The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-04-08
LESS LIVESTOCK
 IS BEING RAISED Decline Shown in Production
 From Last Year THE RECEIPTS DROP OFF The Farmer Is Receiving More for the Live. Stock He Raises But This Docs Not Prevent . Shortage
 in the Supply
THE RECEIPTS DROP OFF

Chicago, April 7-(Special )-The Amer ican farmer who shipped his live stock to Chicago received sS,074O00 more for 1,544997 fewer head of cattle hogs and sheep in 1909 than in the year previous, according to the official figures given out by the Chicago Union Stock Yards com pany. Live cattle. hogs and sheep to the number of 14,4o1,S27 were sold by the commission men to various packers and dealers for s316, 754000. The increase in money to the farmer amounted to .026 per cent for .O96 per cent less stock. The farmer received an average of s21 .s5 per head for all kinds of stock in 1909 and only s19. IS per head in the preceding 12 months. his general average price in 1909 being nearly F per cent greater than in 1908. In disposing of his cattle through the stock yards the farmer fared very well, selling them for an average of s56. 54 per head in 1909 as compared with s54. .02 in 1soS an increase of s2.52 per head. The .S05 head of cattle received in 1902 of which only 1882, 126 were consumed in Chicago, brought the cattle grower to- tai of s165, ,545 O0o he received only sl64- 10000 for 3,039, ,206 head in the year be- fore. The Stock Yards company, the commission men and the little and big packers have not shared in these in- creases. The stock yards, which is en- tirely independent of all the packing con cerns, receives it's revenues from yard age. being charge for receiving the live stock. based upon the number and not the value. and the commission men, or sellers. are paid so much per head. whether it sells for 50 per cent more or 50 per cent less than in the preceding year. The Union Stock Yards were incor- porated in 1865 and the charter fixes in general manner the method of opera ton, providing for a forfeiture in case of collision between officials of the yards and any of the buyers or sellers Cattle receipts have fallen steadily from 3,41o,OOo head in 1905. of hogs from TIPS 900 in 1905 to 66l9,O00 in 1909. of sheep from 4,s05, 900 in 1905 to 4A1 ,000 in 1909 One fourth of the live stock received at the yards is shipped to other points, there being 325 buyers at the exchange repre- senting packing concerns, feeders, etc., in all parts of the country and world.
 Women are rallying to raise the drama in the United States by systematic en- couragement under the banners of the new Drama club, which now has mem bers representing 1e5 womens clubs of Chicago and vicinity It is the hope that before long the organization will be na- tional in scope, with a large central or ganization, with local chapters in every city and town in the country. The main work at first will be the arrangement of study programmes for the local chapters and the sending out of advice and infor- nation to all it's members. Mrs. A. Starr Best chairman of the organization meet ing, says that the improvement of the stage is d matter of educating the public. However much we may dislike to ad- init it," she says, the stage at present is on a strictly commercial basis and seems likely to continue so. We can improve conditions only by educating the public demand. The manager of the the atre has only the box office by which to feel the public pulse The great public accepts and tries to enjoy what is given to it. If all the women's clubs of the country were pledged to support good plays and to the reading of plays, out side the theatre. studying them carefully for their structure and their literary value, there would be a marked differ ence in the character of plays preser<N on the stage. Dramatic conditions in America are far worse than in other coun- tries. It is time the women rallied to the relief of the country's stage. We should appreciate the power for good which the drama possesses, but we should
 also be keenly alive to the danger inher- ent in the powerful influence of the stage