The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1874-07-21
STOCK.
Cattle Trade of Baltimore
Rapid Increase I'm Business.
From the Baltimore Gazette.

rum 'oSS''N'
THE CATTLE TRADE OF BALTIMORE.
The cattle trade of Baltimore is prob
ably the least known of any OF It's leading
interests. So quiet has been It's develop
ment and growth, from comparatively
unmportant business to one OF the very
| foremost branches of trade, that few,
! aside from those engaged in II, are aware
of the great proportions to which 1t has
already attained. The future of this i'll
! dustry can scarcely be- estimated with
anything approaching accuracy, but if its
| rapid growth in the past is safe basis
! by which to estimate its future, there l.
! little doubt that as II cattle mart BaltI-
more must eventually enter the
front ranks with the leading mar
kets in the country, if indeed sh"
does not take the leading place that her
geographical situation and rail and water
facilities would seem to fairly cnttle her
i'm this great trade There are several
reasons why such views should not be con-
sidered chimerical. Occupying rs the
city does central position on the Attain
tic seaboard, with short, direct and cheap
communication with the great markets of
Philadelphia and New York, which al
ready draw partial supplies from Balti-
more, with two great trunk lines of rail
way stretching into the great Northwest,
and competing by low freightS and Supc-
rior shipping facilities for the cattle trade
of that section; with local roads and
steamboat lines extending through all
sections of our own and ncighboring
States from which supplies can be drawn;
with the early completion of the Chicago
branch of the Baltimore and Ohio Rail
road, already penetrating well into the
interior of the great State Of Illinois, n
noticed below; with superior facilities for
handling stock ut our drove yards; with
sufficient capital invested by cattle
dealers of known business integrity and
high standing III this community, and an
immense home consumption which Is IN
crc;tsing with the growth of population,
together with the choice of the New York
and Philadelphia markets, all combine i'll
assuring the future magnitude of the
trade which is thus readily made mani
fest.
ACCOMMODATIONS FOR STOCK.
AZ occasion has required it, stock pens
have been and continue to be erected at
the drove yards, and at present aInpi"
accommodations are found for all the
stock, even if arriving in extraordinary
numbers. The maximum capacity for
stock at present is about 5000 head of
cattle, 1000 hogs, and from $1,000 t"
10000 sheep.
As an evidence of the growth of tn"
trade it NAV be said that before the war
there were dnring the dull season often
at few rs 200 or 400 head ofcattle, and ~
a maximum seldom over 1000 head.
Now, during the corresponding period,
there are never under 700 head and often
us many Us $500, and even 1920 head
were received in one week during the fall
of 1872 The business is usually more
active during the fall and winter months,
but at all seasons of the year there Is II
steady demand.
RECEIPTS OF STOCK.
The following table shows the receipts
of stock ut the scales for the year 1873,
and also for the first six months OF 1874,
t. the lSt of July inst: