Omaha daily bee., 1903-01-01
OVER One MILLION CATTLE
South Omaha Live Stock Market Shows
Rapid Growth for the Year.
HIGH PRICES ONE OF LEADING FEATURES
Local Demand from Packers sumcient
to Handle Receipts of Fat stock,
Almost Nothing Being For
warded to Eastern Points.

Soutn OWanAs growth as 4 live stock
center has been something phenomenal
during the year 1902. 1t may safely be
said that not since the stock yards we're
established has the development been more
pronounced than during the last year. For
the hrst time the receipts of cattle have
passed the 1000. 900 mark. which is an
increase over last years receipts amount
ing to about 19O. 900 head. In the sheep
division there has also been an enormous
gain, as the increase for the year amounts
to over $4,000 head. In hogs, there has
been a falling or in supplies. as we'll as at
all other points. The reasons most gem
orally given for the decrease are the short
corn crop and the high prices OF 1901.
Prices were not nearly as high then as
they have been since, but they looked high
as compared with those that had been paid
previous to that time. As a result farmers
sold on their stock very closely to take
advantage Of the high prices. which they
thought could not last. The same causes
were at work during 1909, and as a result
production has been materially reduced.
Cholera In most sections has not been more
prevalent than usual.
1t Is also interesting to note that the
combined receipts Of cattle, hogs and sheep
for the year amount to over 5000, 900
head, or almost double the receipts Of ten
years ago.
Market for Fancy stock.
Another feature worthy Of mention is the
development OF South Omaha as a market
for fancy stock. Breeders now look upon
South Omaha as one Of the best points In
the country at which to conduct their sales,
for the reason that Nebraska farmers are
beginning to give much attention to the
breeding up Of their herds. That is not
only true OF Nebraska, but Of the ranchmen
In the states farther west, as we'll as OF the
Iowa cattlemen to the east. TIL greatest
beneht to South Omaha will be from the
quality OF the cattle received for slaughter.
Each year the quality has shown improve
ment and the future is expected to bring
still better results. The range cattle In
particular are getting better every year.
and, In fact, the old style long-horned
range cattle are comparatively scarce in
the northern states.
Real Tale Of Receipts.
Comparative receipts do not tell the
whole story, for the true test of a market
is the percentage Of stock that is actually
sold. A point where the stock is simply
stopped for feed and water and then for
warded on to other markets is no market
at all, but simply a feeding station. In
the statistics given below a table will be
found showing the exact number Of cattle,
hogs and sheep slaughtered at South Omaha
and from that 1t will be seen that the de-
mand on the part OF packers is sufficiently
large to take all the stock that is offered.
A large percentage OF the cattle and sheep
received are, Of course. feeders and are
shipped back to the country, so that they
do not appear in the table below. The
railroad statistics show, however. that the
amount Of stock forwarded to eastern mar
kets is so small as to be scarcely worthy
OF mention. Each year the number for
warded has rapidly decreased. until 1t has
reached almost the, zero mark.
RecOrd Breaking Year.
It may be said that the year 1902 has
been a record breaker in almost every re-
spect. Tn record for the largest receipts
of cattle and sheep for one day, for one
week. for one month and for one year have
all been broken. Not only that. but the
highest prices on record have also been
paid for cattle.
The following series OF tables will show
in concise form the growth and development
of the South Omaha market during the last
years:
of stock for Nineteen Years.