The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1889-09-12
CATTLEMEN.
AN ADDRESS TO THE CATTLE IN
DUSTRY OF TEXAS AND OTHER
STATES.
A Big Convention to be Held in Fort
Worth on January 9TH
Next.


Realizing the Importance of a close
investigation into the existing troubles
of the cattle trade of the United States,
the undersigned officers of associations,
and individual owners of livestock in
the state of Texas do most urgently
call upon all parties interested in this
important industry to meet at Fort
Worth, Tex, on the 7th of Janu-
airy next, for the purpose of
discussing such features as may be
deemed OF interest, and as far as pos
sible, aid in restoring confidence to
the millions who are dependent on
this great industry for support. The
most important points to be con-
sidered are:
l. The statistical position that cat.
tie occupy as compared with the de-
mand for beef; and
2. As to the ACCESSIBILITY of demand
ing a restoration of the tariff on hides,
and other by-products, of livestock.
1t is claimed by the purchasers OF
our product that there is an enormous
over-production in cattle which, they
say, is made apparent by the large
daily shipments into the markets for
sale. We think this is a mere subter-
fuge on their part to depress values
for it would seem that all cattle sent
to market find ready sale at some
price or other, and it stands to reason
there must be demand for the meat
or the butchers would not consent to
purchase them at all. If an over
supply existed there would be no de-
mand for the surplus, and they would
be unstable at any price. If they
can be sold at &c per pound they can
just as well command 4c, for the
simple reason that the price realized
by the retailers of beef is the same
and has not been changed since the
days of the "boom," when it was not
uncommon for us to receive Sc per
pound, and sometimes more.
Another indication that no over
production exists is the fact that a
very large percentage of cattle being
shipped to market are females and I'M
matured stock, and it is quite evident
that many shipments are being made
by parties who are either financially
involved or are tired of waiting for an
improved condition of their business.
Entire herds are being driven to the
Nation with aview of placing them on
the market as soon as possible, and
there is but little doubt that many of
the shipments are at the expense of
the mother-stock, which should be
kept on the range for breeding pur-
poses.
This state of things may continue
for many years to come unless some
action is taken to ascertain the true
situation of affairs, and learn what the
real merits of the trade are. If an
over-production exists we want to
know what the extent of it is, and per-
haps we may be able to remedy the
trouble by spaying heifers, killing old
COWS, and by such other means as may
be deemed expedient, but if it should
be learned that there are no more cat
tie in the United States than is re-
quired to furnish food for the 65,000,-
600 inhabitants of our country, all
this talk about over-production will
be dissipated and removed. In this
connection it may be of interest to re-
fer to some remarks made by the
Washington Bureau of the New York
Herald" which appeared in print only
short time ago:
"The. Washington bureau Of the
New York Herald" makes public the
following facts and figures:
"The statistics in cattle raising, and
pork packing, in the new census, will
be as full and exact as Superintendent
Porter can make them. He is thor
oughly impressed with the importance
of the subject, and will give it specia,
attention. He has received letters
from DR.. Azel Ames, who was here
last year looking after the matter, and
he has been in consultation with Mr.
J. H. Saunders, of Chicago. Mr.
Porter bas not yet selected a man tc
supervise this work. 1t is not un
likely he will take Mr.. Saunders, il
that gentleman is not in Europe
when these statistics have to be taken
DR.. Ames, when he was here
last winter laid specia
stress on the Importance O
these statistics on the ground thai
the beef supply per head of population
was becoming less from year to year
and that it might soon become a ser
ious problem where beef enough coulC
be got to feed our own people, to say
nothing of expectation. Exact stats
tics would help in solving this prob
lem. In 1860 DR.. Ames stated thu
number of cattle in this country wal
S14 to 1000 population, but in 1885 i
had fallen to 722 to 1000, and thu
drouth and famine in Montana il
1887 made such inroads on the herds
that the proportion, he estimated was
reduced to 700 to 1000 population"
Another very important poin
for discussion is the presen
indiscriminate manner we hav,
of shipping our stock to mar
ket. The producing range extend
from Texas on the south, to Dakota
on the north, and as far west, as Colo
RADIO and Utah; all centering on on,