The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-05-08

E F. Benson. land examiner or the
Northern Pacific railway. has returned
from trip through Eastern Washington
He brings back word that catuemen
throughout that section are selling or
their cattle at = lively rate, says the
Ledger. They are being purchased
chiefly by Eastern cattIemen for ship
ment 10 Nebraska, Montana. Dakota and
as far east as Chicago The result OF
this wholesale selling or breeding cattle
will be detrimental to the state m the long
run. Mr.. Benson thinks. for the reason
that prices are now advancing ana the
number OF marketable cattle will be de-
creased for number of years TO come.
For three months past. he says. cattle
raisers have been selling off their stock
al rate which has made the movement
almost a stampede. Train load after
train load have been shipped. and the cat
tie buyers are still busy. The movement
was started as a result OF the low prices
OF corn ruling In Nebraska When corn
went TO 10 cents a bushel. the producers
in that state found II would be more prof
table TO market their corn in the form Of
beef. They began coming TO Washington
10 purchase cattle and hogs last fall. and
as the prices of beef have gone upward
with prospects of going still higher. they
have become more anxious than ever TO
purchase all of the available stock in the
Northwest. They began by buying steers.
which did not affect the future supply as
do their more recent purchases of COWS.
yearlings and calves. While Mr. Benson
was at Walia Walla one train brought in
i've men from Nebraska to purchase three
train loads of cattle. These he under
stands. were secured, and 1t was expected
that the same men would return to make
further purchases.
Prices for cattle are higher now than
for several years past. and ii is this fact
which has led the stock men to part with
their cattle so readily. The buyers are
now paying si2 TO sl4 for yearlings. SIS TO
80 for 2-year-old cattle. S25 TO SIS for
and calves. Ten years ago cow and
calf sold for $45. and Mr.. Benson believes
there will be good advance in prices
during the present season. The cattle
buyers seem TO be better informed than
the cattle owners as to market conditions,
and the shrewdest buyers are purchas-
ing herds wherever they can. paying a
higher price IL the owners will not accept
the one first offered. The tendency TO
sell for low prices has prevailed through
out the grazing belt. Very many stock
raisers have sold part or all of their cat
tie. The chief exceptions are few OF the
largest stockmen, who study the markets
and conditions. and are too far-sighted TO
sacrifice their breeding stock in this way
Mr.. Benson predicts that inside Of a year
Washington will be importing beef from
other states. as has recently happened in
the case of pork. Prices are already adj
vancing sharply for certain classes of
stock in certain localities. This is true in
Yakima county where some kinds of
cattle have advanced in price nearly 100
per cent. in three months, on account OF
the local demand for beef purposes For
years past the Yakima valley has fed
over 5000 beef cattle every winter on
alfalfa. Three years ago one firm from
the Sound purchased $500 tons of hay at
one time for stock-feeding purposes. It
win be readily seen that the local demand
for hay will be lessened Il. the shipping
process continues.
In similar way last fall the high price
of wheat caused the pork producers OF
Eastern Washington 10 unload in a body
to Eastern buyers. who shipped the hogs
by train loads TO Nebraska Soon there
were not enough hogs in the state to sup
ply the local demand. and during the past
month one firm on the Sound has shipped
in three train loads OF hogs from Nebras-
ka. Mr.. Benson says there was much
mere excuse for selling the hogs than for
now dfsposing OF the cattle, for the rea-
sen that the hogs are much more expe1-
sive to keep. as they must be fed grain
On the other hand. there is little or no
expense attached TO keeping the cattle on
the ranges during the summer
IL was suggested that II the ranges are
left destitute by the selling of cattle the
grass will he allowed TO grow and thus
recuperate from the ravages OF the thou
sands Of range horses which were COM
planned OF so loudly last fall. The ranges
will not be thus benefited, Mr. Benson
says for the reason that most of the
horses are left and they VIII keep the
grass short. In the western part of Whit
man county about * per cent Of the
range horses starved 10 death during the
winter on account Of the short grass and
the snow which covered IL. In Adams and
Franklin counties not over per cent OF
the horses were killed off
In my Judgment" said Mr.. Benson. .
there are better prospects for cattle
raising at the present time than we have
seen for fifteen years in this state. both
for the people who own cattle and for
those who are going into the business"
In certain sections OF the grazing country
very good grass is found because the
horses have been kept away on account
OF the absence OF water. The railway
company has found on investigation that
an excellent supply Of water can be OBJ
tanned AT reasonable depth. 80 feet or less.
and the contract has been let for sinking