The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-01-13

hearty, having seen around him the broad,
uncultivated domain of Uncle Sam trans
lands on the globe, during which time say
ing nothing of thousands he gave away he
has accumulated s350,OO0 wholly from feed
ing cattle.
Mr.. Weaver fed his first bunch of cattle
in the winter of 1859. Being inexperienced,
he sought SIZE and in the forty head select
ed to feed, had twenty big oxen, and because
he could get no more filled out with two-year-
old stays; these were fed on the open prairie
on shock corn, and in the spring, when he
had ten buyers for the young stuff to one for
that quality the desideratum, and that
without it size and weight were at a dis
count Many feeders fail to learn the value
OF good blood and its sequel-quality-in
hfet1me; they can easily ascertain the value
Oh weight, but it takes intuitive love of
animal life to comprehend quality In
those days shock corn was fed in a circle
and separately thrown in the same place that
the refuse might make a bed to keep the
fresh fodder UP cut of the mud. Mr.. Weaver
was the first in his vicinity, If not in his
state, to use feed boxes or managers for shock
corn. Close observation soon disclosed to
him the value of shelter. bunch of Min
pounds per day, were overtaken by a severe
storm, causing a shrinkage not made up
Till thirty days had rolled around-"120 pounds
loss per steer per month will pay for pref
ty fair shelter so Mr.. Weaver concluded.
Sheds open to the south followed, with feed
racks to protect the southern exposure. These
enclosed well lighted and with yards ad-
joining, protected by tight board fences with
convenient doors for shutting the cattle in
side the sheds when ever the weather sug-
gested the value of it. Watering arrange
ments progressed in like manner. Ponds
running streams, wind pumps, heated open
tanks, all in turn deemed the best, but all
displaced at present by large, round, covered
tanks fed from tubular wells by wind power.
Good bedding and dry footing is by Mr.
weaver esteemed necessity. He exercises
rn or 10 hiC aat+1 L.
Visitors who are careless in approaching his
feed sheds quickly feel the weight of his dis
pleasure Salt is always in the boxes pro-
vided for it on the watering tanks Change
in a part of the diet of fat cattle is studied
in the knowledge that. variety is the spice of
their life Oil cake is fed to fattening cat
Tie because 1t is essential to good digestion
Mr.. Viewers aim in cattle feeding is to
make the bulk of their gain on grass He
therefore buys calves at weaving time in the
fall, winters them lightly on grain and an
abundance of fodder. He wishes growth to
be made at the expense of new feed SO that
the veal flesh is retained The second win
Ter they are again carried cheapy on fod-
DER and light feed or grain the third win
ter they are full fed on corn with enough
OH CAKE and bran to completely digest the
corn Corn fodder, sorghum clover hay.
given for variety. On smaller farms where
pasture is limited, it will be found profitable
10 get calves onto full feed early as prac-
ucable, and keep up the pressure till the
desired weight is attained. In any case. the
best beef is only made by beginning early
WIN prime young animals. Any process that
G COM aos growing animals to draw on their
mix MIX nesh to promote the growth of their
frame Is wasteful and ruinous in it's loss.
MI weaver began his experience with the
improved breeds Of cattle with Deyons He
was very fond of them; they were sInerior
to the natives. Shorthorns being early in
troduced into Central Illinois, he was among
f fne 4 tbr 10 e ADOPT them and pay premium
angus next claimed his attention and so
pleased was he with them in the feed lot
ne purchased at heavy cost an extensive
herd of pure bred cows and began hreedine
registered stock. About the same time he
pought herd of registered Herefords and
m hana them alongside the Angus. The
angus was first to go, the thrifty Herefords
became his favorites, and after forty years.
experience, during which he has fed Dsvons,
Shorthorns, Sussex Galloways JERSEYS HoI
stems Aberdeen Angus and Herefords nure
grade and cross bred, with 1.-The survival of
the httest as his only standard, Mr. Weaver
y I tne Herefords due preference by pay
ing strong dollars ard cents premium for
them over any and all other sorts and breeds
when buying cattle for his own feeding.
JAMES J. HILL TALKS.
A tremendous burst of applause
greeted President James ]. Hill, of the
Great Northern railway President
Schurmeier in few words introduced
MI Hill. Mr.. Hill took for his sub
Ject, How Shall the Beginner Best
Establish Himself in Stock Raising?''
Mr.. Hill said:
1t is always with the greatest pleas
ure that l meet with men who are
farmers, or who are interested in stock
raising. [ have always felt an interest
IN the State Agricultural school: wear
aIter year 1t was an attachment of
the state university to catch votes TO
secure large appropriations to carry
on the state university. The agricul-
tural end of the state university has
mad the support of the farmers who
Will insist that it has portion of what
is due it.. Minnesota can do much r.,
champion this institution and fill the
places of good farmers in all the state.
In this part of the country the agricu.-
tural interests are equal to all others
combined, and it must follow that this
institution is entitled to the good will
ana God-speed which every man in
the state can accord it. (Applause.D
We will always be pre-eminentIy an
agricultural nation, and if this is so-
how can We improve it more
than by lettering and further
ing an Industry which is equal
to all others combined. Many
of the farmers of the Northwest
make a profitable living on four
months labor out of the twelve. by
wheat raising. 1 represent the largest
wheat interests in this country; the
road whose affairs I direct, or rather
am responsible for, carries annually
one-seventh Of all the wheat in the
United States. By feeding his wheat
to stock he can get 1 cent per pound
for his wheat and $40 per ton for his
hay. That is much more than the ay-
erage farmer sells his product for
Coming up on the train the other day
I met Nelson Morris, of Chicago. He
told me that he had just bought 1000
Minnesota steers in Minnesota, and
although they were not fat, they show
ed up in excellent condition when
opened, their vital organs were in a,
healthy state. The farmers in Mime
sofa ship their steers to other states
where they are fed for beef and sent
to Chicago or Omaha and killed. The
same beef comes back and is dis
tributed throughout the Northwest
The farmer pays the freight on the
dlfference in the price on his dressed
beef and at the same time sells his
steers at a lower figure because thew
are not ready for killing. I have tried
since 1883 to get the farmer to diversity
his farming. l feel encouraged after
all these years that my efforts We're
not entirely in vain. When 1 COM
menced to distribute cattle in 1893, /
do not think there was a mich cow In
the whole Red river valley district
The only milk to be had was con-
denSed milk. When we were building
some road in that district in 1883
sent a number of mich COWS along
with the construction crew to furnish
them with fresh milk, and [ think
those were the first cows sent into the