The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1899-02-18

I
The capacity of the yards is -, 600
cattle. 300. 000 hogs, so, 900 sheep and
:. 600 horses: and this was tested several
times during the year. The average pree
paid for hogs in May was "a. p and IN
December So. 40, the two months repre-
senting the highest and lowest quotations,
The average price paid for cattle per head
was s4s: calves, Sl2; hogs 80; sheep,
81. 80. aud horses $40. The average
weight Of cattle is reported at about ,0s4
pounds; hogs 233 pounds, and sheep 50
pounds.
The common belief that horses are no
longer good property is discounted by the
fact that 6. 600 more horses arrived and
were sold at the Union stock yards than
in any previous year, and that an average
price Of $40 was received for them. Part
of this increase Is accounted for, of course,
BY the Spanish American war and the de-
mand for cavalry horses created By 1t. But
leaving the war demand QUE Of eonsldera-
ton the general tenor of the horse market
was exceedingly healthy in 1898, and
prominent horse dealers are Of the opinion
that 1899 viii be the banner year for
medium priced. well-bred animals
The reoeip, of 5000, 000 hogs in one
market in the course Of single gear l.
nothing short Of phenomenal But siilI
more surprising is the circumstance thas
each animal sold for So, price which
should leave a profitable margin for the
farmer and stock raiser.
In the sheep section OF the yards there
has recently been erected a complete DIP
aud pool. whose work Is conducted under
the control of the government and done
under the direct supervision Of government,
agents. Five hundred thousand sheep
have been dipped up TO January /, 1899,
and all danger from ticks has been effec-
lively removed.
Gratifying as this showing must be to
the farmers Of the central, western and
southern states, they must be still more
pleased with the predictions Of the leading
Chicago grain and livestock operators TO
the effect that while the speculative market
viii be duh all through 1899 there viii b.
steady cash demand for all kinds Of grain
and stock
The export trade, which has become an
important feature Of the produce market,
viii eonsume all the surplus products Of
American farms for at least another twelve
month at prices that should be satisfactory
even to the chronic kicker.
American diplomacy has been iustru-
mental in persuading a number Of Euro
pean governments that western meats are
Dot only wholesome, but superior to the
home article In some instances persua-
sion had TO take the form Of threats Of re-
taliation, but the result in every case has
been victory for the American hog and
eorn-fed cattle American grain Is des-
tined to be used in Europe for some time
to come, as the year Russian and Indian
wheat crops do not promise good yield
Altogether it looks As if the American
farmer had entered upon an era Of fat
years and prosperity extraordinary. IL
may, however, be permissible to add that
much of his prosperity viii depend upon
the grain and produce merchants of our
large cities who know how to control for
eign markets for the benefit of american
producers. Chief among these great in
ternational commercial agencies is the Chi
cago board Of trade, whose members han
die more grain than the merchants of all
other western cities combined. Hence
upon the judgment, wisdom and disinter-
estedness of these men must, in large
measure, rest the peeuniary welfare Of
every tiller of the soil And that Is an
other reason why producer and dealer
should come closer together instead of per
hitting themselves to drift apart. Their
interests are mutual, whatever demagogues
may say to the contrary.