Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1888-03-01


they do in other feeding places, and that
most of those engaged in the business
will make big5 money on their invest
various parts of the north as to freeze
many people out Of the business who in
average years engage in it, the
feeders in North Texas have found their
grain in quantities large enough to carry
through their cattle. But there has been
no superabundsnce, and 1t is safe to say
the number Of cattle fed next year In
North Texas will be so great as to require
ell the feed the state will produce.
-
The following communication has been
shown to several Of the most prominent
stockmeH in Fort Worth and the idea
outlined therein has received unanimous
Endorsement from all who have read it.
The sfhtiment appears to prevail that
any sedeme that could be put on foot that
wedfd bring the stock-raising industry to
8 basis more definite than that upon
which it now rests should be urged for.
ward with all haste.
FORT MCKAvETT, TEX, Feb %, 1sss.
To the Editor of the Gazette.
Every now and then we are invited to
attend some convention of cattlemen fol
the purpose of discussing "Ways and
means" to remove some evil, or promote
the general welfare of our industry.
At present call Is out to meet in Den
yer, Col, on March % next, but, for my
part, see very little reason in going SC
far TO accomplish what must necessarily
be corrected st home.
That something is radically wrong
there is no dispute-out what is IL?
1t seems to me we are engaged in q
business that is not conducted upon cor.
rect business principles. In other words
we do not know either the "supply" OF
"demand" Of our product.
What would we think of manufacturer
who would go on carelessly for years pro.
ducing an article without knowing the
demand for his goods3
Yet are not the cattle producers guilty
of this folly?
Permit me, therefore, to suggest that
you call together IS many representative
Texas cattle owners as you can, to meet
at Fort Worth as soon as convenient, and
let us organize "The Texas Cattle Elk.
change" The more who will take an in.
terest in such an organization the better,
though would suggest that fifty, or 100,
would accomplish IS much as If every
csttle owner in the state were present.
Whst we need to do is to systematic
our Igusiness, and 1 feel quite satisfied
thee il enough business ability in Fort
Worth alone to do this, and the quicker
hif is done the better.
II we are producing more than the de-
mand justif1es, we ought to put the knife
~ NJ hpffard OF fho
production.
It was my privilege to be connected
with the cotton trade soon after the close
Of the war, and, st that time, Liverpool
had the same absolute control Of cotton
as Chicago has to-day of cattle. A hand
full of enterprising cotton men de-
termined to correct this, and they estab-
lished the "NeW York Cotton Exchange"
The result Of their work is too well
known to need any comment. In less
than twelve months from the time they
organized the system was recognized BY
the whole country as being the only cor
rect one and all other states followed
their example. l feel quite convinced
that the organization of the "Texas
Cattle Exchange" will meet the same
happy result.
The cattle industry is so extended it
would appear, at the first glance, G very
doubtful question as to the prscticability
of organizing such system. Yet when
we consider now widely distributed the
wheat product is, and with what aCcu-
racy the "supply and demand" of wheat
is kept up with, the feasibility OF d cattle
exchange is, think, an assured fact.
1t only wants beginning, and would
be proud IL Texas, my adopted home,
will take the initiative in this important
step.
The amount of ready cash to meet the
current expenses of such an organization
10 matter for discussion, but in my
Judgment fund Of $4,000 would be am
pie to pay one years running expenses.
1t would be advisable to make dealers,
as well as producers, eligible to member
ship and thus get support from Chicsgo,
st. Louis and Kansas City, as well as
from business men in West Texas, who
are so directly interested in the prosper
ity of the cattle business.
An active secretary would have very
lit+le trouble in communicating with
every producer in the state, and obtain
the necessary information as to "supply,"
the character Of, etc., etc.
The "demsnd" in Chicago, Kansas
City, st. Louis and New Orleans, could
be easily ascertained, and it would be
but small matter to keep up his work.
The "demand" should be followed from
day to day, but it would hardly be neces-
sary to communicate with the producers
more than twice year-say spring and
which time any change IN owner
sfip could be noted, sales to interior
points, the calf crop, etc., etc.
Monthly or weekly circulars would, l
think, be Of great Interest to. the pro-
ducers, showing the movement of cattle,
prices, ETC., and they would serve to keep
alive the organization, and show to indi-
yiduals the importance of the work.
Z Thereisf nc need to keep 8 record Oh
tdecensumptive demand Of interios'
towns or home markets., any more than
there is In the wheat exchange
keeping track Of the small -four mills in
the inte-ior.
The important consuming markets are
the only ones that we need to keep up