Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-04-16
The Raising Of Cattle for Beef.

The sudden and marked increase in
the price of beef, which is felt, this
morning, in our Augusta retail market,
has caused much comment all over the
country. The ready and natural as
sumption has been that the rise in the
price is due to the artificial and sell
fish Vaccinations of those who control
the major part of the trade in this
commodity. Corners in the necessl-
ties of life have not been unknown,
and probably in it's estimate Of the
close to tie truth of the matter. The
government also takes the same view
of it, and the strong arm of the law is
in operation to prevent the continued
success of the spectators.
Nevertheless, whatever the cause of
the present rise in the price of beef, it
is not to be denied that a great change
is taking place in the matter of Ameri
can beef production. The partial
failure of the corn crop, a shortage in
the number of hogs raised, the in
creased demand for beef due to the
exceptional prosperity of the working
classcs-there are reasons given by the
beef men for the present increased
sons may be sound. though neither
public nor encouragement are salts
fed that the whole truth is found in
them. But deeper and broader than
these reasons is another. This IS
found in the gradual change due to the
breaking up and disappearance of the
vast cattle ranges of the West, and
return to the older and more expensive
methods of raising cattle. a few years
ago the cowboy was monarch of the
great plains and beef production was
at What seemed the lowest limit of cost.
But civilization has touched the plains
with magic hand. The great ranches
have been cut up into farms and the
former feeding grounds are now wheat
fields. and are cut up with railroads.
highways and fences. The transforma-
zion is inexorable. There is no re-
action to the forward movement. Far
Their into the Northwest and the South
west have the old style cattle raisers
been forced and civilization is ever fol-
lowing at their heels. There will never
he a return to the old conditions.
There is every indication that the beef
caters must give up the half wild
steer of the open plains for the cattle
reared in fenced pastures and within
barns.
We believe that in this condition Of
things lies an suspicious opportunity
Cor the farmers of the East, the many
thousand energetic farmers of New
England and the Middle States who
have been mourning western competi-
ton for the past generation. They
have been unable to raise beef cattle
profitably in competition with the
great herds on the Western ranges.
That competition is now less than it
| was, and is fast waning forever. In
the West they are raising more and
more cattle within fenced enclosures,
and feeding them part of the year upon
products of the fields. Why cannot
the farmers of Maine and of all the
East meet such competition? Here we
have the pasture lands in abundance,
and corn and beets will grow as well
here as in the West and will produce
as good beef. There may be higher
taxa ton upon land. On the other hand
there is greater proximity to market
and an opportunity to use oxen in farm
| labor, a good old pactice much to be
commended.
1t is possible that such partial re-
adjustment of the sources of beef sup
| ply would mean a permanent increase
| in the price to the consumer. 1t would
not be great, however, and there would
be no danger of the price being forced
upward by a trust. There can be no
| trust where thousands of individual
farmers are supplying the market with
a commodity. We hope the farmers of
the East will not neglect the opportun-
ity that lies before them. The change
Will not come in year, but if our
farmers use foresight and judgment in
the matter there is good reason to hope
for renewed prosperity from this
source in our farming sections. 1t is a
good subject for the Oranges of Maine
to consider at their meetings.