The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-04-16
DUE TO SHORT CROPS.
Secretary Morton on the Cattle Short
age-Oar Southern Competitors.

Secretary Morton ON the Cattle Short
age-Oar Southern Competitors.
WASHINGTON, April 15.--Secretary Nor
ton said to-day that there was nothing new
in the matter OF the higher prices for beef.
The Secretary said there was a shortage of
about 275, 900 head of cattle, and that the
short corn and grass crops in previous
years had something to do with the rise.
1t is expected that DIR. Salmon, who is MAX
ing the investigation, will go to Chicago be-
fore his report is complete. At present the
department is receiving reports from its
agents in various parts of the country. The
Secretary recognizes the fact that the de-
partment cannot, like congressional in
vestigating committee. demand papers and
procure testimony, and information from
the great beef concerns must be voluntary
on their part
An official of the department, discussing
the increase in the price of cattle, says that
it may be accustomed by the decrease in the
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 two billion bushels. The crop of 1892 was
$780, 900 bushels; that of 1898, 1620 600 GOO
bushels, and the crop of 1894 less than l.
zoe, 900 bushels. There has been falling
off in this crop, which is the principal food
for cattle. 1t is true that farmers have
uSSO "HEdt lOk CdttlS iOOu, Dul Tic ldilluS
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 prin-
cipal food for cattle may have induced stock
ralsers to put on the market more caIIe
tnan formerly. Another reason Tor the oe-
crease IN the number of cattle gwen IN
the fencing in ana the closing up many
OF the stock ranges and ranches. The set
tlement OF the Western States by small
farmers has made stock raising III great
herds less profitable, and 1t is SAID that the
Increase in cattle has not nearly kept pace
with the increase in population of the coun-
try. When the price OF cattle was very low
stock men sold not only the steers but large
numbers of females, which would tend To
check the increase in the following years.
The competition in cattle from argentina
and Australia has also been something or a
drawback to the cattle men in this country.
In both countries cattle can be raised much
more cheapiy than in the United States. The
great plains of these countries have not
been invaded by settlers. The cattle may
years in the Western part of this country.
Labor cuts but very small figure but
both Argentina and Australia than in the
United States. This same official said that
of the United States. 1t was far enough
south of the equator to grow all food prod
northern borders were about as tropical as
the southern borders of the United States.
It's soils were rich and the great fertile
nanza farmers. They are opening up I,
country such as the United States was
twenty-five years ago, starting where wedid
them but with all the modern improves
ments and the experience which this coJn-
try has given them. In the harvests Argen-
tina has the advantage of cheap labor. Ship
loads of Italians are brought over at every
harvest and returned after the harvest. II
takes eighteen days for these ships to make
the trips. but the imported laborers are car
ried very cheaply, and 1t is found profitable
by the Argentine land owners to make use
of them during the harvests, even by pay
ing their passage both ways. The markets OF
the world have already been affected by the
food products of Argentina.
1t is still a question whether the great
farm owners, with all the advantages of
cheap labor and the concessions granted
by the Argentine government, Will be able
TO make a lasting success of their agricul-
trral adventures The big Bonanza farm
ers of the West have found that they did
not make a success of their operation, and
If is now the policy of most of them to Cli-
vide their farms ne and sell them. and, if
advautageous terms to the men who wish to
operate smaller farms. The bonanza farm
ers of Argentina have the advantage of
reaching the seaboard more quickly and at
a small cost conpared to the transporta-
tton of products from the great plains of the
United States. where farming operations
have beeen tried on a large scale. but the
distance by sea to the markets Of the world
is much greater. Rut with water transport
tation distance docs not count for much in
raising staple products for the markets. 1t
is the opinion OF the official who spoke on
this subject that the United States will in
the future find a formids HE competitor in
AGRICULTURAL products in the Argentine Re-
public.