Huntsville gazette., 1883-04-07
Western Stock Business.

To precisely what extent the stock
business on the plains is carried on by
companies we do not know. There are
numberasof companies of larger or
smaller pretensiOns, and we suppose
that their success has suggested what
we regard as purely wildcat schemes.
In former issues we have taken occa-
sion to utter word of warning, to the
public in regard to the organ niz ation of
these live stock com panics. THE live
stock business is not SO certainly sue
cessful anywhere that anybody, with
brains or without, or with or without
experience, can turn it to success. That
companies can be formed, successfully
run, and made to pay even large divi-
dend upon the capital invested is all
true enodgh. But we 90 not Delleve
that we can give any better advice to
the readers of The Western Rural than
to advise them to keep their money out
of all such enterprises. II they follow
that advice, they will, escape two dam
gers, both Of which are probable: Loss
through unavoidable circumstances,
and loss through schemers who know
nothing at all about stock raising or
who never intend to invest the money
they may receive for stock, in the busi-
ness. We see live stock companies
advertising their stock for sale, about
whose officers we can learn nothing, and
who appear to be adventures; and in
order to be on the safe side, in any
event, we should not invest in the stock.
And then again, we are suspicious that
some of these companies, while not
fraudulently conceived, are organized
by those who are wholly ignorant of the
business, and can not, therefore, p ,ssi-
bly, conduct it successfully. There is a
class of men in all cities, who think they
are competent to manage live stock en-
terprises; indeed they do not think that
live stock business needs any manage
ment, but that all in the world that is
seded is to buy herd of cattle, or a
fOck OF, sheep, and sit down to wait for
the profits. In the office of newspa-
per like this, we frequently meet such
men, who are of all ages and conditions
Of life. The lawyer, doctor, clerk and
merchant turn up periodically with the
question, Where had | better 90 to en-
gage in the live stock business? To the
inquiry, Have you had any experencep
they borrow Mark Twain's idea of rum
ming an agricultural journal, which was
that he never supposeda a man need know
anythingsto do that. We haveno doubt
that some of the projected live stock CON-
panies have had their origin in the hope
ful brains of this very class of people.
If SO, we can tell with very great GER
tainty what the result will be. 1t will
be disappointment and loss.
Companies of the nature of these, are
not for men of moderate means anyhow.
They are peculiarly within the province
of rich men, who can afford to take
chances, and who will not feel loss, if
it should happen to come. The ordi-
nary farmer, who has little money, or
perhaps, is properly credited with hav-
ing fine farm and good bank account,
should keep out of these schems. Better
let well enough alone anyhow, and be
content with the cultivation of a good
farm, if you have one. But if the de-
sire to 60 into the live stock business on
the plains, is irresistible, let the farmer
take his own money, buy his own stock,
select his own range, and attend to his
own business. Stock company enter
prises, managed by paid officers and
agents is the lazy mans way of getting
moneysat best, and that is not the way
farmers make their money. We shall
regrettosee the day when our farmers
about the only class in the country in
which there is any considerable virtue
left embark in stock company enter
prises to any considerable extent 1t
would not be long under such circum-
stances, before they would be as tad as
other gamblers. Therefore, while there
are of course exceptions, the best gen
eral remark that we can make is, that
live stock companies in the West are
neither desirable nor reliable means u
making money-lPsssera Raraf.