Wood River times. [volume] (Hailey, Idaho) 1882-1915, 1888-07-07
CATTLE GROWING.
AND OUTLOOK OF THIS
GREAT INDUSTRY.
Better Prices than Heretofore Obtain.
able for Beev ..Probabilitie Of q
Tho Herds Disappearing Rapidly.

Au0 3AVAO - UsSWPRC0H aO& AS0ksWAys
Dan. McGinness, the well-known
capitalist and stock grower, came in
from Mountain Home yesterday to
attend to some legal business. He
reports the grass on the range as
rather scant, but thinks that most of
the stock will get through the season
in good condition. Next winter, how
ever, hay will be in good demand, as
the crop'will be short.
The stock-growers of Alturas coun-
ty, Mr.. McGinness says, are getting
more and more into the practise Of
winter.feeding. This is becoming
necessary because of the rapid in
crease of the herds. During the past
three years the number of head Of
stock Of all descriptions in this coun
ty has more than doubled; and as the
ranges are getting eaten up they can
not be relied upon to as great an ex-
tent as formerly. Winter-feeding,
although a more expensive way Of
raising stock than by turning it out
on the range, has compromising ad-
vantages. Stock gets through the
winter better, the losses are reduced
to minimum, and if the owner wishes
to realize he can always find his
stock close at hand.
The price of cattle, which has been
very low during the past two years,
Mr.. McGinness says, will soon be bet.
ter. The vast herds of Texas and
the plains have either been sold out
right or so divided that they can no
longer be depended upon to supply
the demand for Eastern markets.
Buyers for Nebraska, Chicago, and
other points East have already passed
through Montana, Utah, Idaho, Ore.
gen and Washington Territory, and
about depleted the herds aud ranches
Of all surplus stock; SO that what re-
mains in the Northwest is either not
for sale at present or held for better
figures than heretofore. The days
| when dealer could come along and
buy up whole herd at IS head have
long since passed, never to return;
and in future the price on the hoof
will scarcely ever be less than $l5 to
$25, on the range or in the corral.
Then, too, the enormous increase
in population of the Pacific slope and
coast is creating good demand for
stock for home consumption. 1t is
estimated that the new arrivals on
this side OF the Rocky Mountains
reach 1000 souls per day. Many just
come to visit, but fully one-half come
to stay; the former only have to be
fed while here, but the latter not
only have to be fed, but to be stocked
with horses, steers, heifcrs, sheep, etc.
TO feed that number Of people quite
a bunch of cattle is required daily;
and this has to come from this side OF
the mountains. One thousand adults
will consume five beeves per day, $50
per month, 1900 per annum. Now
that does not strike the average per.
son as being much cattle, because
some seattle kings" are known te
have from 10000 to 100000 head
But if the number required to teeo
1000 be multiplied by 800, the mum
Der of newcomers during the same
time, the total will be SO large that i
must be evident that in a very shor
time the cattle available for marke
will be small indeed.
| The northwestern ranges are al
ready beginning to feel this increased
demand. The combination which ha
controlled the San Francisco and Oak
land markets for years is beginning
to show signs of alarm. Word ha
been got to the heavier stock-owners
in some way, that any stock they ma,
send to market there in punches o
100 or more will bring the goinl
rates. Heretofore, when a stock
grower not in the combine dared t.
ship carload of beeves to San Fran
cisco he could not find market for i
except by the head or even quarter
and at ruinous rates. But the search
ty of cattle is evidently beginning t
be seriously felt.
So in Oregon and Washington Ter
ritory. Idaho cattle could not here