The Bryan eagle. [volume] (Bryan, Tex.) 1880-1913, 1911-03-02
PARAGRAPHS CONTRIBUTED BY
COMMERCIAL SECRETARIES

| Those who feel that swine are not
progressive animals should read the
nice things Uncle Sam has 10 say
about the Texas hog in the federal
agricultural department census report
dated February /, 1911. The reports
show that in 1870 Texas stood next to
the bottom of the list of states in the
value of hogs per head, while in 1911
we leave all Southern states behind
us, and we also excel all other states
in the Union except three in the per-
centage of increase in value of hogs
per head during that period. In 1870
our hogs were valued by the federal
agricultural department at $2.S7 per
head and in 1911 at $40, making an
increase of 1913 per cent in value,
which is a record on hogs that few
states in the Union can equal. No
other domestic animal can approach
the hog in ratio of increase in varue,
and none can excel him as a revenue
producer. He is rapidly populating our
rural districts and his approach has
so alarmed numerous cities that ordi-
nances have been passed prohibiting
him from entering the city limits. The
hog enjoys the distinction of being the
only animal that can swell a bank &C.
count by emptying the swill barrel.
1t has been predicted by many stu
dents of practical economy that tre
invention of improved machinery, the
extended application of electricity and
the extensive use of the automobile
as pleasure crafts and vehicles would
eventually reduce the value of the
horse as a factor in commerce, If in
deed it did not drive this faithful ami
NAL from the highways to its native
pastures; but according to the federal
agricultural department reports, Dob
bin has not only been holding his own
while press agents were predicting his
downfall. but has become quite a fac
tor in the high cost of living and he
now proudly sta rs as tho foremost
member of the nj IONS stockyard. Tha
horse came ont Of the war valued at
s5o.05. and he has steadily climbed the
ladder OF fame until he is now Quoted
by Uncle Sam at s111.67. and is the
most valuable animal we have except
the mule. for which the horse must Of
course take his share of the RESPONSE
bility.
The young seem to be crowding out
the old in animal life as well as with
the human race. The government agri-
cultural department reports show a
steady increase in percentage of gain
in market price for young cattle, as
compared with stock two years of age
and over. The pendulum has been
swinging toward the younger members /
of the herd since the close of the war
and the margin now in their favor is
calculated to reduce considerably the +,
average life of a bovine. In 1867 |
calves under one year of age sold for
S5.93 and in 1911 they sold at an aver
age price of $11.70. Stock one year
and under two sold in 1867 for S10.71
and in 1911 for $19.41, an increase in
both instances of nearly one hundred
Der cent, while the increase in COM
1arative prices during the same period
or cattle two years of age and over
vas less than 80 per cent. Uncle Sam
furnishes the farmer with a lot of val
liable information which he can easily
urn into coin if he will only put it in
PRACTICAL application.
The government agricultural depart
nent reports that the hogs marketed
n recent years are much lighter than
n former years. The average weight
# hogs marketed during the last de-
ade was 219 pounds and hogs mar
.eted thirty or forty years ago We're
n an average one-fourth heavier than
hose marketed in recent years. The |
"a do Of hOOc has certainly imOrOvpd {
With each decade, but we appear to q
ush the young hogs to market. The '
reeders have apparently not been a
bic to develop a breed that will quite q
eep pace with the demands of the S
eeders for early maturity. and the 2
wine industry, while increasing in a
lumber and in grade, is decreasing in S
larket size. The genius of the breed t
RS of livestock have made some won +
erful transformations in the animal Il
IL. l..