The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1902-02-14

customer asking the prospects for the
market tomorrow, or Tor the near IutuTe,
could be able 70 wire an answer that
prices would be 50 and so. both eomEDis-
sion men and shipper would be cOnteEted
and sleep soundly.
From M experience Of over a quarter
Of = century IN the livestock trade, and
from trying 70 figure out what the future
would bring forth. Z have settled down 70
the conclusion that future values are gor-
eIned by the probable supply ana deTnassl,
TOT livestock or any otEer conTDerclai
product, cJuuled with cerIatn cO1CIt1OnS
which NAV permanently or temporarily
govern To make an intelligent guess CT
prices for the future. one should look
pack over the past, not Tor Wnat may
have been done in any one month or one
year, but Tor q series OF years taking
them as an average basis on which 10
make his calculations tor the future
Referring more particularly 70 live
stock, and those engaged IN that industry
they are the most hopeful CT any class OF
business nlen ] have ever met they locate
their farms and ranches engage snthus-
Iastlcally in the raising or livestock; they
have more or less hardshipS IN thorough
i establishing themselves on d paying
basis.
The beginner looks up TO the man who
has been in the business and who has
made q success. saying to himself. Some
day /, too. viii count my cattle on 4
thousand hills and live IN luxury and
ease. The successful old timer likes 10
tell the beginner OF his past successes.
when he drove MS many thousands or
cattle over the trail and disposed of them
AT a big profit; and his experience OF
esta blishing a big and profitable ranch
in the Indian and buffalo country These
stories Of the past create more energy ana
enthusiasm IN the breasts of many thOus-
ands who are now coming to the front as
producers Of livestock.
Cattle, horses, hogs, sheep or goats
never caused any one in this country to
If have Gepn
losses by handling such livestock. II has
been the fault of the owner caused, prob
aoly, by his trying to do too much with
what he had TO 10 with, getting excited
and paving too much for what ne bought
in the beginning. or bought too many 10
be properly cared for on the location he
had for them in all seasons of the year.
especially during severe seasons l have
found more losses caused by over-stock-
ing and a lack OF water. than have been
caused by a fall in prices.
W hile II IS true, prices at times seem
quite low. vet most OF those times were
brought about by individual and combined
over-stocking. In order TO get relief
from extreme losses large numbers are
rushed upon the market at time when
the market is in the poorest condition
Many desire 10 do more and more each
year, If successful one year. they want
TO double their holdings the following
year. and so on until they are doing so
much that they cannot to advantage
HGHulS IIlelT DuSlICSS, tlE-lCC iD1Stc Ati-
low. These losses are laid to a fault in
the battle business. if they are engaged in
that industry, when, in fact, it is purely
and simply the fault of the over-dcer.
4 venture the prediction that If the sug-
gestiOn which / have advanced are con-
sidered and strictly adhered TO, and this
Information combined with a practical
knowledge of handling and breeding. there
viii be very little IL any losses to those
engaged in the livestock industry. One
may rest assured as to what the prices
viii be tomorrow, next week. next month
or next year
Just at the present time there is a pros
pect of a short crop of fat animals for the
spring and early summer markets. L
have heard many say lately, that there
would be no beef. pork or mutton until
they were fatted on next summers grass.
or on the new crop of corn the coming
season, and that cattle. hogs or mutton
would go to extreme high prices. While
1 believe there will be good prices for al
fat animals yet do not think the average
quality of meat producing animals viii
go 10 extremely high prices. We must
remember this is a big country and live
stock is scattered nearly all over it. There
may be drouths and short crops in one
section and plenty of feed and fat ami
mails in another; or. at least, sufficient.
with other food products, TO supply the
wants of the people. Therefore l say TO
those engaged in tn elivestock industry.
at notime get excited but so ahead in the
even tenor of your way. basing your fu-
ture actions on past experience and from
what you may learn from others longer
in the business.