The Big Sandy news. [volume] (Louisa, Ky.) 1885-1929, 1903-12-25
MONEY FOR FARMERS
An Open Letter 10 The Farmers
of Lawrence County and Ad-
jacent Sections.

hH OpNh LSttCi W iiiS dlHlSio
of Lawrence County and Ad-
jacent Sections.
For several months / have
thought OF writing an open letter
to the farmers of this section on
the subject OF cattle raising for
profit, hut 1t seemed somewhat
presumptious for merchant to at
tempt telling veteran farmers how
to run their business; however,
If any farmer will tell me how to
double the profits of my business |
will thank him for doing so. 1t is
spirit OF good will at this Christ
mas tide that prompts this letter.
First, let me ask farmers to care
fully read the valuable article in
the Daily lronton Register OF Dec.
10TH, entitled "Cattle Breeding in
Lawrence Co.." by the able stock
man Mr.. John w. Armstrong.
This article covers the first
points | had in mind, viz: The
excellent healthful bree d 1 n g
grounds the well watered hills and
valleys Of Lawrence county and
adjacent section affords. The
close proximity of good markets.
The fact OF being next neighbor to
the finest corn producing areas in
the United States, where there is a
constant demand for feeders OF
good grade. And to whom cattle
could be delivered from Lawrence
CO., by short easy drive instead
of long, expensive, dangerous rail-
way transportations as they are
now compelled to submit to when
buying cattle in the west.
The Jersey craze has done for
the cattle Of this section about
what the Merino craze did for the
sheep. Every one knows what a
worthless carcass the little scrawny
Merino affords, about all ribs and
neck v 18th small sunken hams
looking about like a skinned rab.
bit. The introduction OF this pesky
stock has caused the sheep bust.
ness to about run out in this sec
ton. Whereas, sheep and WOO
used to be large item.
The hills are the native abode o.
sheep and with good large strain.
OF stock and the present fair price.
for wool sheep raising can b,
made profitable also. The history
of the Jersey craze is familiar
With only milk and butter idet
Jersey bulls were introduced int
the herds OF almost every farmer
| In this section until now we hav,
a breed OF runts, Stock which
| when slaughtered produces car
cass Of bone, sinew, muscles, will
hardly any flesh fit for food. Cat
tie that weigh about 500 TO 900 lbs.
at full maturity and having a mar
ket value of bologna and glu,
stack in the stockyards viz: . 3-it
delivered 10 the butcher. Let m,
illustrate.
This fall some friends from
large nearby farm in Kentucky
called at my store inquiring abou
The butchers in Ironton. They
had 10 or Il head OF fat cattle t
sell in splendid order. | asket
what the cattleN would weigh
About 800 they answered. The,
made the round OF the market ant
could not make sale at 24o de
livered. They had previousl,
, gone over the Portsmouth marke
and could do no better there
Market Overstocked at both place
with this kind OF cattle. Abou
the same time farmer near MI
Sterling, KY, about 80 miles from
the first farmer had bunch O
cattle for sale. A Cincinnati
butcher came to Mt. Sterling b.
train, drove out to his farm, LOOKED
at the cattle. Beauties, weighin
1000 lbs, average, offered him
III. The farmer thought such cat
tie would net him &c in Ne,
York market. The butcher kne,
they would and gave him &c. Id
on the farm. Now 1t is an admit
ted fact, | think, that the small
hollow, runty stock will eat a
much or more than the large wei
bred cattle, The cost OF raising
no more.
| The caleula tion will show takin
large average 800 lbs. a 23c
equal to $24,75, 200O lbs. a &c
equal to $4,000. A difference @
| $ll5 20 In favor OF the farmer VIII
raised cattle for which there is
demand. We have not taken int
this calculation the cost of ant
shrinkage by delivery against tn
| y cent. cattle. This is an extrem
case in both instances. The frs
from glutted market wher
everybody wanted to sell to parlle
who did not want to buy. TIL,
latter bunch OF specially desira
bic cattle for which the butcheI
had demand. These cattle, would
have brought the money paid FOL
them readily in eastern markets
The past three years IL has beer