The Elbert County tribune., 1914-02-13
cBy W. c. coFFEYJ

If close proximity to the regions
where most of the sheep are produced
were the only factor in determining
the best location for market, the
largest markets would be still farther
west than they are. because nearly
seventy-five per cent. OF the sheep in
the United States are west of the
Mississippi river and fifty-seven per
cent. are In the Rocky mountain
region and west to the Pacific Coast.
Shipping facilities for getting the
output of the packing houses to the
consumer have an important bearing
Still another factor which has great
deal OF influence Is the fact that many
sheep from the west are fattened In
the Mississippi and Missouri valleys
Many of these are handled twice by
the markets. first as feeders. and again
as sheep intended for slaughter When
sold as feeders they go only com
paratively short distance from the
market and this is a factor that equal
ICES the seeming disparity of the
markets being too far removed from
regions of heaviest production and
really makes such places as Chicago
and Omaha the actual centers of the
sheep trade.
The great central sheep markets of
today have enjoyed a very large
growth during the last twenty years.
the number of sheep received in Chi.
cago being 2S57 .253 more the last
year than twenty years before. This
growth Is largely traceable to the
turning OF the sheep husbandry inter.
ests In the west from wool production.
as primary object. to the production
OF both mutton and wool. and to the
rise OF the sheep feeding industry. BY
liberal infusion of mutton blood into
their focks. and by marketing their
sheep at younger age than formerly.
Western iockmasters supplanted a
dry. ill-favored mutton with a whole
some product that met with ready de-
mand. Almost at the same time sheep
feeding. became popular. and these
better bred sheep of the range were
also better fed. A further Impetus was
thus given to mutton consumption
which has now reached the point In
many Of our cities at least. where the
only check to liberal consumption is
the lack OF the ability to buy.
With this greatly Increased activity
In the production OF better mutton in
the west and in feed lot operations.
the large markets have not only In
creased In volume of business but they
have also improved In their organiza.
tion. as may be seen in the review OF
conditions past and present at the Chi.
cago market. Formerly sheep on this
market were not classed and graded.
but we're sold in mixed bands just as
they were unloaded from the cars
Often these mixed shipments were
made up OF all ages and sexes, in every
degree OF quality and condition. The
volume of business was small; mutton
was not much sought after, and hence
the need Of careful discrimination was
not felt. To the commission man or
the buyer this system perhaps did not
offer great Inconvenience. Perhaps
the buyer even counted 1t to his ad.
vantage as he is inclined to measure
the value of the whole offering by the
inferior individuals in 1t. But to the
shipper who occasionally visited the
market, little opportunity was pre-
sented by such a system to determine
the preference Of buyers. This sys-
tenn gave way to one that Is more or
| derly and definite. The day of the
buyer taking pot luck" on shipments
II over. Now they are sorted into the
different classes and grades and thus
prepared for the inspection OF the buy.
er. The result is a market by which
the man who follows his shipments 70
sale may be enlightened. and from
which market quotations may be made
that will be of aid to those who have
sheep to sell.
With respect to control of receipts
SO that violent fluctuations In prices
do not occur within a short space OF
time. the Chicago market has greatly