The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1882-09-09

SOMETHING ABOUT BEEF.
The Supply Waning Before an Increasing
Demand.

which We take the following:
"rhe beef famine prevailing in some
parts Of the East has excited great in.
terest in tie West. Beef cattle Of all
kinds have gone up S. to SO per head,
although the stock raiSers say they see
no good reason for such a rise. The
beef famine is merely panic, and will
soon be over, but it is 4 warning of what
really may occur If we do not take
pains to raise more beef. Three years
ago the writer tried by series Of arti.
cles in Wilkes Spirit, to awaken some
interest in the beef production, and
later wrote and published book by the
Lippincott's on the subject. The panic
OF 1882 was predicted and also 4 beef
famine in 1885, unless more cattle were
raised. Il is now too late to avoid the
panic, for It Is upon US, but We may
still save ourselves from n real famine
by active measures in the production oi
beef. II is my opinion that We have
been in beef famine for the last ten
years, though we did not know it.
a four-year -old steer can be raised on
the plains for 81, and the meat Of the
animal ought not to command in any
part OF the United States over ten cents
per pound dressed. That cattle raiser
should make twenty, thirty, forty and
even fifty per cent. per annum profit on
the money he has invested in cattle is
outrageous, bu, he will yet make still
more than that il more people do not
go into stock raising rs business.
STATISTICS OF CATTLE.
"a careful examination Of the sta,is-
tics OF cattle production in the United
States will show that the increase OF
cattle has not kept apacc with the in
crease Of population, and the only won
der is that beef is as cheap as it is. In
1870 the average number Of cattle in
America to every 100 persons was less
than 100 head, and in 1880 only about
IS head to 100 persons. In 1860 the
States and Territories had the following
ratio: Alabama, 81 head Arkansas,
Is6; California, sS7 Connecticut, IS ;
Delaware, 81; Florida, s74; Georgia,
95; Illinois, 81; Indiana, 81; Iowa,
70; Maine, 50; Maryland, 81; Mas.
sachuseits, az; Michigan, II; Mime
sofa, 6S; Mississippi, 81; Missouri, oS !;
New Hampshire, 81; New Jersey, 81
New York, so; North Caiolina, 6o ;
Ohio, 10 Oregon, aga, Pennsylvania,
4S; Rhode Island, az; South Carolina,
S,; Tennessee, 6S Texas, $40; Yer
mont, IIs; Virginia, 65; Wisconsin,
GO; District Of Columbia, 1; Dakota,
90 Nebraska, 100; New Mexico, IoS ;
Utah, 100; Washington Territory, 2s9.
Since 1850 four States and Territories
have increased their stock, and five have
stood still, and thirty have decreased,
while the population has steadily in
creased.
"a good many cattle companies have
been formed OF late years, and, so far a,
know, all are doing well. We have
several here in Montana, and they are
able TO declare an annual dividend oil
twenty-five per cent, besides reservine
handsome surplus for increasing the
herds. tbs a remarkable fact that there
is more English capital at present in.
vested in cattle growing in the United
States than American money. This
year the Englishmen are reaping rich
reward for their enterprise, and are sell.
ing American beef At six cents per pound
live weight, which cost them less than
two cents to raise. There is really nc
immediate occasion for alarm about J
cattle famine, rs cattle are not vet SC
scarce as to create any great stress in the
meat market. But the spectators have
got hold Of the fact that there are toe
few cattle in America for the popula
tion, and they are using i, TO fill theil
pockets. We must have more cattle
more cattle raisers and more capita
with which to raise cattle.
LUCRATIVE BUSINESS.
"For the next ten years believe cat
tie raising will be one OF the most lucra
tive callings in the United States, anC
those who have the good fortune to b,
able to engage in it will rapidly grow
rich. The best way is to associate cap
ital in large numbers. II costs no NOR,
to take care Of three thousand steer
than il docs one thousand, and profit,
are more than three times as large. II
starting it is simply question of none,
to buy cows and bulls for stock pur
poses. In IS4o there were 4,SS7,o ,oo<
milch COWS in the United States; in
1880 there were 6,3SS,oo3; in 1860
77s7,763; in 1870, II, ,ooo, 900, and il
1880, Is, ,ooo, 200. There cannot nov
be less than 5000, 900 cows in Amer
ica, and these, il properly handled, viii
soon stock the country with suffcien
beef to bring the price within the reaci
Of the poorest man and his family
The first step is to stop killing female
calves. Every female calf should b
saved. The Western stock men hav,
begun this, and already it is almost inn
possible for butchers to purchase calve'
for veal. In the West il is not so diff
cult to raise cattle for beef as in tn
East. The cattle run out all the winte
long, and no shelter or food is require,
for them except that which nature pro
vides. Every year the stock men star
the story East for the benefit Of tn
'tcnderfeet' that the stock business j
overdone. and the good ranges all taken
This is done to prevent new men from
going into the business. The stock mel
know they have a good thing, and wis
to keep il as long as possible. The,
would like to see beef 81 per pound
and would ask $40 for steer wort
sIoo, without the slightest compunc
tions Of conscience, if they though
they could get it. II had two or thre
thousand head Of cattle I doubt il
would write this letter, but, uDfortu
nately, not having any herd Of my own
I am only interested in getting beef a
cheaply as possible from those who hav