The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-12-27
For Higher Prices.

49, ~ nv taAAAG u - tt1 taf'
has interested stockmen for the past
two or three years. The general un-
Outstanding OF the term shortage as
used in connection with the cattle mar
ket. is a shortage i'm h visible sup
ply. While the visible supply is from
5000. 900 to 10000. 900 head less now than
IL was in 1894. the writer does not be-
lieve that this shortage Is of n ser
ious moment as regards the available
supply, for the reason that the cattle
are going to market younger. and the
available supply forms a larger part OF
the visible supply h formerly when
cattle had to be at least five years OF
age to be considered fit to mature for
market. The present visible supply Of
about IS. ZOO. 900 head will furnish as
large an available supply for the mar
ket to-day as $4,000. 900 head furnished
10 years ago
While there Is apparently no short
age In the available supply of cattle,
IL is the opinion of the writer that there
Is a shortage i'm the particular kind of
cattle the demand is calling for at this
time. n that shortage will probably
a the effect of at least holding prices
firm, IL indeed there Is not a decided adj
vance on the better grades.
During the past year the most promi-
nent feature on all the western cattle
markets has been the demand for the
so-called graded" cattle; cattle bred
from thoroughbred sires. This demand
originated with the feeders. who had
found from sad experience that the cat
tie of no particular breeding failed to
fatten properly. The feeders discovered
that the highest priced cattle were the
most profitable. and consequently the
cheapest, n as the year advanced the
demand for the cattle with quality be-
came more and more marked. The
spectators and breeders quickly dis
covered the Tendency Of the trade and
on the close of the year the demand for
the good cattle is still increasing. while
the common and medium grades are
weak and hardly holding their own.
A year g the range in prices be-
tween the ordinary range cattle n the
good graded cattle was barely half a
dollar. The gap has been widening
slowly but surely and the range is now
fully a dollar. The demand for thor
oughbred and grade bulls has grown at
an astonishing rate. and the range
men. catching the Infection. are strug-
Cling to dispose of their old herds and
to restock with graded cattle. Gradu-
ally the great herds that formerly pop
ulated the western ranges have been
melting away, but II takes time 10
work them all off and to breed up lew
herds from pure blood animals. Young
cattle Of aristccratic blood are max
ing their appearance OF the ranges all
of,h -, "'5NF u htl1 oIt sNtl " l'N
and too young to be seriously consid-
cred as equal 20 a place i'm the ole
supply.
The demand as represented by the
receipts in the four great markets of
the west is approximately 5000. 0C0 head
per annum. The demand has varied buC
slightly from year to year. the increase
In population apparently being provid-
ed for by the increased consumption Of
mutton and pork. The fact that the
outlook from a business standpoint Is
brighter than before in years: that al
lines of trade are active: hat the labor
ing men. the greatest meat consumers,
are all working and able to buy meat.
should warrant the assumption that the
demand for the coming year will at
least be as great as this ear. Reports
from the markets and country indicate
a less lumber of cattle in the feed lots
than at this time a year ago. Even
with a favorable season. the ranges of
the northwest can hardly supply as
many fat cattle next fall as during the
last fall. The tendency OF the fat cattle
market for the past year has been to
The advance has come slow
ly through much f~iuctuation. but II has
nevertheless come. and on the close OF
the present year the market appears in
more satisfactory condition than it has
at any time this year.
Under the above conditions we are
inclined to expect a continuation of
present prices on choice stock cattlee
with IN upward tendency i'm the spring
and fall. but the average price close
to present figures. The medium grades
should average about steady with a
tendency of common cattle. Indsr tie
light demand, to rather lower Jr'Ces.
but not much lower. as the scarcity Of
the choice cattle for the mex year at
least, will compel demand enough fer
tho cnnnmnn kinds IN icon thann fairly
active. Beef cattle should sell higi err
on all markets before spring. md this
Will have a tendency to strengthen the
stock cattle market.
The anxiety of the owners OF rom-
mon cattle to close out their belongings,
and the strong demand for choice cat-
tie. both for stockers and feed srs, is a
combination that may hold the mLrket
close TO present prices. but the ten
dency is undoubtedly higher.
There are many events that might oc-
cur which would materially change the
present situation, and this prediction
Is based entirely upon the continuance
of present conditions.
There is just n cloud on the horizon.
the effects OF which cannot be esti-
mated at this time. but which may
grow to proportions sufficient to mega
tive all that has been said above. That
Is a threatened shortage i'm the corn
supply. The great crops of 1896 and
1897 were directly responsible for the
great increase in the demand for stock
cattle. Under ordinary conditiol rs the
supply was large enough to have lasted
for several years. but the export de-
mand has been so unusually large that
the great visible supply has diminished
at an alarming rate. Should this ce-
mand continue. a strong advance in
corn prices should result. and iha 1--we
stock industry will be compel,ed to bear
the brunt of such an advance. Beef
will go higher. but the advance will be
absorbed by the farmers for their f. ed.
and the stockman will consider himself
lucky to ANITA the present prices.
The high price of feed. however. will
but emphasize the demand for choice
cattle. for while the amateur feel ~ will
quit the business. the professional feed
er will go in heavier. and as the pro-
fessional only wants the best cattle. the