El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1917-01-27
E PAsO IS CENTER Of GREATEST
CATTLE TERRITORY IN THE NATION
Here Thousands of Cattle Annually Are Bought Sold and
Shipped From the Great Ranges of the Southwest
This City Chief Entry Port For Mexican
Cattle; Large Stockyards Built

Tne place NltNlf tAN anu
q sellers OF cattle and other live
L l. stock grown on the great plains
and valleys of the southwest meet and
trade, FL Paso is prominent has been
SO for years and Will continue TO be be-
cause of its location in the center of
what is now the remaining range
country Of the United States.
Through all the changes that have
come upon the livestock industry by
the settlements Of farmers on the
southwestern plains, with the conse-
quent obiiteratiOn Of the old open
ranges the destruction that war in
Mexico has caused and the methods
stockmen must adopt to revive the
business. the revolutionary measures
introduced among breeders 10 produce
higher grade animals where only long
horns" roamed the broad ranges a few
years ago. the numerous other depart
ures from the old. often careless ways
pursued by the oldtime cowmen. FL
Paso has steadily maintained her sta
ton as the center of the livestock traf-
fic of the whole southwest, confidently
looking forward to the day when pack
ing plants viii be added to her several
trading yards TO economically convert
fat stock into provisions for the people
in the surrounding territory. as well
as provide the greatest trading ground
known to cattlemen-
CattIemen Are Optimistic.
Cattlemen are unusually optimistic AT
the prospects for the coming year $
movements, in spite of some losses
sustained in last summers dry spell
Rains brought the ranges TO a fine
condition during the fall and stock
has done well all winter. Growers in
the Big Bend country were forced to
ship out several trains of feeders be
cause Of drouth, and in southeastern
New Mexico this was done also. The
great majority of ranges were suffi-
cient, however, to hold over cattle in
fair condition
n PasO the Selling Point.
The cowman today does not wear /
out his herd by driving II to a shipping I
station and then take his chances on !
the markets in the big eastern cen
automobile at selling time and here /
meets buyers from north and east who /
are ready to pay high prices Buyers 4
come here spring and fall from every
where, California. Wyoming, the Da-
kotas, the big packing cities and even
from Indiana and other states east Of |
the Mississippi. All the large commits
sion houses are represented by per
Eanent agents. Representatives of the
packers are here too, Morris & Co.
having last year invested 100000 in /
new stockyards and purchased the con-
troll Of the American Bank & Trust com
pany- Two cattle loan corporations
with offices here, the Rio Grande and
the FL Paso cattle loan associations, /
each with a capital OF a half million
dollars and loans amounting probably |
to $lOOO,O00, are assisting the cattle
raisers with ready cash as they need
FEtteaiag Cattle and Hogs
Fattening of cattle, as well as hogs,
viii be done in the upper and lower /
valleys Of the Rio Grande near FL Paso I
every fall and winter. by number of /
owners Wherever feed in quantities I
is avsiIa Bile, outside Of the range !
grass, stockmen are seeking every year
10 faJten and turn off their animals
to market in prime condition. thus
avoiding the sale of herds direct from /
ranges in comparatively poor condition.
In the Mesilla valley. particularly on
the west side. several feeders are pre-
pairing TO handle the sizeab BILE punches
of cattle Tolbert brothers of Fl Paso
high grade stuff in their pens near
CanutillO. By feeding cattle for beef
or breeding purposes farmers are real
izing profit from forage that formerly
went TO waste Alfalfa this year is soar
ing in price for the best quality. on &C
count for the tremendous local demand !
but hay left on the ground. slightly off
grade for baline for shipment has been !
stacked on many farms for late feeding
and will bring much market stuff |
through the winter in good shape.
Dairy farms are increasing ia num-
Der, utilizing closely feed for COWS and
- eeAtiiAS pioAAtS thstl llstu Deeh
overlooked in the past The Rio Grande /
Valley Dairy company. "A recently
organized association Of dairymen OF /
the upper valley. has established /
depot on Montana street In this city for
the distribution Of milk and cream !
gathered among its members near An
thony. The Rio Grande Valley Cream |
cry city depot is a 401 Texas street
I5.O00.0OO Cattle on Nearby Ranges 7
II has been estimated that there are
I 100000 cattle on the ranges in FL