the lCdr.n
From this state of facts, but one
deduction can lie drawn, L. e., that
the deficit i'm the states. east of the
Mississippi, will augment i'm an ever
increasing ratio, and that all the pro-
ducts of cattle, beef, butter, cheese,
milk, hides and tallow will gradually
but continuously enhance IN price
until the cost becomes so great as to
place them in q very great measure
beyond the reach of the poor.
No less an authority than Lewis Z.
A lien. estimates that We annually
slaughter 5000. 900 neat cattle, which
would soon consume the entire sup
ply. were the estimate correct tie il
so or not. there can he 10 doubt that
the numbers of cattle are annually
decreasing when there should be a
great increase. Hence prices must
continue to increase until the tide
con he tnrned.-C. Hood DuUis, Prdi-
rte Farmer,