The Dickinson press., 1901-11-30

years ago.
While the supply has hardly been up
that Of former years there has beeh:a
proportion of beef cattle and
prices have ruled higher, but partly: be-
they were of better quality, each
year showing the beneficial effects Of
better breeding. The top price made |
for range cattle was $5.75. paid onFOct.
9th to Geo. Harkins of Dickinson, N. D.,
for 4 lot of l476lb steers. this being the
highest price for range cattle since 1884.
The offerings have included fewer cat
tie of the feeder class, for three reasons,
to-wit: Drouth in the corn belt shutting
off demand for feeders; good ranges and
confidence in the future Of the range
cattle business; low prices, which made
cattle worth more on the ranges than on
the market. So, at the same time that
beef cattle have been selling at higher
prices than last year the cattle Of feeder
grade that have been sent in have had
to 60 for beef and Gamer purposes at
very low prices comparatively, few Of
the range cattle haying been bought for
corn feeding. With these conditions on
the market and range men seeing that
the wide spread drouth in the corr states
meant a shortage Of fat corr cattle a year
hence they have trusted to favorable
winter, and with plenty of feed in sight
have held back many cattle that other.
wise would have been sent forward to 60
into the large feed lots of men who have
made a profitable business Of feeding out
the range cattle on corn.
The top monthly averages of prices
received are higher than for any year
since 1896, the extreme top being high
est since 1894. The range man is to- be
congratulated that he has been able to
market his fat cattle at such good prices
at the same time holding back the
the bulk of thin cattle on prospects that
are full of radiant encouragement.
As to the conditions prevalent in the
range country it is noted that early in
the season fewer Texas and New Mexi-
can cattle than usual were taken north.
There were w reasons for this: First,
dry weather and short grass during the
early spring months in the range coun.
try; second, Texas owners were not will
ing to shade prices to the extent de-
handed by the northern men.
Later in the season, after good rains
had assured plenty of grass in all the
great expanse of range extending over
Wyoming, Montana and the Dakotas
there was a movement of southern cattle
to the northern ranges. Still later in the
summer and fall unusually large mum.
bers of thin cattle from Kansas, Missouri,
Iowa, Minnesota and other states where
drouth had played havoc with pasturage
and corn prospects, were taken into the
range country. And so, while it looked
early as if the range would be lightly
supplied with cattle, there was after all
a heavy supply put on; in fact, many
more than last year.
Furthermore, money was easy and
range men were thus enabled to take ad.
vantage of the situation and did not
ship out as closely as they otherwise
would and many cattle that under a
money stringency would have been
shipped, have been held back.
When it is considered that d good
many young cattle we're put on the north
ern ranges in 1899 and 1900 and adding
the large number that unusual conditions
in the orn belt forced to the ranges at
low prices it is easily seen that all that
is needed to make a fair run of range
cattle in 1907 Is a fair winter. The cat
tie are certainly going into winter under
favorable and encouraging conditions,
they are in good conditions at present
and. from the whole range country water
and grass are reported in abundance
and, o than ever before, the range
man has been paying attention to putting
up hay to tide his stock through in case
of unusual SHOWS and severe weather.
The range man is to be congratulated
upon the good prices he has realized for
the cattle he has sold, and the favorable
conditions under which he has been IN.
abled to put on young cattle.-Live
Stock World.