The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1913-10-02
MISSOURI CATTLE
PRODUCTION DROPS
FARMERS AND STOCK GROWERS
HAD 921,575 LESS IN 1918
THAN IN 1890.
HOGS ALSO SHOW BIG LOSS
Cholera in Last Ten Years Has Taken
Thousands Of Valuable Animals
and Pork Production is
Discouraged.

Jefferson City-Thc contention cI
'Ae members OF the American Pack
crs association that there has been a
/ heavy decrease I'm recent years in III,
number of cattle and hogs produced is
true, SO far as Missouri Is concerned
II the slump in the production OF
"attIe and hogs is proportionately a.
/ heavy In other meat.produclng states
the nthe shortage VIII run into mil
lions Of each.
The farmers and stock growers OF
Missouri had on hand when rSe as
auss0rs made their rounds In 1890 q
total of 2,G2i.32S cattle of assessable
axe. When the assessments were
made in 1913 only l.702,753 were emu
mcrated. a loss of 92l,575. During tho
same period the number of hogs
dropped FROM 2,GiG575 to 2,O33.G3S, q
slump of 56&.2&7.
During this period of % years the
population of Missouri increased ap,
proXimately 100000 The increase as
ahown by the government census be.
tween 1890 when the population was
2G791S4, and 1910, when the popula.
ton was S,293,335. was C14,151. Upon
this ratio the increase in population
to 1915 Is approximately 100000
The figures upon the number OF
hogs and cattle in Missouri are not
estimates, but are the actual cnumcra.
tzFf to
during the farnto.farm canvass in
making assessments
The decline in the number of hogs
and cattle produced in Missouri, as
shown by the assessors reports, as
compiled by the state auditor for the
state board OF equalization. has been
gradual since 1890, when the highest
number OF cattle and hogs was pro.
duCcd.
several reasons have been ad.
Janccd by stockmcn for the decreased
production of cattle and hogs. Among
them are: The enactment of stock
laws preventing the pasturage of I'M
fenced lands, the prevailing low prices
during the heavy business depression
Of the last Cleveland administration
the killing Of young calves further de.
creased the number of beef cattle.
The slump in the number of cattle
produced in Missouri was heaviest be-
tween 1890 and 1900. During this pc.
Rod Of ten years the cattle dropped
from 2,G24,32S TO 2,O2G,905, a loss of
597.i2&, During the same period the
decrease in the number of hogs raised
was 2j0,02G. In 1890 the assessors
found 2,GiG,575 hogs and In 1900
1896, 4i9.
Between 1900 and 1910 the number
OF cattle increased from 2,G2G905 to
2,039,S57. This represented an in.
crease Of 1882. But between 1910
and 1913 cattle smmpcd from 2,O39,.
S57 to l.702.T5S u decline of 337, lOi
head
The assessors enumerated a total
of 2,39G,4i9 hogs in 1900 In 1910 they
found upon the farms hut 2,2G9,7Sj, a
decrease Of 1865 head The assess.
ment Of 1913 showed but 2,0G3,33S, n
further slump Of 20G,i47.
The assessors figures indicate a
heavy slump, both In the production
of cattle and of hogs. between 1910
and 1913, Notwithstanding the prices
Of both were high. This may have
been due, farmers say, to the sacrifice
OF stock following the drought of
1911. The slump was not attributed
to the drought Of this year, which was
not sufficiently advanced to cause
much apprehension when the assess.
ore made their rounds in May and
June. Up to that time no stock had
been sacrificed The following table
will give the number OF cattle and
hogs enumerated in Missouri by the
assessors at intervals since 1890