The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-01-17
Figures for Cattle Growers.

Much interest naturally centers
around the forthcoming Official figures
of the government concerning the
cattle supplies of the country during
the calendar year 1898 and their COM
parison with records Of previous years.
The returns of the department of ag-
riculture of cattle of all kinds in the
United States Jan. l, 1885, showed the
number to be 45,1O5. 0S3, against 46, 45O,-
135 Jan. l, 1897; with a record Of 49,
222 995 Jan. l, 1896, and 80, SOS, S45 Jan.
j, 1895. At the beginning of 1898, hence
there were l,345, O52 less than at the
same date Of 1897; 3,117,91 less than
1895; and 5,76S, 762 less than in 1895.
This shrinkage during the period of
three years was gravely regarded
among live stock dealers at the opening
of 1898. And now the figures thus far
made up show that the number of
cattle sold during the year 1898 at the
four principal stoclyards of the West,
namely, Chicago Kansas City, South
Omaha and East st. Louis, fell short
more than 235, 900 head as compared
with the record of 1897. According to
figures recently published, the decline
On numbers received at Chicago ap-
preached $4,000 head; at Kansas City,
$4,000, and st. Louis. 104, 900, as COM
pared with 1897, although in the case
OF Chicago. so far as value of cattle
marketed was concerned, the total ex-
ceeded that of any year since 1893
With respect to loss in receipts, the
excuse is advanced in some directions
that the competition in packing plants
located at points farther West has had
the effect of depicting the records of
sales at Chicago, and doubt is express
ed whether the receipts of cattle at
that center will ever attain to the mag
nitude of former years. This is prob
ably a correct theory, but unless the
figures stated above are inaccurate, the
los SEES at Kansas City and at St
Louis must give positive support to the
belief that a decided shrinkage in cat
tie supplies generally viii be revealed
when the completed census Is officially
announced. The receipts of cattle at
Omaha, as we'll as at st. Paul have
been larger during 1898 than in 1897.
while Sioux City has unquestionabIy
absorbed a fair proportion of stock
that might otherwise have found its
way TO Chicago; but this proportion of
Increase, though locally gratifying, is
comparatively small.
But the situation brings out more
and more clearly the truth, so often
pointed to in the columns of The
u o b E, that the days of the cattle
range with all its splendor of product
and profit are departing, never again
to return. And whatever may appear
in the way of shrinkage will be in a
large measure due to the cleaning up
of ranges and the winding up of the
affairs of their owners
Meanwhile the fact cannot be too
strongly accentuated among the farm
ers of the Northwest that by the grad
nal disappearance of the herds on the
ranges and, later. through the contrac-
ton Of ranches under the influence of
the advancing tide OF settlement, the
breeding and growing of beef grades of
cattle viii prove a profitable industry
for the furnishing of the constantly in
creasing demand. While the popula-
ton of the country is increasing, the
sources whence must be drawn the
fresh meat supply are being more and
Elore contracted. The multiplication of
markets must have the effect of de-
centralizing the one or two great CEN
tiers of the past, and this is a whole
some condition. The time is not far
distant when Chicago can no longer
dictate the prices that shall be paid
In st. Louis or Omaha or st. Paul. for
instance.
Texas has for many years been sort
OF nursery for young cattle which
driven or shipped to the Western and
Northern sections in the spring for fat
teTins, We're thence forwarded directly.
from the ranges to the markets in the
early autumn. But here again decay in
tho industry has for several years been
visible. Grouping, for instance. the
Southern cattle area within the bound
aries Of Texas. Louisiana, Oklahoma
Arkansas and Mississippi, we find that
on Jan. |. 1898, this area possessed T.
520.167; jan. 1, 1897, S04S, OPS; Jan. /. 1896
S,55S, 21i; IAN. /. 1895. 1855, 1855. Tins on
Jar. 1, 1SaS the territory above de-
seribed--aHd large proportion of It
embracing what may he styled the
young cattle stock nursery-possessed
2,046,e99 head less than at the begin
mag os 1895. and following the years
of gradual shrinkage, j,23So44 less than
in 1895. and 727,S5S less even than in
1897. When the number was 1.sfS,S41 he
low that of Jan. l, 1895. These are sig
nilcant figures, and their further sig
nifcance must be apparent when the