The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1898-12-27

4, n c0nu@ctt04 with th9 cattle market Is a
Ssx p . ~ Z s' sssm SSsy y wh ioco 90
&C. no, ssIs,s sss. shIs ssostsss y q any
pjy. for Us ssscn tat q shs &c csssis ere soine
4 " nlafhet ycunGer. and tho avAiNblc SUP
Ssn on sFEsf vEsn s 9 se 3 b sur.
lesst years Ct axe 70 BE- considered III TO
1s :; Torn ssr 1 TIE s sssssR VISIBLE sun
u sooo, go hssd fSsSisssd ten en- years $50 .
s srs . y TPD y csse NJ shG e.. U, IN
The particuisr Kind Il Cattle shs dcmsnd Is
eSapy have the ss s 'n & ss0Is sss
holding prices firm. II indeed there. Is not
Decided advance on the better Erades.
feature on sli the western cattle markets,
ss Sssn os sss demand ss,;'s G tho soessd
feeders who had found from sad experience
that the cattle Of no particular breeding
severed that the highest priced cstte were r
the most profitable. and consequently the
cheapest. and as the year advanced the de-
more and more marked. The spectators and
breeders quickly discovered the tendency Of
the trade and on the close Of the. year the
demand for the good cattle Is still increas
ing. while the. common and medium grades
arr weak and hsrdly holding their own
,bn ySar ago tue ra5ss IN n prices between
ed cattle was barely half a dollar The gap
has been widening slowly but surely snii
for thoroughbred and grade bulls has grown
At an astonishing rate. and the range men.
catching the Infection, are STRUGGLING to dis
graded cattle. Gradually the great herds
that formerly populated the Western ranges
Saye os ssm melting III aya but i takes time to
herds from pure blood animals. Young cat
tie Of pristocratic blood are making their
but they are still too few and too young ID
be seriously considered as equal to place
IN the available supply.
The demand MS represented by the re-
ceipts In the four great markets OF the West
Is approximately 6,0O0.000 head per annum
The demand has varied but slightly from year
TO year. the increase in population apparently
being provided for by the increased consump-
ton OF mutton and pork. The fact that the
outlook l. from. a business standpoint is bright
er than before In years: that all lines Of trade
are active; that the laboring men. the gront-
est meat consumers. are all working and abba
that the demand for the coming year will ut
least be as great as this year. Reports from
the markets and country. indicate less
tnn a year ago. Even with n favorable
season. the ranges of the Northwest can
na sapp Se as many rat Sats asxt fall
the fat cattle market for the past year has
been to advance Tho advance has come
nevertheless come. and on the close of the
present year the market appears In more
satisfactory condition than it has at any
Under the above conditions We are inclined
to expect continuation Of present prices on
choice stock cattle with IN Upward tendency
close to present figures. The medium grades
should average about steady with a tendency
to rather lower prices. but not much lower.
as the scarcity of the choice cattle for the
next year at least, will compel demand enough
for the common kinds to keep them fairly
active. Beef cattle should sell higher on
all markets before spring. and this will have
a tendency to strengthen the stock cattle
market.
The anxiety Of the owners of common cat !
tie to close out their holdings and the strong
and feeders, is combination that may hold
the market close to present prices but the
tendency is undoubtedly higher.
There many events that might occur
which would materially change the present
situation. and this prediction Is based entirely
mon the continuance of present conditions,
effects OF which can not be estimated at this
time, but which may grow to proportions sui,
above, That is a threatened shortage ln the
corn supply. The great CROPS cf 1896 and
1897 we're directly responsible for the great
Increase in the demand for stock cattle. Tn
dar ordinary conditions tho supply was large !
enough to haye lasted for several years. but !
tho export demand has heen so unusually !
diminished mt an alarming rate, Should this !
demand continue. strong advance In corn i
prices, should result. and the live stock In |
dustry Will be compelled to bear the bruDt |
OF such an advance. Beef will 20 higher. |
but the advance will BIO absorbed by the |
farmers for their feed. and the stockman !
will consider himself lucky to maintain the j
present prices. The high price of feed. 4
however, will hut emphasize the demand for /
choice cattle, fer while the AMATEUR fesder |
viii quit the business the professional feeder
viii go in heavier and as tho professional
only wants the hest cattle. the demand will |
he ample to hold present prices steady. II
not TO advance them slightly, II is the com
mon cattle that will suffer. but the Increased |
prlce of beef will not permit prices TO drtD
FRED y. johnson.