The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1886-07-29
American Cattle Interests.

Baltimore journal o. commerce.: Inc report
of the third annual convention of the National
Cattle Growers Association of America con-
tains some interesting facts regarding this
great industry. In discussing the American
beef supply. Mr.. Norman, United States Com
missioner of Agriculture, said that when the
first accurate statistics of the cattle in this
country were collected in 1850, it found
that we had in round numbers about II ,77S,009
in 1860 25 1920, 900; in 1870 this number had been
reduced q, $4,000; in 1880 there were So, 900
while in 1885 there not far from $1,000, 900.
This last number is great that it is difficult
for the human mind to grasp its significance or
to appreciate the vast accumulation OF cattle
which it represents, which have been gathered
together and reared by the industry and
terprse of our people. If solid column
should be formed twelve animals deep ,one end
resting at New York City, its center encircling
San Francisco, and its other end reaching back
to Boston, such column would contain about
the number which now forms the basis, the
capital stock, to speak, of the cattle industry
of the United States. The value of these ami
mails is not less than S1,200,000 900.
In addition to the cattle, there are in the
country about 100000 head of horses and
mules, 5O,0OO,OO sheep and 45,ooo,OOO swine the
aggregate value of the entire live stock in
terests of the country reaching the enormous
total of 81, 500.O00,000
In the thirteen southern States, beginn Ing
with Virginia and ending with Texas and in
Guiding Kentucky, Tennessee and Arkansas, ali
the assessed real estate and personal property,
as returned in the census of 1880, did not equal
the present estimated value of our animal in
dustry. And all the New England States COM
bined, with the single exception of New Hamp
shire, did not have enough assessed valuation
in 1880 to equal the present value of our domes-
tic animals.
In 1850 we bad population of 23,l9l,S76, and
I777S,9O7 head of cattle, or 766 cattle to the
thousand inhabitants; in 1860 we had S14 cattle
to the thousand; in 1880 we had but ZIG head to
the thousand; and if we estimate popula-
ton in 1885 at 81 100000 and our cattle at Il 000,
600, we would have only 772 to the thousand at
this time. In other words, although our cattle
have increased in almost fabulous manner, our
population has increased with equal rapidity.
Commenting on these facts, Mr. Norman says:
Any cause tending to decrease the cattle of
the country must have most serious effect in
the future than could have resulted at any time
during our past history. Not only has much of
the land formerly devoted to pasture been
turned to other uses but we have much
greater population, ana one that is increasing
with unexampled rapidity, to be fed. From the
adoption of the Declaration OF independence
to the present, the population of this country
has about doubled every twenty-five years.
Commencing, for convenience, at l7T5, we find
there was then about 100000 of people in the
country In 1900 we had 100000; In 1925, u ,00a
0eo in 1885, 24,O0oooo; in 1875 but for the effects
| of our civil war, we should have had 4s,9o0,0o0
| Now If we take 1880 for new starting point,
and go on at the same rate. we cannot fail to
! be deeply impressed by the changes which
| must certainly occur in the near future and by
the vastly increased food supply that will be
required In 1850 we had 5o,ooo,ooo OF lnhaoi-
tants; in 1905 we should have lO9,ooQooo; IN 1885,
2oo000ooo; IN l9oo, 40o,oooooo III lsso' less thah
100 years hence, 5000 900 OF Inhabitants
where are these eeemihg hnlihohs 10 i've :!
IN Whiae are Chey 10 s1oslss "hele anu now
are the caeeie 10 oe oreo anu 'ereo 'ili'V i's'
pe reieo upon 70 lurhish peei ~ Aeep up
our present peel supply, we must increase our
STOCK OF cattle 10 io'ooo'Voo Within twenty years.
ana 10 l4oooo'ooo w1thln 40 years.
Is u possible LOT US 10 accomplish Inns ahoei
Inc MOS. lasoraole coAui'ionsf LII 1ne so'ssSes