Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1893-07-11
the BEEF BUSINESS.

FOR all Dement'S Wnicn are elOW IN COM
Ing, farmers must learn to walt. They
have learned this already better than
other classes because they are all the
time waiting for crops TO grow, stock to
mature and experiments TO be concluded.
During the past few years Of low prices
and almost no sale for beef on eastern
farms, the farmers have learned moro
about dslrying and pork raising than
they would ever have known had they
not been forced to take up some new
features while waiting for the beef busi-
ness to work back Into Its proper condi-
ton. They have done 90 well In these
new lines that they should be content to
walt while II ls 80 evident that q change
for the better 10 coming. The great
West, which includes what is now the
central part Of the country, was such
marvel Of fertility, with no labor reQuir-
ed to clear the soil, that production Of
grain and meat have been carried to OK
tremes. Flowing aud sowing and hsr-
vesting have been the cost OF the grain
crop, while cattle have been kept by the
thousand where, II they lived through
the winter, their food cost nothing, and
II they died the loss was hardly. felt.
The result has been that producers were
glad to sell at any price, and must sell ut
some price, and spectators have stood
between them and the consumers aud
kept prices down on one side and up on
the other until they almost control the
meat markets of the world, and while
the eastern mechanic has been paying
as much for beef a. when Il was grown
on our own pastures, many OF the deal
ers have been given special advantages
II they would deal wholly In western
beef, which the producers were glad to
sell for three cents pound, and which
would have been produced at a loss II
the ranchmen had to pay taxes and sup
ply winter forage.
But change IL coming over this busl-
ness. The population Of the West is
increasing and Will want more beef. The
ranches are being cut up Into farms
where less cattle will be fed. The tend
ency from this time will be to Increase
the demand and lessen the supply until
4 better and more intensified system OF
farming induces us to feed more stock
on small farms. Before this last change
takes place our rough sldc-hlll pasture
will again be stocked with herds to sup
ply our home markets. The change viii
Of course be gradual unless some unfOre-
seen event transpires to cut of the sup
ply from the West, but II IL well to feel
that the tide has turned and that a rocky
mountain pasture is not the least valu-
able legacy man can leave to his sons.
1t IL well to realize the changes that
are going on, although they do not affect
us to q great extent at present, and keep
our business so planned that when the
time comes for change In our plans We
can make u with the least possible sac
riice. The Prairie Farmer speaks thus
encouragingly on this subject:
"rhe poor OF England spend their
money for the more expensive meats,
whereas formerly they ate but very little
meat very little even Of the cheap
est. The poor people having got a
taste Of American-grown meat, con-
tinue to clamor for more, because they
lind Il agreeable to the taste and sat
isfyiug; and, when it comes to doing
hard bodily labor they OF course find
that bread and potatoes, while they con-
stitute pretty good diet, especially good
for filling, still the well-fatted flesh OF
the beasts OF the field Il quite necessary
to make one strong In battle, whether
this battle be In the harvest field With
sickle In hand, or In carrying n carhine
and knapssck. We conclude from all
this that sOphistry will fall utterly In
changing the taste of the English work.
Ing and middle classes back to potatoes
after having had few ILLS Of American
high. grade, well-fstted and well-marbled
meat.
"There IL no risk In breeding plenty OF
high-grade steers-the higher the better,
as the quality gained proves -as the
taste for meat Is a growing one aud the
population Of the earth is a thing OF
growth and not OF decay."-Mlrror and
Hrmer