Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1892-02-25

over 1,600,0 900 head Of cattle were
slaughtered annually in Chicago,
two of the largest houses
each killing an average OF
1000, daily. This marvellous increase
in the business at its principal center
is a fair index of the growth of the
cattle industry throughout the coun-
try.
Fifty years ago the entire region
west of the One-hundredth meridian
was put down on the maps partly as
"Unexplored Region" and the re-
mainder as the Great American
Desert" The few hardy explorers
and trappers who penetrated it's soil
tude found there in places great herds
of bison grazing on the short, crisp
grass. To-day, the entire region, from
the Mississippi River to the
Pacific Ocean, is as thoroughly ex-
plored and as accurately mapped
as the Atlantic States; the bison has
given place to domesticated cattle,
more than thirty million head Of
which Craze west Of the Mississippi.
A thousand head Of fat beeves may
be taken from the sage-brush lands
of Montana by rail to New York, and
thence by steamer to Liverpool in
less time than was formerly required
to move the same number from the
pastures of Ohio to the Eastern mar
kets. The improvement in quality
has more than kept pace with the
increase in the magnitude OF the
A IF
fifty years ago were mostly natives, "
the descendants of pioneer impOrta-
tions degenerated by prOmiscuOus
and aimless interbreeding, until all
race characteristics were lost. AS
late as 1S49 of the cattle slaughtered
in Chicago, already referred to, the
very best dressed carcasses averaged
only $50 pounds net-abOut tWO-thlrdS
the present maximum. But d great
change has been wrought through
the interest in fine, pure-bred cattle.
Breeding improved cattle is a bust
ness of greatest importance, which is
pursued by host of keen-witted,
enterprising men; farmers of the
more intelligent class have caught
the spirit, and many of the prosper
Gus and successful business and pro-
fessional men of the great cities find
their amusement in fine stOck-breed-
ing. All the older breeds have be-
come widely diffused, and many other
valuable ones have been introduced.
The ShOrthOrns have greatly in
creased and multiplied; the Here
fords, after q long struggle for recog-
milton, have attained the command
ing position they deserve; the Devons
have simply held their own, and the
GallOways have found the place they
are peculiarly we'll qualified to fill, in
the West and Northwest. Of other
beef breeds the AbcrdeenAngus have
become well and widely known and
appreciated; the Sussex have achieved
marked success, though their num-
bers are still restricted. The Red
Polls have gained u strong foothold
and are increasing in numbers and
popularity as general-purpose breed.
OF the dairy breeds the Ayrshires
retain their deserved popularity as
"the farmers cow" while Jerseys,
Guernseys and Holstein-Friesians
have achieved such wonders in the
production Of milk and butter as to
upset all preconceived ideas Of bovine
capacity. The Brown Swiss, though
the most recently introduced of any,
have taken permanent place among
American cattle which probably no
other breed could fill as well.
The Jerseys have singular histO-
ry. For several of their earlier years
in this country they were generally
regarded as the "gentleman's COW"
too fine for any place but the lawn or
paddock of the wealthy suburban
resident. 1t took some time for the
fact to become impressed on the pub
lie mind that the Jersey is eminently
well suited for practical and protita-
bic dairy farming.
This notable advance in fine stock
breeding has not been accomplished
at random. Each one Of the pure
breeds is represented by an organized
association of it's leading breeders
who guard it's purity, and watch it's
interests with intelligent care and
zeal.
Greatas has been the advance in the
cattle industry, it is only the begin
ing of what remains to be accom-
plished. The scrub is still largely in
the majority, and the scrub must go
before American beef-raising and
dairying can stand on the proper
basis for attaining the highest sue
cess. The pitiless and primitive
range system Of the Far West must
give place to more civilized methods,
as the country settles up and the
farm replaces the ranch. These and
other changes for the better are
rapidly going forward already. Rail
and ocean transportation are being
relieved of the horrors which
once attended them; the silo en-
ables the farmer and dairy