, 1872-12-25
TEXAN CATTLE.
Their Care and PrOfit-InteresttnE
Facts About tho Trade.

Their Care and Profit-InteresttnE
Facts About tho Trade.
so1ouoa Kansas {Dse. s.. Correspondence Of the Ne,o
York Times.
Tt ia often said b5' our local jonroallsts that
81 HE Texas cattle-trade is dying out, and that
"the days of the Texas cattle-trade are oTer;'
but the long-horns cross the Texan border IN
vast droyes, and their owners pocEctbooks
grow plethoric IN consequence, notwithstanding.
Tt is conceded, hoTeFor, that this year Las
failed in the realization Of the usual profits
from this trade The well-knoHn severity of
last winter so reduced the cattle which ctr
yived, that the spring grass dld no more for
them than "start them" IN taking on hesh
enough to cover their bare ribs and wasted
joints, and the summer grass was 30 Light that
bY the end Of August they were scarcely in bet
ter condition than when the winter began in
1871, and yet it would hardly pay to winter them
and inferior cattle have been shipped from Kan
eas the present SEASON. More power to the mus
c1es and grinders Of the restaurant frequenters
in Chicago and New York
Before giving the numbers Of e1portatlons
will sum up the cost of steer years old ready
for shipment. There are three grades OF sala-
BILE Texas cattle, viz, 2-year olas, 9-year olds:
and 4year olds. Yearlings exchange hands
somo, but there is no dsmand when 2-YeaE olds
can be had. a 2-year old steer is worth from
S11 to s14, according to size and condition. It
costs on an. average about 81 to winter
him, though the contract price is IS, and he
must be wintered twice, which will carry nun
into his fifth year, when he takes on flesh most
readily, md is considered altogether the most
marketable steer offered. The cost IN summer
is not lessened, it being mere t1ifie Of herders
labor, aud it is generally "lumped" with losses
by straying drowning and other accidents,
is the cost Of marketable steer, taken at two
years: First cost, say, 912; frat summer and
Esep Sa9sr s. isfR zsep 50 to!sl Of
S24 cost. Such q steer is worth about S32 on
the ground, or delivered at the cattle-pens at
the depot, and this leaves margin Of So profit
4 three-year old is worth from $14 to $40,
cost Of keeping to came ago, viz, bis fifth year,
is 81, making total cost from S21 to $27, and
worth about the same as the former. A four
are generally wintered, making the cost Of their
keep 81 till the time Of shipment, or from $27 to
1888 total cost. But these are heavy cattlo, being
ono year older, and bring about 34S at the cattle
pens. It will thus be seen that the profit real
lied per head is not far from So on an average;
| and yet, if the column of accidents swells to
such All extent as to take one-third OF the herd,
which was the case in the last year pretty gen
if the dealer comes out sssauare he ought to be
thankful, but he amt; on the contrary, he
'cusses his 1uck'' and tries again.
The column of "accident5" is the most fruit
full source Of loss to the dealer, and one main
cause for the swelling Of this column the past
| year has been the inadequate shelter from
| storms. Dealers have trusted to the balny
reputation Of the State, but have found to their
Borrow the ombalming influences Of the
s'norther," as one Of the tidal waves rolls over
the land. Notwithstanding all the difficulties
and Losses, however, the Texas cattle trade of
Kansas makes good showing this year.
The Atchigon, Topeka j. Santa Fe Railroad
handled, from Aug. IS to Nov. q. 4,61o cars OF
| cattle, Of which 3,187 came from Wichita. The
cars contain generally Is head, making total in
three months Of s., $50 head shipped by this one
road.
The Kansas Pacific Railroad has, perhaps,
| shipped IS many cattle from Ellsworth as were
shipped from Wichita, VIZ, e7,as6 head, and
from Solomon 10026 head, and from Abilene the
| Bame number, 10.026 head, making total from
these five points Of shipment Of 160, ,418 during
| the three months OF over, from Aug. Is to Nov.
81, representing cash income Of $5, 81, $50 to
to the state and net profit OF 81, ,263 3A to the
| cattle-dealers.
| This doesn't look much like dying-out" OF
the trade, when it is remembered that have
taken the shipments OF only five points in the
| State Us basis of calculation
There are probably loo, 900 head more Of Tex
ans IN tho State than rent into last winter, but
| it will be noticed that tho shipping points are
fast moving to the west and south OF Abilene,
and the time is not far distant when the long
horns will bo thrust out Of the State altogether