Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1890-12-11
Demand for Southern Steera.

The depletion of our Northern range
OF the stock that has been going on for
several years will create a demand for
Southern steers that must increase for a
number of wears.
There are very few cows left on the
ranges north OF Arkansas river, not half
the number there was in 1887. This cur
tailment is due TO two distinct causes:
First and primarily, the general preva-
lence OF the idea among raneemen that
the risks Incident TO breeding cattle are
in excess of the margin OF profit.
Second, the necessities of many stock
men forcing them to sell more cattle
than their beef steers will supply, in
order to pay their debts.
Experience has very clearly demon
strated that the calf crop in Northern
cow herds does not average over 40 per
cent, while In the South it is nearly so
per cent. Of course there are some
ranges where the conditions are above
the average, as to shelter and feed,
where much larger percentage Of in
crease than that named above is secured +,
but the average is low. AS conse-
quence, stockmen, generally, in the
future will depend largely on Texas aud
Southern New Mexico for their steers.
inst how many the Northern country
can take yearly depends Oh local conhi
tious. The drouth that has prevailed
over very large area for two years has
materially reduced the capacity of the
range, and in consequence intending
purchasers are forced to be cautious.
Should the expected advance in beef
values materializs in the spring of 1891
there will be purchasers for all the
Southern steers the range conditions will
justify placing III the North. This,
however, will epend an the winter and
spring precipitation. Abundant snow
fall during the winter aud frequent rains
in the spring will double the range capa-
city and greatly increase the demand for
Southern.
Texas and New Mexico are pre-
uently breeding grounds and can supply
one and two-yenr -old steers ct n hand
some profit to Northern ranchmen at
prices leaving an inviting margin for the
risks Of maturing and marketing. They
can divide the profits of development and
make more money than to cut down
their she herds to point where home
development is possible.
The surest profit of the cattle raising
business is found in the wonderful in
crease of the herds in a region where the
full increase can be saved. The $40
rearlinc always makes money. Hence
the true policy Of the Southern stockmau
would seem to be to cultivate the closest
business relations with his Northern
neighbor aud open to its fullest capacity
the trade relations between the two sec
tons.
The trail ia virtually thing of the
pasta mere matter of history-but in
its stead we have great lines of railroad
reaching from the pastures of the South
to the grazing lands of the North, and
freight rates established that render the
transfer by rail cheaper, all things con-
sidered, than the old walk of hundreds
of miles by land.
In the development OF the great trade
there must be some yielding on the part
of both buyer and seller. Buyers must
be willing to pay fair prices and sellers
must be satisfied TO give the buyer at
least II prospect of gain By the transact
rion. A better acquaintance with the
conditions OF the North aud the South,
obtained either through the columns of
the papers or by personal contact, will
tend greatly to the advantage Of both
SECTIONS. Cheyenne Journal.