Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1892-02-03
TEXAS CATTLEMEN.
They Meet Nearly Two Hundred
Strong at the Capital City.
$3.50, 100000 REPRESENTED.
The Quarantine and Home Market Questions
Thoroughly Discussed.
Governor Hogg Talks to the Cowmen. and
Tells Them Of Things He Would Like
to See-Judge Reagan to Ad-
dress Them To-Day
$3.50, 100000 REPRESENTED.
cnttIenen Meet.

y
here to-day. The attendance was large, ali
sections of the state being fully represented.
The convention was held in the hall
of Representatives In the capitol
building, and when opened at
IL a. m. found about one hundred and
twenty-five cattlemen present, all rudy
faced, strong-limbed and business looking
men. They wore an air of independence
and conscious strength, and well they
might, for they represented an
interest valued at si5O,O00,0 900, that
being the valuation put upon the
livestock interests of Texas.
The convention was called to order by
Rev B. a Rogers of Williamson county,
who opened the proceedings with ringing
speech, touching upon the Importance of
the livestock interests Of Texas and the
pressing need for organization. He said
that the big ranches are passing
away, to be succeeded by the farmer and
the small stock raiser. He dwelt on the i'm
portance of full and complete organiza-
tion of stock raisers who are now floating
about in a helpless condition, without con-
cert of action. while stock raising was over
whelmed with expressions, the resultlargely
of negligence. Stock raising should thrive
in Texas, for many reasons, and corn should
be raised. Now she is eighth among the
states in the amount Of corn produced,
one-sixth of the iron of the country is
row mined in the South, and
two-fifths of the cotton factories
are there. The manufacturers are looking
after their interests, while the stock men
are doing nothing for themselves. Before
long the South will furnish q market for
all her livestock. There will be large
packeries, and deep water will furnish the
avenue for sending beef products abroad.
Something must be done to remove the i'm
pediments to shipping our cattle northward,
impediments resulting from quarantining
against spienic fever Federal authorities
have recently ascertained that the disease
is communicated TO Northern cattle through
the ticks carried on the bodies of Texas
cattle, which themselves have no disease.
At the conclusion of the address Judge
Rector of Austin was elected temporary
chairman and Geo. B. Loving of Fort
Worth temporary secretary.
Mayor McDondald then came forward
and made his welcome address to which
Mr.. Loving responded.
Governor Hogg, who sat in the rear of
the hall, then came forward, amidst clap
ping of hands, and addressed himself to the
subject of the livestock interests of Texas
He did not know why such subject was
given him, unless it was that he was sup
posed TO be loaded for all occa-
sions, and could give the cattlemen
pointers on how to raise stock
He could not. He knew very little about
the business, although public men and poll
ticians were usually very handy about ad-
vising the farmers how to manage their af-
fairs, raise cotton and so on. He would
skip that part of his subject and say some
thing about the impedinents to the free
marketing of Texas cattle. The Federal
authorities have assumed full control OF the
quarantine regulations against Texas
cattle, and have run a line across the
northern part of the state beyond
which Texas cattle may not go but under
certain conditions. Under these regula-
tions Texas cattle can be shipped to
Northern markets from February 5
to December l only for imme-
date slaughter. The cars used for
their shipment must be used for no
other cattle, and must be cleaned. fumigatcd
feeding places en- route must be
provided, to which other cattle
are not admitted, and the
same is true on arrival in Chicago or Kan
sas City-special yards are set apart for
Texas cattle. over which are erected warn
ing signs telling of the danger of splenic
fever. All these conditions are exceed
ingly embarrassing, and, because of
the stigma placed upon Texas cattle,
depreciate their value and put
them beyond the pale Of competition with
northern cattle, which control the market.
The Texas shipper is therefore at the
mercy of the buyer and must take what
worth.
The governor read a letter from Secretary
Rusk of the agricultural department, in
which your Uncle Jerry said that Texas was
a big state, whose livestock interests he
would be glad 20 further without conflicting
with the interests Of other states and the
quarantine legislations thereof. He
thought means could be found
to modify these quarantine regulations
and recommended the creation by law of a
state board, with power to confer with
similar boards in other states, and with the
Federal authorities. Such action might
result in moving the dead line to point
further south in TeXaS-say where the
elevation was thousand feet.
He noted the fact that some
of the states were now quarantined against
Texas horses on account of CHAMBERS.
The governor thought that there should
be n quarantine officer to look after this
matter; and do what could be done
to have present regulations modi-
fed and the baneful stigma re-
moved from Texas cattle. He enlarged
upon the possibility of home market for
our cattle He had seen the Fort Worth
packery and was proud of it. It was one of
the finest things OF its kind he had ever
seen. Hogs and cattle were butch
cred there in August, as in
mid-winter. Embarrassing such establish
ments home market could gradually be
built up, and the raising OF hogs promoted
and made profitable. Such establishments
were not possible in Texas until recently
The railroads were against them, but
now a commission will make rates
that will enable shippers 10 send
their stock to slaughter-houses within the
state. The commission was 4 benefcentinsti-
tuition. He was proud of it, 1t would protect |
and foster home industries and build up a
home market. It was doing good work |
for Texas. Under it, rates would scale |
as the gulf is approached,
rather than upwards. and vice versa.
This concluded the morning session.
AFTERNOON SESSION.
The com mittee on order of business re |
ported z programme, being discussion of |
the following subjects:
l. Railroad rates on livestock
9. Texas fever and quarantine regula- |
tions.s
.. Needed legislation on livestock inter
ests OF Texas.
4. The advantages of deep water on tho
gulf coast
g. The improvement of livestock.
8. Stock farming in Texas.
:. Strengthening and refri9erating in |
Texas.
s. Reckless handling and unnecessary de-
lay on the part of railroads in handling live
stock in transit.
9. Exorbitant charges of livestock CON-
mission merchants and feeding yards
TO- Any other subjects that may come up. I
The report was adopted
The temporary organization was made
permanent.