Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1899-01-31
The Report Of the Territorial Cattle Sanitary
Board,


board to Governor Otero for the period
beginning January /, 1898, and ending
January l. 1899, is one of the most in
teresting reports which has yet been
presented to the executive, for the rea-
son hat it deals with one of the fore
most industries of the territory, in a
clear amer.
The report begins with the statement
demand for all classes of cattle, many
entire stocks being bought for removal
from the territory. This movement,
however, was checked by the breaking
out of the war with Spain, and has not
| yet recovered it's full strength. During
September and October there was con
siderable inquiry for well-graded cat
tie, but as nearly all of that class in
New Mexico had been contracted for
there was not much briskness in the
movement, there being no encouraging
outcome to feeding grain to Indifferent
cattle at the prevailing prices for feed.
This condition of the cattle situation
resulted in the lessening of the shipping
of cattle from New Mexico by about
10000, as compared with the previous
year.
The board does not place much Gre
dence in the views which have been ex-
pressed, that the shortage in cattle as
claimed does not exist" and thinks for
| the season just opening there will be a
! strong demand for well-graded 2-year-
old steers, and that all such stock can
and will be marketed at satisfactory
prices, and that so soon as the inferior
animals now being fed in the cor
growing states have been disposed of
the usual demand for native cattle will
return. In this connection the report
says: Neither does it seem needful for
New Mexico cattlemen to be very much
distressed over the situation; there will
be a market for all the good cattle they
a produce for many years to come,
and all who are up to date are now
breeding their herds up to compete with
the best from anywhere"
During the year 1898 the territory was
free from cattle diseases, and sustained
her reputation of the past for healthy
herds. AT the altitude of New Mexico
the insect pests and other ailments in
cident to lower levels do not exist, and
exotic diseases, when introduced, have
have never been able to gain a foothold.
ported and the prospects for abundant
feed for 1899 are splendid. The one
thing with which cattlemen have had
to contend with has been the depreda-
tons Of wolves, from which young stock
of all kinds has suffered in no inconse-
quential tanner, and the report says:
1T is a vital question to the stockman,
and affecting the chief interests of the
territory, and those from which its
greatest revenue is derived, is deserving
of the attention of the legislature"
The board has paid special attention
to the operation of cattle thieves, and
has succeeded in arresting and con-
victing several of these gentry. during
the veal 725 head of stolen cattle were
recovered, some of which have been re-
turned to the owners and others have
been sold. The owners of cattle
which were stolen and have
not been paid for the same, will be no.
tifad NV tho nubIioot;op ~ n c+ra1, lief
The reason that some cattle have not
been returned to the owners is that the
brands were so badly burned that they
could not be deciphered.
Since the law of 1891 went into effect
the number of cattle which have been
sent out of the territory and slaughter
ed for home consumption is 1888, 593.
OF that number 100, 5SS were used
in supplying home consumption.
Figuring the value of those disposed Of
from 1891 to 1897 at $40 per head, they
produced, in round numbers, $13, 500, 900,
and those for the past two years at our
| rent values, not less than 81, 900, 900, a
total for the eight years of $24, 800, 900.
The receipts of the board for the year
| from all sources were $40, 432,01; ex-
penditures, ST., 079.90 leaving a balance
in the hands Of the treasurer Of 81, 1852. IL.
There are 10 inspectors in the employ
Of the board, and five deputy inspectors.
| The membership Of the board Is: w. II.
Jack, of Silver City, president; J. A.
| La Rue, of Las Vegas, secretary; j.. F.
Hinkle, Lower Penasco; F. ]. Otero,
Albuquerque: T. Z. Mitchell, Clayton,
and M. N. Chaffin, Las Vegas.