The St. Johns herald. (St. Johns, Apache County, Arizona Territory [Ariz.]) 1885-1903, 1888-05-31
A Live Stock Information Bureau.

SIN lpPInS VI OCOA NoiCUAO W 14'N PAA
cipal meat markets of the East or
| West, the query must have some
J time or another presented itself as
to why some enterprising genius
had not established in each of the
principal cattle growing states and
territories of the West a bureau to
furnish any reasonable information
required in connection with the
condition of the cattle trade. The
establishment and maintenance of
such a bureau, or cattle exchange,
| could be made of immense value if
it were conducted in a manner to
gain for it the confidence of those
identified with the interest it would
represent, while through co-opera-
ton with similar exchanges else
where a system of mutual assistance
might be built that would absolutely
prevent the stock industry of the
West from being subjected to the ex-
actions of any combinations that
could be elsewhere effected. To IL
lustrate fully the idea here suggest
ed, we will suppose that some CEN
tral point in Arizona within easy
reach by either mail or telegram, a
live stock bureau were established,
by applying to which at any time
the stockman preparing to ship his
cattle could ascertain:
First.-The then ruling market
price for his wares, either in Cali
fornia, Kansas City, Chicago, or
any other important center.
Second-The rates per head or
per car charged on such shipments
to any of the markets mentioned,
together with the amount of time
required to reach either of them,
and the most available and desir-
able route over which to make his
shipments.
Third-What if any shipments
were en- route or contemplated from
the Territory, other than his own,
together with description of the
same, number of cattle, etc.
Fourth.-The probable amount
ofbeefcattle available for shipment,
together with such information as
the bureau might be able to secure
concerning the same.
While each of these subjects are
always important ones to the ship
per, just preparing to send his stock
to the market, they are but few of
the many points on which such a
bureau could give instant informa-
ton if properly conducted. Let US
suppose, that in addition to the Ari
zona Exchange there was similar
institution in Texas, another in
New Mexico, a third in Montana, a
fourth in Wyoming, and on through
the list of the open range cattle
country, and that each and every
one of the exchanges co-operated
with the other to such an extent
that before the opening of the ship
ping season so accurate an estimate
of the amount Of beef available for
shipment could be had, as is the
estimate made and given out by
the wheat exchange each spring as
to what the total of the wheat crop
will be. Suppose that IN addition
to being able to ascertain the exact
number of beef steers that the west
ern range country would send to
market by simply applying for such
information, a stockman could also
ascertain when and under what con-
ditions the same would be shipped,
as well as to what market they
would be sent, and at once he has
| the key of the situation in his own
hands. With this knowledge. to-
gether with full information as to
what amount of stock the different
markets combined will require dur
ing the season, it would be impossi-
bic for any combination to decrease
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