The Goodland republic. [volume] (Goodland, Kan.) 1891-1907, 1903-12-18
GATLEMER SUFFER BIG LOSS
DECLINE IN CATTLE PRICES COST THEM
ELEVEN MILLIONS.
Loss Has Fallen Mainly on Western POr.
ton Of Stats,-8EOre Cattle Than
Last Year-Figures Show
Condition Of Things.

The extent to which the cattle indus
try in this state has suffered from the
manipulation Of the market by the pack
ing house trust will be demonstrated to
the agriculturists OF Kansas who meet
in Topeka in January by statistics which
have been collected by F. D. Coburn.
Although the number Of cattle other
than milk COWS now owned in Kansas, is
greater by 100000 than it was a year
ago, the value of cattle has decreased
until the cattleman's loss is represented
at nearly eleven million dollars. The
value of milk COWS has decreased with
the other markets and the loss to the
owners of milk COWS has been nearly
three million dollars.
The number Of cattle other than milk
COWS, owned in the state in 1902 was
2,555,SOO, and they were valued at $751;
339, 200, or S24 each. This year thenum-
Der of such cattle has been increased to
2,745,555, with total value of only S54,-
9i1,72O, or so each. This loss of 81 a
head. when multiplied by the number of
cattle now owned in the state, shows a
total loss to the farmers and stockmen
of s1O9S2344 In 1892 the number of
milk COWS In the state was 80, S44, with
a total value Of SO, 755, go, and this year
the number Of COWS has increased to
SO2, 73S, with a total value Of only ST.
675,926.
The loss to the cattlemen of the state
is greater than to the owners of any
other kind of stock. With the exception
Of decrease in the value Of hogs Of p
cents each, the prices Of other kinds of
stock have remained the same as they
were last year, or advanced. The num-
Der of hogs in the state was 1,427 ,3O2
with a total value Of 81, 775, pa. 80, or
SS.25 each. The number Of hogs in
creased this year to 1,TTO,5S5, with a
total valuation Of s14,164, $50. or a value
of So each. The total loss to owners of
hogs, by the depreciation in value, was
only $40, 646.25. The number Of sheep
increased from 136, 753 last year, with g
value Of s410,259, to 1904, with a value
Of SOL, 132. The average value OF the
animals was s. for each year.
The value of animals slaughtered or
sold for slaughter during this year was
s54,644, 272. Secretary Coburn has been
unable to get the numbers of each class
Of animals which were slaughtered, and
it is impossible to make an estimate of
what this amount would have been had
the price remained the same as it was a
year ago.
The feature Of the showing made by
the report is the fact that the depre-
citation Of eleven million dollars in the
value of cattle, other than milk COWS
falls on the western fourth of the state.
The greater percentage of such cattle
are owned by the stOckraisers who live
in that part Of the state. There are a
number Of stock and fat cattle owned
and fed IN the eastern part OF the state
but their number is small compared tC
the number kept on the ranges IN the
sparsely settled counties. The loss oil
three million dollars in the value Of mill
COWS falls on the dairymen in the east.
ern part Of the state, and in many In
stances the milk COWS represent only Z
small part Of the property of then
owners.