The Kalispell bee. [volume] (Kalispell, Mont.) 1900-192?, 1902-11-21

ing of the season to the close, a rec
ord top price for range beeves has
been made, the extreme season top
having been made in October, when
$40 was paid for a load of prime
1,423 pound steers, sold to GO to the
eastern trade at that figure, which
stands as the record top price for
range cattle in the history of the
market. During the season num-
Der of loads of straight range cattle
were bought for the famous Faneuell
hall market of Boston and, be it I'M
derstood that no market in the east
is more exacting in its demands for
weight, fat and quality of its beef
than is this same market that stands
on such historical ground. The high
est compliment that can be paid to
the range men OF the west is that
they can produce a steer on their
ranges that, without a corn finish,
can meet the demands of the Boston
trade.
Range cattle prices have not only
year, but they have been more uni
form than has been the case in the
market for native cattle. While the
last few weeks have seen values on
all classes than native beef cattle
subjected to violent fluctuations, with
the level of prices now fully $3.50 to
81 lower than in August it is note
worthy that for the entire season the
market variations on the rangers
have hardly exceeded SO cents.
The cattle have been uniformly
good throughout the season and only
limited proportion of them have
lacked flesh enough to be attractive
to the beef trade. Where they were
lacking in fat, but of quality to be at
tractive to feeder buyers, there has
been ready market for them to be
finished on corn in the feed lots. The
breeding up process that has been
going on in the range countries dur
ing the past few years has been
plainly visible In the cattle marketed,
and many of the large feeders, espe-
cially in corn states, now prefer the
| range steers for their feed lots. So
much so has this been the case this
| season that We have frequently seen
| the feeder trade here stagnated and
over supplied with native stock cat
tie, when at the same time range
| feeders have been free sellers.
Prices for range feeders have
| ranged largely between 81 and $3.50,
with not few choice lots making
| $4,75 and occasional lots of extra
! choice around SIS.
AS with steers, the range COWS and
| heifers have been good sellers, ana
prices have ruled uniformly higher
than in previous years tops selling
at $5.75 this year against $3.50 last
year, S. two years ago, $4.S5 in 1899,
! and reference to the table Of high
low and bulk of prices given below
will show that the seasons prices
have averaged much higher than in
former years.
The total supply of range cattle fol
the season will aggregate close tC
100000, practically double the mum
Der received last year, the largest
since 1895, which was the banner
year. with record of 430,526, and
only in three other years, 1894, 1898
and 1891, have the arrivals from the
ranges exceeded those of this year.
While there have been some dis
appointments, on the whole the ranch
men are to be congratulated that
they have had a generally prosperous
season. They are also to be con
graduated that by the process of in
fusing better blood into their herds
thew are now producing a class Of
cattle that, when fat, take high
place in beef markets, and when sem
to market in thin flesh are shown {
preference by big feeders, who have
learned in recent vars to prefer then
to native bred steers for finishing OF
corn.
The highest price ever paid TO
range cattle was paid this year
$7.40. The lowest price this year wa,
1928. The highest price last yea
was $5.75. This year 100000 rang
cattle were received at Chicago
while last year only 14O,47S were re
ceived.
Do1;r,o1I d o,+o,aou+ 49, .1.avI =,