Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1899-02-20
WILL BE 3s PER CENT IN SOME OF
THE NORTHERN STATES.
OPINION OF E. F. MITCHELL
HE SPEAKS FROM A THOROUGH
KNOWLEDGE OF THE SITUATION.
Declares That Prices VIII Advance
and That kansas City VIII Soon
Become the Greateat Cattle
Market in the
World.

=. F. Mitchell. who has been identified
with the cattle industry OF this country
for many years. and who Is probably one
of the best authorities concerning trade
conditions. was in the city yesterday. Mr..
Mitchell has recently attended cattlemen's
conventions in Denver. Fort Worth. Tex.
and Woodward. Q. T. He has talked with
cattle growers from all sections. and has
been able to learn the present condition of
the business probably better than any
other person.
Il have been personally interested in in
vestigating the prospects for the trade"
said Mr.. Mitchell yesterday. Il have talk
ed with representative cattlemen from
every state from the Gulf to the lakes. and
am in a position to state positively that
the loss to stock as a result OF the recent
blizzard will reach 80 per cent in some
of the Northern states.
I'm this part of the country the tempera-
ture ranged as low as 90 degrees below
zero. In Utah. Colorado. Wyoming and
Oregon the cold was SO intense that the
stock on the range was compelled to wan
der on the prairies fifteen or sixteen days
without water. unless the ranchmen were
able to cut the ice. AS a result, the stock
which survived was left in poor condition
and the animals are now very thin. A
friend Of mine whom I saw in Colorado
Springs few days ago told me Of one in
stance where the blizzard killed 5000 sheep
out Of a herd of over 10000 in one night.
In many instances the animals drifted with
the storm until they piled up against
fences and died by the thousands. How
ever, the losses to stock in Texas and the
South have been greatly overestimated. 1
am certain that the loss will not exceed
per cent up to date.
'Of course it must be remembered that
the animals are very poor and thin as a re-
suit Of the last cold snap, and they will
have to bear the March storms and the
dreaded heel fly. an insect which annoys
the cattle SO much that they become
stampeded and nothing on earth can stop
them from running until they drop dead
from exhaustion. On the whole, l am safe
in stating that the average loss to stock
from the Rio Grande to the Canadian pos
sessions will be about 20 per cent.
Prices Will Advance.
"You ask me my opinion regarding the
prospects for increase of prices Of cattle on
the range. From all indications there is
no doubt but that there is every chance
for prices to increase steadily from now
up to several years in the future. 1 do not
see how the prices of cattle can be lower.
Take for instance the several facts con-
nected with the influences which control
prices. The number of range cattle which
was marketed last year. at the four lead
ing markets of the world. Chicago. Kansas
City, st. Louis and Omaha, was 1888 less
than the preceding year. The majority Of
cattle sold were under years old. There
has been a perceptible increase in the meat
eating population Of this country within
the past year, as we are now shipping to
the Philippines, Cuba and other new possess
sions. Less than ten years ago there were
M head of cattle. hogs and sheep for every
100 persons in this country. There are less
than III head for each 100 at the present
time.
"From four to five years will be required
to restore the conditions which existed ten
years ago. Another reason why the trend
Of prices will be upward is that the South
ern ranchmen are not compelled to market
their stock just now as the bankers have
agreed to extend all loans where the Sc
curity will warrant such an action, until
the owners of the stock are ready to go
to market. There will be q great influx
Of Northern buyers into the Southern field
because their Northern ranges will have
to be restocked. All careful observers pre-
dict a bright future for the catuemen and
a lively market for several years.
kansas City will be the greatest market
in the world within a few years. as 1t is
the natural outlet for the great Southwest.
Chicago is gradually losing its prestige as a
market, and this point is possessed OF every
natural advantage to become the leader"