, 1896-07-01
CATTLE BUSINESS.
Comparative Statement of the Receipts
of the Different Markets.

100000 cattle more than she got during
the same time last year. On the other
hand, Kansas City has received 5000
less, South Omaha 200, Sast St. Louis
e 5000. To what is our increase attrib-
utable in the lace Of these decreases at
other points? Not to Texas cattle. for
we have had remarkably even supplies
the past five months when the total is
summed up and compared with last
year: and certainly not to western cat
tie, for those in fact have been ew.
Neither to native butchers stock. The
increase has come solely from the feed
lots of Iowa, Illinois, Missouri and 9TH
er portions of the corn belt to which
this market is tributary. The cause?
Corn. Nature frowned in 1894, and we
had % per cent less cattle during the
first five months Of 1895 than Of the
preceding year.. Nature smiled in 1895
and this year we have 10 per cent more
than last. Ten per cent in the matters
of numbers, but the fact that each steer
averages so pounds heavier than his
brother last year, counts for some
thing when the $50, 900 (roughly esti-
mating) that arrived the past five
months ago are just putting in an ap-
pearance. The market value was low
last winter and feeders held on to their
cattle and put corn into them. The
market value was lower in the spring
and more corn was thrown into the
bovine interior. Matters did not mend.
The tendency of values was downward.
But corn was abundant and so the cat
tie were held in the feed lot. while the
feeder eagerly scanned the horizon,
hoping to catch a glimpse of "A Better
Time" when it should rise to view. But
any seeming betterment Of affairs has
been a mirage. The cattle had at last
to come to market, and the feedr who
has made money the past winter, with
all his corn and confidence, does not
bear the name OF Legion.
We were lately asked the question,
What percentage of the native steers
coming to hand now are three years
old or more? To which we replied, so.
That figure Is an unusually large one
for this time Of the year, but 1t shows
how cattle have been held in the feed
lot waiting for an upturn in prices. In
to the yards are pouring day after day
hundreds and thousands OF fine heavy,
thick-fat. good-quality beeves. TOO
big and too fat" says the buyer. APP
pearance. finish. quality-none Of these
them an excess of weight. He turns
around and gives the top price Of the
day for a bunch of light, handy"
weights of no better quality or finish,
while the heavy beeves have to go at a
figure not much bettre than feeding
cattle are selling fora figure that
places the sale either in the don't
quote" category or away down in the
days list Of representative sales in the
market report. 1t has been a bitter pill
to swallow-this matter of selling al
ways at a low price-but the ''apothe-
carries" have had to supply an immense
quantity of them. Eo many might not
have had to be taken, had more atten-
ton been given the daily and weekly
advice Of the commission man through
his letters and market reports. But We
have no desire to cry II told you So"
1t Is better to get in these ripe beeves
now than later. Surely there can't be
many more of them to come.-Chicago
Stock Report.