The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1892-02-11


to the fact that he had sold fine cows
in st. Louis at from $50 to $40 net,
when scrub stock from the same range
and pasture brought only $l1. He
argued that it cost no more to raise
good stock than it did to raise poor
ones.
The question of stock farming was
discussed by Mr.. Brown of the San
Antonio Live Stock Journal. He said
the day is past, if such day ever eX-
listed in Texas or elsewhere, when
muscle instead of brain will prove
successful in stock growing. l have
heard many old time cattlemen say
the day is past for money MAX
ing in stock growing in
Texas. Not so. The industry
is yet in it's infancy. AS the years
roll around, with improved methods
and improved stock, the live stock in
dustry of Texas will continue to grow
and prosper. The time Of great ranges
and uncared for herds of long-horned
cattle has gone never to return. The
sheep and swine, which means that
we must use better blood and more
feed or else shut up shop. We are
compelled to cater to the public taste,
which is gradually becoming educated
to the point where they think they
can get no good beef except it be first
bred good. What reason or sense is
there in placing a longhOrned, Slim
bellied steer on the market at from
$3.50 to $500 per 100 pounds when it
will cost but little more to raise a
shorthorn, Hereford or Devon grade
that will bring from S. to $6 per 100
pounds? Besides it costs about as
much to ship 700 pound longhorn as
it does 1900 pound grade, while it
costs but little more for feed, and no
more for handling, commissions, etc."
Abiding to the improvements in
live stock in Texas during the past
twenty-five years, he said the scrubs
and lorghorns have largely given
place to grades of of shorthorn, Here
ford, Holstein, Jersey and other
breeds. Sheep have shared equally
with cattle in the Improvements Of a
century. The ratio of fiocks to popu
lation has decreased, but the weight
Of fleece has more than doubled. The
average has progressed from 2 pounds
per fleece to 4 pounds OF more, and the
supply of homo wool, per unit
of population is more than
doubled while the quality
has been improved. The same
beneficial influences have operated
against the old razor back hog until
now we find on many of our farms and
ranches the Poland China, the Jersey
Red, the Chester White and other
types"
Mr.. Brown then touched upon feed.
The feed resources of Texas, properly
| developed and husbanded, will enable
Texas stockmen and farmers to mar
| ket their beef and mutton mature and
fat. He argued however that the
feeding problem will avail but little,
no matter how we'll known or
thoroughly discussed or marked out,
unless the basis of good blood is made
the starting point He contended for
diversity of crops by the farmer, and
said the time is not far distant in Tex
as when every farmer will be stock
grower. Every progressive farmer
will be found breeding a few we'll bred
horses, cattle, sheep and hogs. The
future stock business Of Texas is much
as we shall make it. We may have
the best cream in the world but if we
don't churn it we will get no butter.
| One trouble with the stnckman is that
he don't think enough. Thought
leads to agitation, agitation to organ
ization and organization to advance
ment.
The question of slaughtering and
refrigerating in Texas was taken up,
and Mr.. Skinner of Omaha made a
brief address, in which he said the
freight rate on cattle from Texas to
Omaha was sos per car higher than to
Kansas City and other markets, and
| this difference made it impossible for
Omaha packers to handle Texas cat
tie. He asserted that if rates can be
lowered on Texas roads one packer in
Omaha alone will use 1000 head of
Texas cattle per annum. He had
been trying to get rates reduced, and
he asked that the convention aid him
in the work.
The reckless handling and delays in
shipping cattle was laid before the
convention, and Mr.. Rogers took the
floor, saying that in his Experience of
nine years in the shipment of cattle
he had never had occasion to com.
plain of the roads, and so far as be
knew there was no complaint. The
handling of stock by the roads had
been very satisfactory.
Mr.. Brush offered q resolution that
the matters of quarantine regulation
Texas fever and the early es tablish
ment OF a sanitary bureau, together
with railroad freight rates on live
stock and all other matter affecting
the live stock industry not already
disposed of be referred to
the board of directors Of this
association with the request
that they take such prompt and deci-
sive actions as they may deem to the
best interests Of the stock industry OF
the state.
Resolution adopted.
The exorbitant charges of live stock
commission merchants and feeding
yards was discussed, and it was
agreed that commission should be
charged and not so much per head, as
is the custom now. Merchants should
receive so much per cent Oh thc
amount of sales, but the convention,
it was commended, was powerless to
remedy the evil, as the stock yards
and commission merchants were com