The Douglas independent. [volume] (Roseburg, Or.) 187?-1885, 1883-11-03
The Beef Export Trade.

The proportions to which the beef and
cattle export trade of the country has
grown since the first shipment of beef to
Europe in 1876 can be studied at no place
with such advantage as at the North
River Stocks Yard. foot of Sixtieth
street. Here car loads of cattle in con-
stantly arriving trains are daily received
to the amount of II 900 weekly, and this
represents nearly one-half OF the total
amount received from the west.
In 1875 the first shipment of dressed
beef was made to England. and in the
summer of the following year the export
of live cattle began. Since then the busi-
ness has enjoyed constant and healthy
increase, until to day the weekly ship
ments from the United States, both of
live cattle and dressed beef, amount to
fully 5000 head. OF this rather more
than one-half is live cattle, as this class
of shipments has the preference during
six months of the year, including the
summer months. and would have during
the entire year were it not from the high
rates of insurance demanded during the
rough weather of the fall and
winter seasons. The four principal
points of shipment are New York,
Boston, Philadelphia and Baltimore,
and the gradual increase i'll
trade and the consequent COM
| petition in prices on the other
| side has compelled the English land
holders to reduce the number Of their
home cattle. At the present time, ship
pers say the competition is SO sharp that
there is little profit to anybody. The
shipping of fresh beef from this country
has had the effect of opening up an ex-
tensive trade with Australia. New Zea-
land, Mexico and Russia, and now i'm
mense quantities of mutton are received
in England from Australia and New
Zealand.
A governing factor in the future in
crease of our expcrt-beef trade, and one
on which it will largely depend, is the
amount of Indian corn raised and the
prices it will command. When large
crops of corn are harvested and the price
rules low the quantity of cattle feed will
experience a proportionate increase, and
the quantity shipped from this country
will depend on the prices for which beet
can be laid down in England.
: The cattle producing states which fur
, nish the supply for this growing indus
try are Texas, the Indian territory, Ari
/ zona. Colorado and ell the far western
states. Thence the cattle are moved for
| ward into the corn growing or feeding
states of Missouri, Kansas, Illinois and
, all the middle states. When fatted ant
5 fitted for market, they come east eithe
, in dressed quarters in refrigerator cars o
, on the hoof, for foreign shipment or fo
9 local use. Chicago disputes with st
i Louis the honor of being the largest cal
+ tie market of the world. Here the eattl
8 are gathered from all the corn states
and from those two points are brough
up and distributed to the four great shiI
+ ping points.
4 Although trains of cattle are daily re
I ceived at the stock yards in this city. an
# are handled as rapidly as they arrive, th
o regular market days are Monday, Wee
5 nesday and Friday.
q The large firms who buy for the eS
g port trade find no difficulty in securin
e transportation for their stock, live {
n dressed, and one of the largest shipper
n informed Graphic representative th'
n there is plenty Of room to carry acrol
% the ocean every steer in the countl
it were it necessary. When the ANNA
lr are shipped alive they are comfortab
e. quartered in stalls, well fed and care
for during the voyage and generally 50
j. fer little in condition. When shipped
d. quarters the beef is stored in immen
is coolers and receive constant attentie
a. during the trip. The price of Americs
Of beef in England ranges from 5 to
to pence per pound, and is regulated by
condition on arrival.
es Sheep are also exported, but In mu,