The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-08-30
Decrease in Value Of Live Stock
Is Over 80, SOC, 900.
Secretary Coburn Attributes It
to Shortage Of Corn.
ISSUES A NEW REPORT.
Shows How Farmers Sacrificed
Their Cattle.
Milk Cows Show Less Decrease
Than Other Stock.

The unfavorable weather during a
part of the summer of 1901 and it's ac-
companying temporary inconvenience
have been forgotten by the majority of
Kansans, but the folly of the untimely
haste at that time IN disposing of mucn
valuable breeding and other stock at
unjustifiable sacrifices before checked by
the turn for the better, is reflected by
the states livestock statistics gathered
by assessors for the year ending March.
1902, returned to the state board of agri-
culture.
To the conditions suggested may be
largely attributed the decrease in the
aggregate value of animals slaughtered
or sold for that purpose, amounting to
over 91z million dollars, or about 16 per
cent, and also the decrease shown in the
numbers of the various animals, except
mules and asses. OF course the short
age of corn in 1901. especially In the live
stock and meat-producing region OF the
central west seriously curtailed the
business of fattening stock for the
SHAMELESS For swine probably more
ration when on full feed; its scarcity
and high price, and fewer granted cat
tie for them to follow during the last
half of the year apparently caused
tendency to sell off swine more closely
than other livestock This is confirmed
by the statistics, swine showing tie
largest percentage of decrease in num-
bers, viz: over go per cent, or nearly
6S7 900 head. The total number reported
on hand in March, 1902, was ], 427, 309
against 2,114, 201 the previous year.
The decrease is confined to no par
ticular part of the state, but occurs in
a greater or less degree in practically
every county. 1t is a noticeable coin
cident that many of the foremost corn
counties are among those sustaining
the heaviest decreases. For instance.
Jewell has less swine than one year ago
by nearly 40 per cent, or $1,000 head,
Nov no h.
Washington, 81 per cent, or 81 ,235 head,
Nemaha. IA per cent, or 5000 head; Re-
public, 40 per cent. or 3,a26 head;
Smith. 40 per cent, or 1000 head; Nor
lips, 81 per cent, or s.s7s head: and
Brown, IL per cent, or 4,746 head: all
adjoining counties in the northern tier.
Reno, Sedgwick. Butler. Cowley, Sum-
mier corn counties in the southern part
Of the state. each show heavy de-
crease. Over Al per cent. of the states
decrease is in these Is counties. Wash
ington county reports the largest falling
Off in numbers, or 1925, and Norton
probably the largest percentage of loss.
about TO- Nenaha has the most hogs,
$4,000 head, and Morton the fewest, Sc.
Cattle other than mich cows have de-
creased "a per cent, or 60. 705 head, leav-
ing the total number 1850, $50. AS shown
by the records, this year and last are the
only times other cattle reached the two
and half million mark, and notwith-
standing the decrease this years num-
Der is the largest ever reported, save
1901 Ninety-six counties each have TO-
900 head or more. ranging from 1921 in
Stevens to 1854 in Butler. although the
latter has less by $4,000 head, which
is the heaviest decrease reported for any
one county Forty-eight counties show
increases, the largest beng 1882 in Chey-
enne, and the smallest 40, in Decatur.
Including the mich cows the state has
3.341 97S cattle
Mich cows show less loss than any
other live stock, or 12,154; this is prob
ably owing to the greater abundance of
milk-producing feeds, such as alfalfa
and brans from wheat, and the excel
lence of the modern Kansas dairy herds
the elimination doubtless having been
only of the inferior animals, unprof1t-
able, If at all, at times when feeds rule
high in price Also many owners were
in measure obligated to furnish cream
cries with milk supply, the fulfill
n1ent Of which required that the number
of their cows be not depleted. and per-
haps actually increased, even If the
owners might have been for time
otherwise inclined. Thus it is that the
best dairy herds were maintained in
tact and their owners. are now enjoy
ing increased profits as a result. AS
matter of fact, so counties show an in
crease in the number of mich COWS,
aggregating 31.010. among which are
Cowley, with a gain tthe largest) of L.
9Ss head. Labette 1.7e5. Pawnee 1887.
Sumner 1.614, Rocks /. 46o Atchison 1876,
Decatur 1,243, and Lincoln 1,130 The
total number for the state March 1 was
$4,000 Thirty-eight counties. with one
or two exceptions, all in the western
half of the state, each have 10000 head
or more; six having over $1,000 each,
ranging to 17.051, the highest number,
in Sedgwick, and the smallest is 1876 in
Morton Even with the loss sustained