Dodge City times. [volume] (Dodge City, Kan.) 1876-1892, 1882-08-10
Cur Beef Prospects.

.s.fests Of the United States have adj
vanced fairly, the stock interests have
comparatively stood still We are to-
day raising beef for only i0,000,00O of
people, whereas we should be raising
beef for $4,000, 900 The reasons for
this are various. chief Of which is the
fact OF the scarcity of land in the East.
Farmers have found that in heavily pop
ulated districts it does not pay them To
raise cattle. The large number of acres
required for grazing purposes is incom-
patible with small farms. and 10 stabilized
in large numbers is not practicable. so
the Eastern farmer dcvotes his land TO
cereals and vegetables, AMI often buys
his own beef. The distance of the
plains from the East and the danger
from Indians have heretofore deferred
Eastern capitalists from seeking invest
ments in stock-raising out West Hap
PLY that difficulty is now removed. The
railroads have opened up the West. and
the Indians. with The exception of a
few in Arizona. have been conquered.
The pastoral lands of the West have
never been understood or appreciated
by the people of this country or the
Government The day will come when
the National Treasury will derive more
taxes from the grazing country than the
best agricultural regions. These arid
plains so long considered worthless are
the natural meat-producing lands OF
America. and in a few years fifty mill
ion people viii draw their beef from
them. Where are the great grazing
grounds no You ask? They are in Tex
A.. bot.
Wyoming. Montana. Washington and
Idaho.
The whole United States contains B.
60S,SSi square miles, of which ] 5000
square miles is set down rs grazing
lands. The best ranges are on the Rio
GIandc. Neuces. san Antonio, Guauda-
hipe. Colorado. Brazos, Trinity. Main
Red. Washita, Canadian. Cimaron, Ar
kansas, Smoky Hill. Saline, Solomon
Fork. Republican, North and South
Plates. Loup Forks, Niobrara. White
Earth, Biz Cheyenne. Little Missouri,
Powder River, Tongue. Rosebud, Big
Horn. Wind Rivers, Yellowstone. Milk
River, Musclrshcll, Marias, jefferson,
Missouri, Madison, Gallatin and Co
lumba OF the smaller streams on the
eastern slope Of the Rocky Mountains
we have the Blue. Waters, Cold Water,
Hill Greek. Raw Hide. Muddy, Willow,
Shawnee. Slate, Sweetwater. Ash
Pumpkin. Laramie. Carter. Cotton
wood. Horseshoe. Elkham. Deer Greek,
Medicine Bow. Rock Creek, Douglas,
Lodge Pole, Big Laramie. Little Lara
mie, Horse Greek. Beaver. Pawnee.
Crow, Lone Tree, Big Beaver, Biiou.
Kiowa, Rear Creek. Big Thompson and
Cache Ia Poudre The grazing lands on
the Plates. Powder and Tongue. amount
10 over twelve million acres. and are the
best know of. For at least ten years
YET | look for high prices in beef. East
ern capital is So conservative it will be
slew 10 come Yves! and engage in stock
raising, and only Eqsterl capital can
raise beef in sufficient quantities on the
plains In reduce the price.
A good many cattle companies have
been formed of late wears, and. so far
a | know, all are doing well. We have
several here in Montana, and they are
able 10 declare an annual dividend
OF twenty-five per cent, besides reserv-
ing a handsome surplus for increasing
the herds. Ii is a remarkable fact that
there is more English capital at present
invested in eattle-srowing in the United
States than American money. This
year the Englishmen are reaping rich
reward for their enterprise, and are
selling Americans beef at six. cents per
pound, live weight. which cost them
less than two cents 10 raise. There is
really no Immediate occasion for alarm
about cattle famine, rs cattle are not
yet SO scarce As TO create any greai
stress in the meat market. But the
Spectators have got hold of the fact
that there are too few cattle in America
for the population, and they are using