The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-05-25
BETTER IN The EAST,
Noticeable Rise in the Price of Thor.
oughbred LiveStock-How We
Can Make Money.

George a. Wiley, for many years until
lately superintendent OF the famous Seth
Cook ranch near Danville, Contra Costa
County, has returned here after six weeks
in different parts of the East.
Mr.. Wiley has for long time, in addi-
tion to experimenting the Seth Cook
ranch, been buying and handling thor
oughbred horses and cattle for Japan,
China, Guatemala, Peru and other coun-
tries. He is keen observer and has COL
lected much information lately in regard
to farming and livestock that will be read
with interest. He said last night at the
Grand:
II made good many short stops in diff
ferent parts of the East, especially in the
prairie States. What particularly i'm
pressed me this year, for am familiar with
the country and often go East, were the
long lines of oorncribs, which were to be
seen in Iowa, Illinois and other States of
that region. They have had big crops
there, as we'll as farther east, and are In
good shape. The people are prosperous.
They haven't big money, probably, from
the California standpoint, but they have
enough to grease the wheels and keep
things going in good shape.
Then. on top OF this the people are con-
tented and happy. / was impressed with
the solid appearance of things. Business
has taken turn for the better. The peo-
pie maybe haven't got so much money,
from our California standpoint, but they
know how to use it better.
They are more economical than our
people and can get along better ON less.
They are not such spendthrlfts, if | may
use the term. There you see every farmer
butcher his own beef and pork. He uses
salt and smoked meats almost entirely.
When he wants TO butcher he gets some of
his neighbors to help him for a day, and
he kills enough to supply him for the sea-
son, and he pays them back by helping
them in like manner. He doesn't buy
anything at the store except coffee, sugar
and a few things like that. All the rest he
produces right on his farm.
Here our farmers go to the store for
most everything they want. II there is
rain in March they conclude too often that
it is going to be a big year for crops, and
go right off TO the store and order things
on that basis. The result is, if there are
no more rains to speak of, the crop may be
short and the farmer Is disappointed and
can't meet his debts, maybe, ill the next
year.
"If he would only do business as these
farmers in the prairie States do. he would
be on velvet and would make plenty of
money, for the margins here are infinitely
greater. / often think what snap these
prairie farmers would have if they were in
California, and would raise nice things as
they do there.
''The prices for livestock are stiffening
up fast. A year ago you could buy two
year-old thoroughbred cattle for breeding
purposes at almost your own price. Fifty
dollars each was good figure. Now you
must pay 500 or $125.
''The price for good horses has mate
rally advanced, too. l should say about
double. Scrubs, of course, you can get at
any price, but if you want good pair of
driving horses, see how long you will have
to look around before you get them. They
command great deal more money.
"All these things are a good sign that
business is i'm proving. We are on the eve
of our old-time prosperity. We ought to
be careful, and 60 along without being in
any way reckless, or making any mistakes,
and we will soon be in good shape. We
want to quit discounting the future and
work conservatively on the basis We
have"