The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1895-04-16

Washington. April 15.-An official of
the agricultural department, discus
sing the recent increase IN the price
of cattle, which is said to be THE pri-
mary cause for the increase in the
price of beef in the country, says that
it may be occasioned by the decreased
corn crop of the past few years.
The last great crop of the country,
was that grown in 1891, and available
in 1892. 1t amounted to $1,000. OOO.G 900
bushels. The crop of 1892 was 1,600,-
100000. that of 1893, 1926, 600, 900 bushels,
and the crop of 1894. less than 1.200.-
100000. There has been falling off
in this crop, which is the principal
food of beef cattle. 1t is true that
the farmers have used wheat for
cattle food during the depression of
price of this cereal. but the falling off
of the corn crop. in the opinion of the
official, may have had more to do
with the rise than anything else. Lack
of the principal food for cattle may
have induced stock raisers to put
upon the market more cattle than for
merry. Another reason for the de-
crease in the number of cattle is
given in the fencing in and the clos
ing up of many of the stock ranges
and ranches. The settlement of the
western states by small farmers has
made stock-raising in great herds
less profitable, and it is said that the
increase in cattle has not nearly kept
pace with the increase in population
of the country.
Competition in Cattle.
Trr1-- Il
low and the market was crowded, 1T
is supposed THAT the stockmen sold
not only the steers, but large numbers
Of the females which would tend to
check the increase in the following
years.
The competition in cattle from Ar
gentine and Australia, has been some
thing of drawback to tho cattlemen
In this country. In both countries
cheaply than in the United States.
The great plains Of these countries
have not been invaded by settlers.
The cattle may roam at will, as they
did for % years in the western part
of this country. Labor cuts a small
figure, but that which is necessary
is much cheaper in both Argentine
and Australia than in the United
States.
Our Agricultural Rival.
This same official said that Argentine
was the great agricultural rival Of the
United States. 1t was far enough
south of the equator to grow all food
products produced in the United
States. Its northern borders were
about as tropical as the southern Dor
ders of the United States. Its soils
were rich and the greater fertile plains
offered many advantages to the bonanza
farmers. They are opening up coun-
try such as the United States was 70
years ago. starting where we did then,
but with all the modern improvements
and the experience which this country
has given them. In the harvests. the
Argentine has the advantage of cheap
labor Ship loads of Italians are
brought over at every harvest and re
turned after the harvest is over 1t
takes eighteen days for these ships to
make the trips but the imported labor
ers are carried very cheaply. and 1t is
found profitable by the Argentine land
owners to make use of them during the
harvestS. even by paying their pas
sages both ways. The markets of the
world have already been affected by
the food products OF Argentine. II Is
still a question whether the great farm
owners. with all the advantage of
cheap labor and the concessions grant
ed by the Argentine government will
be able to make a lasting success of
their agricultural adventures. The big
bonanza farmers of the west have
found they could not make success
of their operations. and it is now the
policy of most of them to divide their
farms up and sell them and if they
are not able to SELL to lease them upon
advantageous terms to the men who
wish to operate smaller farms
The bonanza farmers of Argentine
have the advantage of reaching the
seaboard more quickly. and at small
cost. compared to the TRANSFORMATION
of products from the great plains of
the United States. where farming OPP
erations have been tried on large
scale. but the distance by sea to the
markets of the world is much greater.
But with water transportation distance
does not count for much in getting
staple products in the market.
1t is the opinion of the official who
spoke on this subject that the United
States will. in the future. find for
midable competitor in agricultural pro-
ducts in the Argentine republic.
- . r.