Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1893-09-29
HONEY FOR STOCK MEN.
U0w Ihey can Get the Top Mar
het Price for EcePy HOof
they SeH.

IlNt SlOck rolit " iNSo WI ilttlilN
one-third of the entire valua ton Of
property in Idaho county, accord
ing to the official assessment roll
for the current year. The stock
growing interest is therefore the
most important industry in the
county. Indeed, since the deca-
dence Of the placer mines this com
munity has depended almost Who'll
ly, solely and exclusively for its
subsistence upon the sale OF cattle.
Our farming operations are carried
on solely with the view Of provid-
ing feed to carry our live stock
through the winter. Agriculture
is thus a purely secondary and sub
sidiary pursuit to that of stock
raising. We have at present no
other available resource or source
of revenue, and the fact that we
are a self-sustaining community to-
day and that we are more prosper
Gus than our neighbors is directly
attributable to our possessing, and
to the sale of our surplus herds of
beef cattle, hogs, horses and sheep.
Bearing these facts in mind ii is
plain that the prosperity of the
stock growing industry is of the
most vital importance to this COM
munity as a source of income. The
world cannot and will not do with
out its beef, mutton and pork. AS
we have no home market for our
grains and are too remote from
railroads TO ship to advantage, our
people are under the necessity of
converting their grain into meat
which can walk to the railroad.
Every individual who has 100 acres
ofland on this prairie ought to buy,
beg or borrow few head of cattle
and give them his undivided atten-
ton. Meanwhile, those who have
cattle should devise ways and
means of selling off their surplus as
quickly as possible and in the most
profitable manner This being a
hard year, in every sense. it is al
most impossible to realize full value
for anything, even in the meat
market. All large operators, deal
ers and spectators coniine them
selves to a close and limited bust
ness and are taking no chances
whatever. Hence, sales have been
Il i,
been carried over from last year on
account of low prices and lack of
buyers: consequently, our ranges
are over-stocked, feed is not so
plentiful as last year, and we have
more cattle to care for. Should the
coming winter be as long and Sc
we're as the last, our loss would be
greater in proportion, as our feed
is less and our herds are larger.
1t is therefore high time for our
cattle men to look the situation
squarely in the face. Something
must be done. Delay means taking
desperate chances. We must dis
pose Of our surplus beef and pork
before winter closes in on us.
How is this to be done?
The answer is simple. Owing to
the severe financial crisis. buyers
-Middle-men-from the outside
are few and far between and have
things pretty much their own way.
They pick the very cream of our
herds and pay from 50 to $3.50 per
head below the market value. Let
lis dispense with the services of the
Middle Man, and ourselves go into
the big markets and sell our own
cattle on our own hook. Let the
stock growers of Idaho county get
together right away, organize an
Association, and have one of their
most trusted, active and best post
ed members go to Omaha, Chicago,
Kansas City or elsewhere. and re-
main for few months in the fall
of the year to watch the markets
and to bargain and sell our surplus
meats by the train load TO the
highest and best bidder, thus real
ising for our stockmen the top price
of the eastern market for every
pound of their surplus beef, mutton
and pork. OF course. the services
of good home manager would be
required, who will have all the
stock belonging to members of the
Association listed and graded, and
upon receipt of telegrafic adyices
from the eastern manager it would
be his duty to gather up and for
ward the cattle required. The man
with ten head of beef stock will
benefit proportionately with the
owner of 10000 head.
The stock growers of Idaho coun.
ty should be able to turn off %
train loads, or 5000 head, of bee
cattle every year, thus clearing the
range of all the surplus stock which
depreciate in value the longer the,
are kept, and leaving the grass foI
the young stock which increase il
value to feed upon and grow t,
perfection.
This should be done for the pres
ent. The future may develope al
excellent home market for all ou
surplus meat and grain when ou
tributary mines are empioyin,
thousands of men, but this time i