Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1883-04-12
Western Stock Business.

bra To precisely what extent the stock
business on the plains is carried on bv
companies, we do not know. There are
q number of companies of larger or
smaller pretensiens, 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 a word of warning to the
public in regard to the organization of
these live stock companies. 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 paw even large divi-
dcnd upon the capital invested is all
true enough. But we do not believe
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. If 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 bust
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
BY those who are wholly ignorant of the
nd thayofnrQ
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
neededEis to buy herd of cattle, or a
flock of sheep, and sit down to wait for
the profits. In the office of neYSpa-
perlike this, we frequently meet such
men, who are of all ages aud conditions
of life. The lawyer, DOCTOR clerk and
merchant turn up periodically with the
question, Where had better go to en-
gage in the live stock businessP To the
INQUIRY Have YOU had any experenceP
they borrow Mark Twain's idea of run
ming an agricultural journal, which was
that he never ,supposeda man need know
anytaing>to do that. We have no doubt
that some of the projected live stock COM
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 we'll enough alone anyhow. and be
content with the cultivation of good
farm, if you have one. But If the de-
sire to 90 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
money at best, and that is not the way
farmers make their money. We shall
regret to see the day when our farmers
about the only class in the country in
which there is any considerable virtue
ieft-embark in stock company enter
prises to any considerable extent. 1t
would not be long under such circum-
stances, before they would be as Lad rs
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 of
making money-FeStern Rural.