Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1883-07-06

We learn from very reliable sources
that one year old steers at Dodge City
are selling readily at SIC and SIS per
head; two-year-oldS SO and S2l, and
three-year-olds and beeves SIS TO $50.
These are through Texas cattle, and are
bought up by northwestern ranchmen
as fast as they arrive. About the same
prices are reported from Caldwell. One
and two-year-old she cattle at either
place are bringing 81 more per head than
steers. The bulk Of the drive having
been contracted before starting from
Texas, the number that will be on the
market as compared with the drive is
small. They are bought to take the
place OF the beef that will be marketed
this year, or to ill up ranches to their
grazing capacity, that are already es-
tablished, as the cost per head OF keep
ing the full number of cattle the ranch
will accommodate is very light compar-
eel with holding the same territory with
the One-half or two-thirds the number
IT will accommodate.
These prices seem fabulous, and the
query Is can ranchmen pay them and
still have a living profit left on their in
vestment. The problem is satisfacto-
rily solved when il is understood that
the largest cattle owners i'm the grazing
country are the very men who are buy
ing these cattle by the herd to stock
their ranches. There is no choice any
more, they must buy what is on the
market. Their desire seems TO be breed
ing cattle, but in their absence they
readily pay for one-year-old steers what
3year-olds OF the same class OF cattle
could have been bought for three years
ago. The reasons for the advance in
stock cattle is that which governs and
fixes the price Of any commodity. Sup
ply and demand. But, says one, beef
has not kept pace with stock cattle,
and the advance snot healthy; this we
partly admit; but the price of growing
the beef has been lessened; the business
Is systematized; there is not the loss in
strays there was few years ago.
While 1t cost $500 per year TO hold a
steer five years ago, 81 will hold him
now, and in large herds the expense
does not exceed 30 cents per head per
year. The business has assumed a
more permanent footing than ever be-
FORE. Large tracts Of land have been
leased for a term Of years or purchased
outright, and has been converted into
immense pastures, cheaply fenced when
the number Of acres enclosed is taken
into consideration. There is not the
same doubt in the future occupancy of
ranges as there has been heretofore.
Many obstacles have been overcome
and the risks and losses heretofore Sis
tanned can now be avoided, and consid-
ering that the cattle that are bringing
these seemingly high prices areto Gil
up ranges that have been heretofore
only partially stocked, and are being
bought by class of men who are not
10y any means unacquainted with the
business; but upon the contrary have
served a life time almost at it, accumu-
lated immense fortunes by their indus
try and good judgment, and who now
prefer safe business, conducted strict
ly upon business principles, that PAYS
30 to 80 per cent, rather than the un-
satisfactory manner of ranching cattle
Practiced a few years ago that paid
from 30 10 100 per cent per annum.
Grazing lands east are being convert
ed into huge corn fields; large stock
farms are being divided up into small
grain producing ones, aud these farm.
ers can buy their feeding cattle cheap
er than they can raise them, and must
get from the western ranges the i'm
improved cattle, while the Texas beeyes
, oil the place Of butchers demand admi
rably when fattenedoff the grasses thai
grow 80 nutritious in this climate.
, Hence the demand from a class OF
men of large means and years of expert
ence I'm this particular business almos
assures good returns from the invest
ment in steer cattle at these prices.