The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1899-09-24

The past week has seen a heavy traf-
fic in livestock throughout the state.
The railroads have been doing a very
large business in the matter Of trans
porting stock to the eastern markets.
1t is impossible to get at the number of
cars that have been shipped, for the
reason that some of the roads, follow~
ing the conservative principle upon
which they are operated. refuse to give
out the number of cars that they have
handled.
Not only has the past week shown
that there has been a great export busi-
ness from the state, but it has also de-
veloped the fact that many cattle have
been bought and brought into Utah.
Many if not all OF these may be said
to be transient, as they have been pur-
chased by large dealers as speculations,
and viii be sent to the markets when in
condition.
just at present there is the greatest
kind of activity in sheep. The cattle
market, however, IS beginning to look
up, but at present it is a little early,
and the livestock men have been devot-
ing their time to the handling Of sheep.
Good Sheep Deal.
Last week John S. Houtz of Ogden
sold l 600 2-year-old ewes to Mr. Ben
nien of Taylorsville for Sc per head.
This is one of the most profitable deals
that has been made in sheep. Iney
were merinos and were purchased by
Mr.. Houtz some time ago under most
favorable conditions for a mere song.
He realized, on the deal several thou
sand dollars. The sheep were in, the very
best Of condition and hence commanded
the top of the market in the matter of
price. When they were originally pur-
chased they are said to have been in
any but a marketable condition, but
MIR. Houtz, who is an experienced stock
man, gave them his attention, and
hence such satisfactory results. The
flock was originally purchased for the
purpose of raising merino rams.
In support Of the statement that the
past week has seen a very heavy traf-
fc in the transportation of sheep to
market, John Edwards of Rawlins,
Wyo., loaded from that point {, 400 ewes
for Granger, and 1000 lambs, which
were consigned to Evans-Snider-B uel
company. The latter were shipped to
the eastern markets. The ewes are said
to have been purchased for breeding
purposes. A livestock man, in speaking
OF the consignment of lambs, said that
they were in excellent condition and
brought a top price on the market, but
what this was could not be learned.
He also stated that it only served to
show that there had been a change in
the sheep business during the past
three years that was not thought of
some years ago. Several years ago,
while the market was kept supplied,
lambs were raised more for wool than
some years ago. Today lambs are being
bred as much is not more for the mar
lot 4l,or hax 1xr- roE
years ago, while the market was kept
supplied, lambs were raised more for
wool than for market purposes.
Another Big Shipment.
Another shipment of the week to the
eastern markets was made by Rathbun
& Miles Of Salt Lake. They loaded
twenty cars out of Kemmerer on We'd
nesday. The sheep are said to have
been in fine condition and was one OF
the best consignments shipped east
during the week. Charles Rathbun on
Tuesday purchased 5000 ewes at Black
foot, Ida, for range purposes. The
price paid is a secret. The sheep were
bought as a speculation and will, so it
IS said, constitute one of the early ship
ments next season. They will be fed
this winter and bred for lambs. Mr..
Rathbun, who is an experienced stock
man, is said to be one of the best han
dlers of sheep in the state, and certain
ly one of the shrewdest spectators in
livestock now operating upon the west
ern market.
Bodily Brothers of Franklin, Ida, last
week loaded twenty-eight cars of lambs
at Soda Springs for the eastern mar
kets. ]. Nj. Jensen and son of Brigham
City also had a trainload of sheep on
the market last week. The number
shipped could not be learned, but it is
said to have been a. large one, and the
sheep are reported to have been in fine
condition.
Beckstead Brothers of Riverton load
ed fifteen cars of lambs on Tuesday out
of Evanston for the markets of the
east. This makes Zoe cars this season
for this firm alone, who have been
doing a very large and satisfactory
business.
Better Horse Market.
OF late there has been a decided i'm.
proVement in the. horse market ONLY
last Sunday The Herald published the
fact that ], 200 head of horses had been
handled at the Union stock yards. They
We're being shipped to Omaha and Kan
sas City. One prominent general
freight agent of Salt Lake City. in
speaking of the Improvement in the |
horse market. said:
'',rhe western horses have never been
in better condition than they are now,
and there is good, steady and firm
demand for them. They are wanted
in the great middle west for farming
purposes, and many of them are being
sold in the eastern cities for draft pur-
poses. The past summer has seen the |
shipment over my road alone of 1900 |
head Of western range horses. This I
should certainly prove the market is in |
a most healthy condition. One reason |
for it is, / believe, because there has |
been a decided lull in the demand for |
horses for several years, and young AMI |
mails are needed to supply the place Of |
the ones that have died o. are no longer |
fit for use. Several years ago there |
was the greatest activity in the horse !
market and it was flooded, so to speak.
with the result that there was bound to |
follow a reaction. / look for the mar |
ket to continue steady and improve"
General Livestock Conditions.
A gentleman. who is well posted on |
the livestock market, in talking of the |
general conditions Of the market, said |
TO a Herald reporter:
THE traffic just now is in sheep, but |
the cattle are beginning to move. The
grass fat cattle are not ready just yet /
They are still upon the ranges, but are
being rounded UP for shipment to mar
ket. Cattle viii be short this year, as
compared with last season. This will |
cause the market to remain firm and
active. The reason OF the shortness is
that the ranches were emf close laSt