Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1895-05-08

The Rise in Prices of Beef
The price of all kinds of beef on the
Wholesale markets have steadily gone
up since the first of the year, and as o
consequence people are crying out that
there is beef trust. In this people
are evidently mistaken. There is no
reason to suppose the packers have
anything to do with it, for they them
selves are paying for their beeves on
the aoof about 25 per cent more than
they were at the beginning of the year
Reference to the files of the Farmers
review shows steady creeping up of
prices since Jan. 1. Export stock of
all kinds has gone up some, in spite of
adverse foreign legislation. But the
greatest advance is seen in butchers
steers. On the first Tuesday in Janu-
airy, they sold at $2.S5@3.55; CORES
pending day in February $310@3. 60
same day in March S3.40@405; ditto
in April $4.00@4.5O For this class of
meat the advance has been far more
than 25 per cent.
BY the government report it is shown
that the decrease in the cattle in Ne
braska has been Is per cent since 1894,
Is per cent since 1898. and Is per cent
since 1892. In Wyoming the decrease
is per cent since 1894 and 30 per cent
as compared with 1892 In Texas de-
crease of per cent since 1894, 5 per
cent since 1893, and II per cent since
1892. Montana has lost per cent since
1893, per cent since 1892. The state
gained 2 per cent in comparison with
1894. Iowa's loss is per cent since
1894, per cent since 1898 and per
TA1A 10 e
per cent in comparison with 1894 and
gained II as compared with 1898.
If the coming scarcity of cattle had
not been foreshadowed by the January
government report data of similar
nature would not be lacking now. For
the week ending March 80 the decrease
in the receipts of cattle at the Chicago
stock yards in comparison with the
same week in 1894 was $3.50 head. Since
Jan. l there have been received at the
stock yards 572,S57 head, a decrease of
119,O6S for the same period in 1894.
Shipments during the same period of
time decreased 1880 head and the act
ual slaughter $500 head. The figures
are official
In the same period of time the price
of hides has increased more than 9
cents per pound, Texas having risen
from 512 to S12; the retail price of
steaks has risen from to IL cents a
pound, and in some localities Is cents
a pound, and cattle on the hoof adj
vanced from late December prices to
the following:
December. April.
Native. -. .S3.05@5.50 $40O@6.25
Texas. -. -. 3.40@39O 3.75@5.75
Stockers and feed
ers. -. 80. 2.25@3.75 2.65@44O
On April IL the estimated shortage
in the receipts of cattle at the Union
stock yards since Jan. l in comparison
with the receipts for the same period
in 1894 was 100000 head. The short
age in pounds of dressed beef for the
same period was estimated to be 49,
100000 pounds, or an average of 2,000,-
600 pounds decrease day. On the
same day the receipts of cattle at the
yards were $500 head less than on the
same day in 1894. Up to to-day the
total receipts of cattle at Chicago, South
Omaha, Kansas City and East St Louis
for the year since Jan. were estimated
to be 100000 head, a decrease of 1872
coo since the same period of 1894 and
of 30S,000 since 1898 AS the average
weight of most of the cattle being re-
ceived now does not exceed 100 pounds
the number of selections for beef is
almost cut in two.
The government has been asked to
investigate the alleged meat trust, and
Secretary Morton has set about the
work. Among officials and statisti-
clans, however, there is no belief in the
existence of such trust, for the pres
ent rise in prices corresponds exactly
with what should take place under the
laws of supply and demand. There is
a comfort to stock growers in at last
being able to sell steer for about what
he is worth.
Success in Agriculture.-Success in
agriculture, as we'll as in any other
business, depends largely upon the
amount of thought bestowed upon it
Energy of brain is as essential 10 sue
cess as that of muscle Many men who
have failed in mercantile and other
kinds of business think it is an easy
matter to make money on the farm.
In fact, many farmers do not consider
farming in the light of business, but
rather as an occupation one may fol-
low without any capital or special
knowledge. That is the chief reason.
fellow farmers, that the majority of
persons having farms for rent want
cash rent for them. A good, practical
farmer, or one who has that reputation.
never has any trouble in renting for
crop rent. In fact, he does NOT want
to rent many years, for he is soon able
to buy farm.
Marketing String Beans.-Should be
gathered as soon as the bean is about
to form in the pod. before it is hardly
perceptible. Do not allow them to re-
main on the vines until coarse. 1t is
also advisable to see that they 20 into
packages cool and dry, and wien ex-
pedient to spread them out fry a short
time do so. When ready they should
be packed in about the same packages
as peas. only this rule should be OBJ
served, especially in putting I'D wax
beans, the beans should be nicely and
evenly placed in layers on the bottom.
sides and top of packages This gives
them an attractive appearance which
adds very materially to their sale.
Pack full and keep out all specked or