Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1888-06-19
THE CATTLE EXCHANGE.
Views Of q West Texas Citizen Regarding
This Important Move en,.

ALBANr, TEX, June Is, 1888
To the Hditor OF the Gazette,
note in your issue Of the 6.h inst
some reference TO the organization oE q
Cattle Exchange" 10 handle live stock
on the same principle as is followed in
wheat ana cotton. think the plan ie 8
good enc, and l see no reason why the
dealers IN stock cannot sgTee upon
STANDARD grades" as well IS wheat teal-
ers and cotton dealers have. "Bee3" ard
'mutton" are distinct articles in trade,
and have certain valuation which are
governed in the same WaY, and by the
same laws il trade as cotton and W1crt.
The only thing to be done is to sgree
among ourselves what class Of live seek
shall constitute the several grades that
may be applied to the business.
One Of tie gentlemen Interviewed, by
your paper, Major Hilliard l think,
claims 1t is necessary to ascertain the
breed of an animal before you csn tell what
he is worth in market. This is undouot-
edly true under the present system, but l
cannot see that it is important TO inquire
into the family, or pedigree, of an animal
unless he is wanted for breeding pur-
poses alone. II he is to be used for
"beei" or "mutton" l cannot zee that il
makes any natural difference il he
belongs to the ''shCrthorn" family,
the "Peu Angus" the "Hereford" or
the common "Tlxas longborn" family.
Or in sheep whether he is "merino,''
Hcotswold," or "Mexican.
1t is q simple question Of "meat," and
the poiat to DE srrlved st in determining
the valuation of butcherirg animal is
how much meat be will produce.
II the "shorthorn" will "dress" more
net meat than "POll Angus" it snould
command more money per pound. The
came rule spplies to the "Hereford" fam
lily and the "Texas longhorn."
It is Of course difficult matter scr 6
novice to say what perez nt6ge Of meat
one animal will "dress" more than an
other, yet have no ceuot butcher, VINO
Is familiar with the enstomy of
a steer, can come very close to
the net result before he is slaughtered and
cut up. For my part feel competent to
say that G. long horn Texas steer will not
dress as much net meat as a Polled Angus.
There is TOO much loss in horns, and the
frame does not carry IS much fash. TIE
wool dealers are certainly very expert in
estimating the shrinksge in wool. Why
then, Cannot expert dealers De found to
classify cattle and sheep upon the same
principle. Let grading be made on the
ossis of net meat, sud If one producer is
raising 81 animal of s family that will
dress rs per cent. of meat and apother
prefers the Texas longhorG Inst will dress
perhaps 60 per cent. Of meat, l see
no reason why the one could rot be
"clsssed" IS one grade and the other az
other, the same IS they class wheat-A l,
AZ. The only Distinction between the
Two grades Of wheat is: OLe will produce
more -four than the other. II then one
Animal will produce more meat why not
apply distinct classification and allow
ii to command It's proper value in the
market?
l shall be glad to see the cEttlemen Or
gauize their business OF the principle of
the Exchange" It will undoubtedly
check mate Mr.. Armour and the "Big
4" in Chicago, who have got the whole
thing grabbed under the present arrange
ment. They beat the producer on the
one side and on the other they compel the
dealers to buy meat only from them. 1t
is high time some seton WAS taken 10
stop such an imposition. Yery respect
fully, Ha H