Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1904-07-15
THE BEEF INDUSTRY

Nick Reiland went to Chicago last
week with twocarloads Of beef cattle
consisting Of about IS head which he
purchased in this immediate vicinity
This Is Mr.. Reiland's second shipment
this season. Two years ago he made the
first shipment. OF beef to Chicago from
this market. The past five years has
wrought quite a change in this in
dustry in Wood county. For As years
quite large part of the beef consumed
In this county was shipped in f,em the
prairie states. Now Wood county has
become an exporter instead of an inn
porter OF this commodity. The grade
OF cattle shipped out Of this county be-
gin to rank well with the grades
shipped from the stock raising district.
The livestock industry is sweep
stake" over all other industries.
When you stop to think how many peo-
pie are dependant on the livestock in
dustry In America you would be
amazed. Livestock growers and feed
erS embrace every farmer in the United
States. Were the livestock in the
United States converted into cash at
present prices and value, there would
not be enough in the United
States by two billion dollars to pay
for it.
l. is estimated the cereal crop of the
United States is worth over two bill
lion dollars. yet the live stock is worth
more than all the cereals, metal, cotton,
tobacco and lumber combined. The
live stock interests represent the act
ual value Of over four billion five hun
dred million dollars. II the live stock
| men Of the United States were to COM
bine they could control the market OF
the world. The vast amount of in
crease in the stock industry through
the western states has wrought won
derful change in the past few years
But it is the beef industry princi-
pally OF which wish to speak. Many
people imagine that the beef trust is
largely responsible for the high price
we are paying for beef, but in the
middle west they know 1t is the ma
tural balance of supplysand demand
with more hungry stomach at one end
than fat steers at the other.
There may be beef trust. 1t may
have been organized for the purpose
OF making and maintaining unnatural
prices, but the present high prices of
meat is due to conditions entirely be-
yond human control. The indications
are that more Indian land will be taken
from the ranges in the coming few
months and that there will be small
place in the old Indian feeding ground
for the herder. One of the largest en-
closed pasture fields of the west is
located in Pan Handle, Texas, consist
ing of 5000 square miles, or larger than
two Of the eastern states combined.
This 5000, 900 acre tract was fenced
thoroughly, enclosing 125, 900 head of
cattle.
The receipts for cattle at five west
ern markets for ten years ending 1893
were $500, 900, for the ten years end
ing 1908 was 10000 or a gain of
100000. Compare this slight increase
to the gain in the countrys' population
in the corresponding length of time
and add to it an increase of % per cent
in the export trade and you will have
the primary cause of high priced beef.
The beef industry of Wood county
has hardly received its full share OF
attention. Intact it has been sadly
neglected, yet we have pastures
enough going to waste to not ouly fur
ish the entire county with beef, but to
furnish many carloads each season to
outside markets. From whatever
point of view the problem is ap-
preached the sober conclusion cannot
| be avoided that the beef industry is one
OF the most profitable and permanent
| il Central Wisconsin.