The Benton weekly record. [volume] (Benton, Mont.) 1880-1885, 1883-06-09
THE GREAT BEEF INTEREST
some Facts and Figures About
the Cattle Herds of the United
States.
The Loss by Disease Amounts ts
About Sixty.Six Millions Annu.
ally
The Factors Which Make up the Cos
of Steaks and Roasts.

The vast interests concentrated in the
cattle trade and stock raising in the Uni
ted States can be better appreciated by ref
erence to the accompanying statement
which, from authentic sources, shows the
condition (both present and prospective)
OF this much neglected enterprise. By
computation based upon official reports,
the following statements show the extent
of these interests for the year 1882:
Total number Of oxen AMI other tile sax@
lncludlng mich cows in the uni MW
., tei 5tdles Js33o5,5fo
Total aggregate value (same as official
Ioc 1857 $6S9, l29, lb9
1t will be seen by the above that this in-
terest is accumulating at rate that war
rants the opinion that it will soon, with
proper public attention, assume proper
tions that will overshadow any single in
terest of commercial nature in the world.
The annual losses accruing from diseases
among cattle of all kinds is above 10 per
cent, without referring to the accidents of
storms such as have recently produced dis
astrous results in the cattle regions of the
southwest. However careful breeders
may be in the care of their stock, carefully
compiled statistics show that the losses for
the past five years (including the year
1892 have aggregated the sum of 500, ,000,-
900 annually. The ratio Of the increasing
Importance of the cattle interest is per-
haps as well demonstrated by the increase
in the number of dealers in meat stock as
by any means at hand except statistics
showing the amount of production and
consumption AS collateral evidence it
may be stated that the number of dealers
has increased from 1928 III the year 1870
to IA, 778 for the year 1882, all of whom
devote their entire time to the business of
stock dealing, employing large amount
of capital, which, from the nature Of the
traffic, must necessarily consist of ready
cash.
The lowest estimate that can be made
for ordinary risk in handling is 10 per
cent, and by many experienced dealers it
is placed at higher estimate. This
portion of the cost to the consumer, and
can only be remedied by reducing the risk
by the adoption of a system which will
render cattle in transit less liable to loss
by disease, to which may be attributed the
greatest amount Of risk incurred by deal
ers.
This applies alone to cattle raised and
prepared for market on the praires of the
west and the herding grounds of the south
west and west, and not to those which are
exposed to disease by contact with them
in transit in more northern sections. In
some instances losses have been incurred
that virtually amounted to determination.
Under such circumstances it is impossible
to estimate the risk incurred, but past ex-
perience has shown the necessity of find
ing out and applying a remedy to this, the
most frightful and destructive enemy
which has ever been developed to the inter
ests of the cattle traffic of our country.
Abundant experience has also shown the
practicability of this suggestion, and it re-
mains for those who have these interests
in charge to take such steps as their great
Importance demands.
In estimating the distances to be tray-
ersed in reaching market from the feed
ing grounds, it will be necessary to include
in the first calculation the great grazing
and breeding grounds Of Texas and those
adjacent on its western borders, of New
Mexico, with southeastern Colorado and
southwestern Kansas.
From these various places to the central
no available means of transportation exists,
the central and most available point being
Dallas, in the northern portion of Texas,
to which it is necessary to drive on foot.
From Dallas the communication to mar
ket is by continuous rail route, which OBJ
viates the necessity of trans-shipment, the
dread of cattle dealers. From Dallas the
distance approximates 1,500 miles to Chi
cago, which is the principal as well as the
most available market for all western meat
productions away from the Atlantic sea-
board, from which point the largest traffic
is maintained with eastern markets. With
Chicago thus placed as the great distribut-
ing point, the next calculation will be
upon what proportion of supplies Chicago
depends under the first calculation of ], 500
miles as an average. Estimating this at
one-hslf we find that we have 750 miles.
Estimating the balance of one-half, which
is furnished by Illinois and the adjacent
states, the average distance traversed to
obtain market is 125 miles, one-half of
250. making All average for the entire sup
ply to be s75 miles.
By reference to Poor's Manual, it will
be seen that the average retail price of Chi
-cago beef was:
Cents.
In roasting pieces for the year 1879 ..10A
In corned pieces for the year 1879. 81
NEW YORK.
In roasting pieces for the year 1879. ...... II
In eorned pieces for the year 1879 .-.........l Il
For the four years from 1870 to 1882, inclusive
for corned pieces New YORK ............. IL J;
New Ynrk roasting pie ces, same time. .l8
Chicago roasting pieces -.-..:.... -.... liz
Chicago corned pieces same time. .............6
From the above it will be seen that dur.
ing the year 1876 the average price O
roasting beef in New York was only 3311s
per cent, higher than Chicago, while a
the same time the retail price of cornet