The Vinita daily chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1902-1913, 1912-03-04
Why The cattIemen Should Come to
Oklahoma.

OktdHoNd.
Oklahoma City, March 4.-With an
awakening in Oklahoma for greater
agricultural possibilities, especially
through the growth of more alfalfa
and kafir corn, comes the need for a
closer relation with the cattlemen of
the Southwest; and the realization
that their interests are identical with
those of this rich young state. Moth
ing could be more conducive to bet
ter realization of these facts than that
the convention of 1913 should be held
in Oklahoma
The Cattlemen's Association has
nearly two thousand members, and is
easily the most important organization
of the southwest, its chief member
ship coming from the states of Texas,
Oklahoma, New Mexico, Kansas and
Missouri.
Originally the greatest object of the
association was to prevent cattle steal
ing but with the development of the
country the eradication of the fever
tick has taken an important place in
the work of its members. The gov
ernment report of the bureau of ami
NAL industry reveals that from July,
1906 to April, 1911, seven Oklahoma
counties were released from quaran-
tine and admitted to all cattle mar
kets, and parts of as many more coun-
ties were likewise given relief
No less an authority ventures the
assertion that if equal progress is
made during the next ten years, this
enemy of the cattle industry will have
entirely disappeared from not only Ok
lahoma, but from Arkansas end Mis-
sissippi. Notwithstanding this pro-
gress, such eminent authority as John
Fields of the Oklahoma Farm Journal
declares that the annual loss of the
cattle business in this state alone
from the presence of fever ticks is
five million dollars. While congratulate
ing the cattlemen for the progress
that they, with the assistance of the
government, have made the great ne
cessity for further work is apparent.
Nothing has added so many dollars
to the purses of the cattlemen of this
section in recent years as the estab-
lishment of the National Stock Yards
and two immense packing plants in
Oklahoma City.
The rectn adjustment of freight
rates is another factor that is proving
of inestimable benefit, since it not
only gives a closer market for thou
sands of Oklahoma cattlemen; but
adds another market to the field. Re
Gently through the efforts of the Okla
homa City market the railroads have
been induced to reduce the minimum
weight for car of calves from 22,-
900 lbs. to 1900, this being about
what the average car weighs.
Oklahoma has come to be greater
factor in the cattle business than ever
before, and today she is contributing
her mite toward the highest develop
ment of this great industry. The an
nual meeting of the Cattlemen's As
sociation will convene in Fort Worth,
March 19, 20 and 21st. Oklahoma
should be we'll represented in that n
vention for the part she may contri-
butte to its success, and because this
states hopes to bring the convention
of 1913 to Oklahoma City.
The highest interest of the cattle
men will doubtless be served by
bringing the next annual convention
to Oklahoma, and certainly the ami
NAL industry as well as the packing
business will receive an impetus by
such a convention being held in Okla