The Republican journal., 1872-10-17
A Cattle Sale and its Lessons.

AT Dexter Park, Chicago, not long since,
there was a sale of cattle more remarkable
| in some respects probably, than any that
has ever taken place In the mammoth stock
| yards adjoining. herd of 80 short-h horns
sold by auction for $50, 100. OF these, 20
We're COWS and heifets over one year old,
| which sold for an average of SS3o so each.
The average for the entire herd-S693-is
remarkably large, especially when it is con-
sidered that this was not sale Of selected
animals, but sale to close out herd. The
highest price was $3.50 for cow, the
highest in proportion to age was 81 ,G95 for
hcter Is months old. Two only, each a
Young calf sold for less than $500 each.
This herd was the property of gentle
man living at place in Wisconsin far away
from the homes of the great short-horp
breeders, OF the main lines Of travel. The
herd was one Of recent origin. and about
which no great notorety or fame had gath
cred. 1t had never but once been exhibited
outside of Wisconsin, and neither by its
great size, the high prices paid for its mem
beTS. nor by extensive advertising, had it
become known over the country. These
somewhat detailed statements are made be-
cause this sale suggests something worthy
of more than passing notice. We have here
a case of very marked success under cir
owner was engaged in other business, with
probably only very general knowledge of
cattle, when he established this herd six
years since, and he was in new country
with no improved cattle near him. He
made purchase Of several breeders, getting
some only fairly good cattle, but he learned
the difference between good and medium
cattle, sold the latter and bought the for
mer, yet never at extraordinary prices He
was wise enough TO employ a competent,
honest man, and then gave unusually good
care to his cattle, recognizing the fact that
high condition is one OF the prime evidences
of merit in the minds of the mass, and not
without its influence on even good breed
ers. Exhibiting and taking prizes at his
State and County fairs his cattle soon ac-
Quired good local reputation, and he was
able TO sell. at satisfactory rates, such of
his herd and their produce as he wished,
and to make this remarkable sale, which
brought together breeders from many
states and scattered his cattle from Mary
land to Missouri at exceedingly 'l0ng"
prices. Nearly half the herd were young
things. These brought between $1,000
and $4,000 Of the rest, probably no one
sold for less than its cost, while many sold
at two or three times their cost price For
mer private sales have certainly more than
paid current expenses, and this public sale
must leave L very large net profit in pro-
portion to the money invested.
Some ''common' farmer may turn away
from this account and say, Can this con-
Germs me not. l can have nothing to do
with such cattle. They are only for the
rich" And in one sense this is true. The
ordinary farmer cannot afford to pay Sl.s50
for COW, or 5000 for a young bull. But
such herds as these do u good work for
even the ordinary farmer. They keep up
to their highest development our finest
breeds of cattle, and from these the breed
ers of less fashionable but equally useful
cattle obtain needed supplies for their
herds, and they can and do sell at prices
which any forehanded farmer engaged in
stock raising can well afford to pay.