The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1910-02-03
LIVE STOCK VALUES.

LIVE STOCK VALUES.
The current issue of the New Eng
land Homestead contains a remark
able story of the increase in the val
ne of the different classes of farm
of beef cattle the average price of
the various classes of live stock is
said to be materially higher than
ever before known. Following the
breaking up of the ranch industry in
the early nineties it is said that the
price paid for cattle was slightly
higher than at present, but if pres
ent conditions continue even this
record will be surpassed. Accord
ing to the Homestead the total valu-
alton of live stock on American farms
is $4,SS0,O 6S 900. Notwithstanding
decrease in the number of swine,
and cattle and other than milcr
COWS, the present year shows an in
crease of $560,000,000 over last
year. The decrease il cattle and
swine is attributed TO poor corn
crop for three years in succession,
with the high prices of that cereal
which has resulted therefrom
The Homestead says mat mich
COWS touched their lowest ,alue %
1892, and since that time there has
been an increase iii the average price
pei head amounting to Ca. per cenr
In 1896 beef cattle touched heir low
est point, since which time there has
been an advance of 46.7 per cent.
Sheep touched the bottom in 1895
with the average value per head of
$3.50, as compared with an average
of $4.07 at present, while hogs reach
ed their greatest depression in 1897,
when they were worth Sab per head
as against 1915 at present. Horses
and mules reached the bottom III
1928, since which time they have
increased in value by POI per cent in
I the case of horses and 173 per cent in
the case CT mules.
One of the interesting features of
the year is an increase of nearly A
per cent in the number of sheep.
More than 60 per cent of the sheep
are found in the Rock Mountain and
! Pacific coast States. The principal
product now is mutton rather than
wool.
The increase in the value o. farm
animals is said to be more than four
times as much as the total value OF
the product of the gold and silver
mines of the United States during this
period.
In spite of the increasing use Of
steam and electric railroads and au-
tomobiles there is a greater demand
for horseflesh than ever before and
the number of horses in the country
today is greater and the prices high
er than at any previous time in the
! history of the United States.
In view of the prevailing hign
prices for meat products the East 81.
Louis United Stock Yards has recent
ly issued the following words of ad-
vice to farmers"
THE high prices paid for all classes
of live stock during the past year
justify the farmer in increasing his
production. The country is crying
aloud for greater meat supplies
They are pleading to you through
high prices. Think of it, Hogs close
to the Scent mark cattle up to
$1,000 per 100, sheep and lambs on the
highest basis known for some time al
this season of the year. These prices
certainly justify very liberal in
crease in production and feeding.
Don't be afraid Of OVERRIDING it,
The facts are, while the population
of the country has been on the in
crease by leaps and bounds, the pro
duction of live stock has been prac'
tically at standstill. In fact, ir
some localities it has actually de-
creased The western ranges are fas
disappearing. II will be years before
the farmer settlers throughout the
West can reproduce the stock o
which the settling up of the range il
depriving the markets"
Isn't there a suggestion here for Yer
mont farmers, very powerful suS
gestion that they might increase thei
income by raising more cattle, NOR
hogs, more sheep, more poultry
Let us think it over.
THE IMMIGRATION COMMISSION
A reading of the debate over tn