The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1881-01-27
CATTLE HERDING.
A Huge Business that baS GTSSSS up
ON the Plains.

A Huge Business that baS GFSvSE up
ON the Plains.
A number Of prominent live stock men
have, during the week, arrived In the
city from Wyoming Territory. The busi
ness which brought them having been
closed, they are seeking their homes, OF
points for passing the winter, in St.Louis,
in the East, and in the Sunny South,
leaving their herds in charge of trusty
foremen. They report that the season
has opened very cold, but 1t Is not as
cold as in this meridian. Although the
winter opens early, and very unusually
severe, yet the stock is doing well. With
in the last ten days several train loads
of good beef, "off of grass" as the stock
men express it, have been shipped from
that section of country, as late in the
season as it is. A very intelligent man
connected with this branch Of business,
just in from Wyoming Territory, was
met by q Republican reporter at the
Laclede yesterday, from whom some
very interesting information was obtain
ed in regard to this great interest, which
is of ofimportaCGe to st. Louis. This gen.
tleman said that ST. Louis was negeCting
a very important matter in regard to
stock raising in the Wyoming country.
There is no other interest there which
Competes with it. There is no reason,
he thinks, in the world if the right kind
of effort is made why st. Louis cannot
divide that trade with Chicago. 1t is a
growing trade, all cash and no credit.
The laws are all drafted for the protec.
ton of stock men, and business is with
them as much system as that of the
mercantile establishments in st. Louis.
Men are elected to the Legislature with
the object of fostering this great interest.
There is an organized association and a
system of detectives throughout the en-.
tire country, 30 that there is no show for
stealing cattle, or danger of loss from
their straying away.
To show what the business has been,
the stock man said that the Union Pa
Ci6c railroad has pulled to Council Bluffs
this year from Wyoming Territory 15O,.
600 beeves, most all of which went chief
ly to Chicago. Now, there is no reason,
said he, Why st. Louis can't 90 up and
divide that trade with Chicago. The
cattle come 10 Council Bluffs, where they
sell to feeders, who make a business of
fattening them, but the great bulk, say
about three-fourths, goes to Chicago.
About $4,000 head were sold out of this
Western shipment to be fed, while nearly
all the balance went through to Chicago.
Only very few, probably not 100 carloads
came to st. Louis.
Chicago, said the gentleman, works
for that trade. Nearly every prominent
live stock commission man in Chicago
puts good man out on the plains in
June, and keeps him there until Novem.
Der, working for the interest of his prin.
Cipal. These commission men in Chica.
60 hold out inducements to the stock
raisers in the West by accommodations
in the shape of advances, etc., thereby
inducing them to transact tn cir business
with them. A number of live stock |
commission men in Chicago are interest
ed in Western ranches, and number of
business men are forming connections
and becoming interested with the live
stock men.
Field, Letter & Co. have invested So.
600 with concern named Pratt & Ferris
and incorporated the whole into a live
stock company, under the name of the
Pratt & Ferris Live Stock Company. In
June each ofthe railroads running across
Iowa commences looking out for it's in.
terests in this trade. The Chicago &
Rock Island Railroad, the Chicago &
Northwestern, the Chicago, Burlington
& Quincy Railroad, all running from
Chicago and connecting with the Union
Pacific at Council Bluffs, begin to look
around in June, and each one of these
roads places in the Western territory ac.
tive, keen, shrewd, energetic agents who
stay there from June until November,
working up the business for their respec.
tive roads with the stock men. Thev
are continually on the wing, and can be
met at any point, just like drammers
from the commercial houses out there,
securing shipments in advance for their
roads. Not a man has been met from
ST. Louis. These men mess with the
stock men, make themselves agreeable.
and are successful in securing their share
OF trade for their roads. Many of the
stock men, said the Republicans infor.
mant, feel kindly interest toward st.
Louis, and would like this city to extend
its trade there.
The business, as estimated by the best
posted stockmen in Wyoming, will in.
crease rapidly from year to year, as it is
proving to be 30 profitable, and as it is
found that there is no other class of bus.
mess safer for capitalists, with surer re.
suits and larger returns, The profits in
the stock business for the last ten years
have averaged from so to 100 per cent.
As an instance Of its prosperous outcome
the gentleman alluded to the Heff estate.
Hef commenced in 1865 as butcher,
with capital Of not over $4,000. He
died two years ago, and his present herd
ia estimated to be worth over So 100000.
He married the niece of prominent cit
izen of st. Louis. The widow wants to
sell out, but they can't find man in the
United States able to buy the herd, and
the widow is compelled to runit. Among
the larger stockmen are the Swan Broth.
ers, who are considered the heaviest