The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1901-11-08
BEEF SUPPLY
Is THREATENED
Enormous Decrease In the Mum.
Der of Cattle.
FABULOUS PRICES IMMINENT
CAUSE Is CONTRACTION OF
WESTERN GRAZING LANDS.

Chicago, Nov. According to informa-
ton received at the headquarters of the
National Livestock association in this
city, congress will have the western pub
lie land situation brought to its attention
this winter in a new and startling man
ner 4 number of prominent cattlemen
Of the west. who have been quietly inVes-
ugatiCg, are prepared TO show that dur
ing the past five years there has been
an enormous CecTease in the number of
cattle ia this country, a decrease which
seriously threatens the beef food supply,
and that unless speedy action be taken
by congress, in the course of a very few
years beer viii be selling at such fabulous
prices that only the wealthy can afford 10
indulge in the luxury of d beefsteak
The cause of this rapid decline in the
number of beef cattle is said TO be due
solely to the contraction OF the western
public grazing lands and the increase in
the cOnsumptlVe demand The rapid set
Jlement OF the west has caused the
ranges left to become crowded and TINS
crowded condition mas prevented the re-
seeding Of grasses, and consequently mil
lions of acres of once good pasture have
been turned into absolute deserts.
Most OF the large herds have been dis
persed and slaughtered. and the bulk of
the cattle supply is now being furnished
by the small stockmen, but the evolution
from the large herds on the open range
to the small herds in pastures is too slow,
owing to unfavOrable land conditions, and
where a few years ago the markets We're
supplied with cattle 4, and years old,
even yearlings are being slaughtered to
make UP the supply OF beef.
Remedies are Suggested.
The stockmen assert that the unfavor-
able methods of administering the public
lands OF the west are back of the threat
ened shortage, and at the coming nation
al convention in Chicago next month an
effort viii be made to throw the whole
matter into congress and ask that a COM
mission be appointed with expert assist
ance TO investigate and devise plans for
relieving the situation.
The stockmen in the National associa-
ton have been striving Tor several years
to devise some plan Tor amending the
land laws that would remedy existing
evils, but have been unable to agree.
One faction is in favor of leasing the
lands by the government another wants
the land ceded TO the states, and another
wants the laws left as they are and irri-
cation work continued to redeem the
lands.
AS a compromise for ali it is now pro-
posed TO have congress take charge of
the whole matter through a commission,
and, after Investigation. take such ac-
ton as viii tend to stop the waste and
destruction now going on and encourage
the establishment Of small stock farms.
The plan VIII also recommend govern
ment aid in building storage reservoirs
on the ranges near headwaters of the
streams.
The biz packers admit that there has
been a decrease in the visible supply of
cattle during the past five wears and
they are looking forward to higher prices
in the near future They say the people
will be forced to eat mutton instead Of
beef. though even mutton viii probably
become scarce later ON, as the same con-
ditions that are diminishing the beef sup
ply viii also affect the sheep supply.