The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1899-01-08
THE cATTEEMEN'S CONVENTION.


NNE of the most notable industrial conventions
to be held in the United States during the
| present month is that of the cattlemen al
! Denver. The meeting has been looked forward to
with considerable interest only by stock-ralsers
but by meat-packers in all parts OF the country, and
the results of the discussions promise to be OF great
value
The convention will be one OF more than ordinary
importance to California Our cattle industry large
and have therefore, great interests to be affected
BY what may be done at the meeting. 1t is probable
something may be accomplished there to assist in re-
lieving the industry in this State OF the handicap that
intcrieres with its advancement and thus tend to
make it more profitable than it has been for some
time past.
The drought which prevailed during the past sum
ner had the effect of forciby impressing upon the
cattlemen of the State the need OF better system OF
cattle quarantine. The existing laws grossly in
adequate to the needs OF the industry In his recent
message to the Legislature Governor Budd earnestly
recommended this subject deserving consdera-
ton during the present session Referring to the dis
astrous experiences of the past season and the work
done by the State officials to remedy the evil he
said:
The Department OF Agriculture has relieved our
condition Its agents, with those OF the State, have
worked diligently. The quarantine lines, to meet the
varying conditions, have been changed but we nave
proper laws to protect these lines During the dry
season l was compelled to appeal to the Governors
OF other States for permission to transport and iced
inspected cattle in their States Had the cattemen
OF California seen the necessity for action in this mat
ter sooner and aided the efforts of the executive to
cure the passage of proper law as recommended,
they would not have suffered severely during the
last dry season.
Upon this showing Governor Budd added the very
pertinent comment: ct may peculiar that a
State which has spent agricultural societies within
few years $Io5422o should not have on the statute
books proper law protect its cattle horses sheep
other animals fowls yet such is the fact, and
under the law public funds cannot be directly used for
such protection.
The convention at Denver will OF course devote it
self to far wider considerations than those of State
quarantine laws and yet may devise plans that will
basis The principal theme OF the convention will be
of course the general outlook of the industry for it
is certain that the conditions which once made it so
profitable rapidly changing. The old days when
ranges rich in grasses and we'll supplied with water
were abundant have gone by. Catte-raising is no
longer the simple and easy task it comparatively
few years ago.
Good ranges are now limited. Considerable risks
attend the industry, and science capital and careful
foresight are necessary to make it profitable. The
cattlemen have new set OF problems to solve, and
the convention will have lack of subjects to dis
cuss 1t is to be hoped the meeting will result in the
formulation OF plans that when carried out will prove
beneficial to the industry throughout the whole cattle
raising region OF the Great West