The Benton weekly record. [volume] (Benton, Mont.) 1880-1885, 1883-06-09

ave cattle, while no great deviation was
maze In the rates of rolling freights,
which embrace barrel or corned beef. which
was continued at rates long since establish
ed between Chicago, the great center of
supply, and New York city, which is
made the objective point in these calcula-
| tions.
1t can hardly be asserted that the cost of
retailing in New York city would absorb
the balance of this disparity of 66s5 per
cent, but must be accounted for in the
rates OF freight realized by dealers in trade.
For the four years ending December
1882, the price of roasting pieces had ad-
Vanced to an average of Is cents, an ad-
vance on the rates for the single wear
1879 of cents per pound, while during
the same period the price of the same art
lcle in the Chicago market had advanced
only Ia cents, making the average for
the four years ending December, 1882, of
ll1a cents per pound.
During the same period of four years,
the average of beef of both kinds, roasting
and corned pieces, averaged 1358 cents in
New York, while during the same period
1t averaged in Chicago 3-5 cents.
From these figures it will be seen that if
the difference between these points be
deducted from the prices realized in Chica-
go, it leaves but trifle for the producers
of cattle Or moety of 8 cents per pound
to be divided as q compensation for the pro-
ducers and profit for the dealer from first
hands, who necessarily assumes the great
est risk to be incurred from the develop
ment of those fatal and destructive cut
breaks of disease which frequently bring
financial ruin upon both producer and
dealer.
From the conditions surrounding the pro-
duction of beef cattle it does not appear
that-under the present or any probable
future circumstances the price of produc-
ing beef can b. reduced. On the contrary,
we may readily infer that, with circum
scribed facilities for grazing, the reverse
may reasonably be anticipated. Notwith-
standing the facilities heretofore unsur-
passed afforded by a boundless extent of
the richest grazing country in the world
unoccupied except by the spontaneous
growth OF countless herds of buffalo and
antelope which breed and multiply bY
millions, uncared for unattended only by
the hordes of saYages who swarm upon
their outskirts ard suhsist upon the Epre-
carious results of hunting. Since the first
occupation of this country by the white
race the production of meat as an article of
subsistence has hardly been considered
Until the few last decades, since the won
derful development of an unprecedented
system of internal improvements, together
with rapid increase of population, these
haulits of the Indians and Buffalo remain
ed In the undisturbed possession of their
original occupiers. Later years have fore
ed the white race to utilize these vast
facilities for the production of meats: and
their occupation for these purposes have
gone on with such rapidity that we are al
ready met with the fact that almost every
acre of these vast plains east Of the Rocky
mountains is occupied and utilized in the
production of the necessaries of life, and
with facilities which enabled them to sue
eessfully compete with every nation, and
in the most remote markets of the world.
With the present rapid absorption of
these facilities and their utilization for
other purposes, it would he difficult to i'm
agine under what system the production
of meats could be rendered more econo-
mical and their adoption as means of SUBJ
sistence more general throughout the man
u'acturing districts.
The charge that these interestEhaye here
tofore been neglected will become appar-
ent when it is considered that since the
year 1853 just thirty years ago, no adequ-
ate means have been adopted for the con-
troll of the cattle fever and pleuro-pneu-
monia, which have continued to exist as a
constant menace to this important enter
prise.
The interest that has recently been mani
tested in this connection, and the measures
adopted and recommended by the Hon. G..
B. Loring, commissioner of agriculture,
for the suppression of these destructive
plaques, gives promise of effective results,
which will render the cattle traffic much
less exposed to its ravages with eonse-
quent reduction in the risk and profit to
both producer and consumer.
DR. Loring being scientist and practi-
| cal agriculturist, at once saw the import
| once Of protecting this great American
interest, and accordingly organized
board of skilled medical gentlemen in vet
erinary medicine to investigate and find
out, if possible, the cause of these epidemic
diseases which prevail so alarmingly
among the cattle of the United States, and
recommend such means rs will eradicate
this terrible plague of the bovine race.
The board has been at work for several
months past making investigations of this
class of diseases, and their labors have
been fraught With scientific success.
There is to be permanently established
in Washington under the direction of the
agricultural department hospital to ex-
pertinent on the epidemic diseses of DOM
esticated animals, which will add greatly
to the interests and efficiency of this acien-