Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1892-02-09
VIII Increase, Not Decrease.

Under the head of ''Texas Cattle Pro-
ducJion" the ST. Louis National Livestock
Reporter has the following to say regarding
the cattle industry in this state: A con-
vention just held at Austin, the capital of
the state of Texas, was important on ac-
count Of the various matters which were
brought up Tor discussion, and the more so
as il was the first convention which recoC-
nized Texas as a cattle-feeding state Cen
orally speaking, Texas is considered simply
as 4 ranch country and the production of
cattle Is expected to decrease as the RANGE
country becomes more thickly settled, but
figures do not hold out any prospect of
decrease in numbers and it is not unreason-
able TO suppose that results will be more in
the other direction.
IN 1888 Texas paid taxes on 1872. 957 cat
tie, in 1889 the number was !, 261, 769; in 1890
the total was 7.37S, 203 and the last assess
meEt in 1891 was on 1854, 667 head of cattle.
Having reached the total it is interesting to
note whereabouts in the state these cattle
are In the Southern country, which is
mainly pasture district, and which is the
nursery OF the cattle trade there are ., 3S3,-
600 cattle. In the north, east and central
counties, which are mainly considered as
farming districts. and which produce the
large crops of cotton for which Texas is
noted, there are 2, 4S4, 600 cattle, and in the
great Western ranch district from the
north line of the Panhandle, as far west as
Us Jack, Palo Pinto EastlanG, Coleman aud
Concho, the total is about 100000 cattle
II IS significant that while the Southern
cOuIties average "a, 600 cattle and the farm
ing counties average $4,000 cattle, the
ranSih country, by which the state is sup
pOsNd to hold its reputation furnishes but
{ mn average of y 600 cattle per county This
does not make so good showing for de-
crease in numbers, and it appears that the
farm country supports a larger number of
Fcattle per acre than the larger counties in
1the West
= When nearly all the Texas cattle which
\ were sold went either by the trail to north
ern ranges. or during four months of the
year to the beet markets, appearances in
| dictated an immense production. but now
( the disposition of the supply takes the en-
tire year. There are more cattle, the rail
( roads have done away with the movement
on foot the feeding of cattle has increased
largely and Texas having all the land fairly
well stocked is similarly situated as other
states are, having of necessity to dispose
of about one-third of the supply everN~
year in order to keep down to the grazing
and feeding capacity. There is a consider
able death rate every winter. but the annual
output of all classes from calves up does not
{ amount to much less than 100000 cattle
per annum. If all these cattle went in one
direction the output would be easily ascer-
4 tanned. Home consumption is now con-
siderable item. The New Orleans market
draws the bulk of its receipts from TexaSs-
St Louis also receives the bulk of its cattle
supplies from Texas. Kansas CitySand
Chicago are also largely supplied. The In
dian Territory, Wyoming and NontAaa are
also large receivers of Texas cattle.