Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1914-03-16
NORTHERN CATTLE BUYER SAYS
HIGH PRICES ARE HERE
TO STAY.
DISAPPEARANCE OF RANGE
HAVING NO EFFECT
Small Farmers Of West Declared TO
Be Raising More and Better Cattle
Than Ranges Produced - Canadians
to Maintain High Price Despite Re.
moval of Tariff.

Des Moines. March 1.-THE lower
Ing Of the tariff on beef and farm pro-
duce will not cheaper meat Neither
is the passing. of the great American
cattle range diminishing the supply Of
cattle. The reverse is true according
to Thomas Donagan, big and sue
cessful cattle buyer OF St Paul, who is
visiting relatives ana friends in this
city after an absence Of twenty years.
The theory has been advanced
that the, alleged shortage Of cat
tie, which has been 50 extensively
advertised in recent years to justify
the high price OF beef, is due in part at
least to the disappearance Of the great
out that the cattle are not raised in
such numbers as formerly because the
land is being split UP into small farms
and that the farmer can raise only a
few head Of cattle where once hum
dreds Of head OF stock were raised.
Twenty Years in Saddle,
It also is common theory that by
letting down the tariff bars cheaper
meat, eggs and poultry will be shipped
into this country. Mr.. Donagan has
spent nearly twenty years of his life
since leaving Des Moines in the saddle
riding over the great northwest in
search Of cattle on the hoof for the
eastern markets. He is one OF the
cattle experts of st. Paul and he there
fore has a better grasp Of the cattle
situation than most men. He said
among other things:
1.-THE idea that the disappearance Of
the old cattle range has shortened the
supply of cattle is mistaken impress
ton. AS a matter of fact more cattle
are raised in the west today than ever.
TN the old ranch days compare
lively few men owned all the cattle.
Today a few cattle are owned by
great many farmers. In the old days
the cattle had to forage over an i'm
mense territory to get subsistence. To-
day the cattle are we'll fed on the farm
and they are better cared for. They
are sent to the market in better condi-
ton. The great ranges have been
farms but there are a great many OF
these farms and every farmer raises
few head of cattle for the market.
hefnoo3 ChaH9eo.
s~The animals are better fed and
choicer grade Of cattle is raised. There
il; not the loss in winter while a higher
type Of beef cattle is replacing the old
range stock.
"a great deal OF beef IS being
shipped into this country now from
Canada
AAt arst the Canadians shipped their
cattle into this country somewhat un-
der the price that the Americans mad
been getting. When they found out
the ruling prices in this country they
raised their prices.
II don't believe we have anything TO
expect from the South American
ranches. They can't ship in anything
but frozen meat. They cant ship the
cattle on the hoof. Argentine cattle
ara grass fed and are not Of as choice
quality as our corn fed stuff. The Ar
gen1ine cattle can not stand the trip.
It Is true we ship cattle to England
on the hoof, but it takes but three Gays
or 60 to make the trip and the cattle
when they start are in better condltloa
than thu South American animals.
"I am not we'll informed on poultry
and eggs. but I do not think the I'M
portation of these products is gong u
hurt the Iowa farmer nor cheaper the
cost. I presume poultry and eggs VIII
he affected in the same way as peel.
The foreign producers Will try 10 Get
as much as they can for their proouctS'