Arizona republican., 1917-03-06

to consider we know that it is dan gerous to figure on any such basis
 And this is especially true at this time in the cattle industry. For with the increased fees for ranging on the forest reserve, with restricted grazing areas caused by new settlements and to be more restricted in the future by the settlement of grazing lands under the new GAO acre homestead law, and with other new problems to solve, it is well for the cattleman to be careful. look into the future and determine for himself how his business shall he managed in the future so that his business will De maintained and continued SIS a pay ing investment.
 Old Ways Careless
 As ono cattleman l have determined that the old careless way of doing business cannot continue.
 That the cattleman must watch closely to his income and outlay.
 That he must not try to raise more cattle but fewer if necessary and have those few of the best grade and of the largest beef producing kind.
 To be guided in our future actions 1t will be wise that we should look at the past Of the cattle industry, for in tfe past the cattle business has
 
 valnes have been up, then down, and While many men have made money Just as many more have gone broke following the fortunes of this in- drstry. But like the mining business, you always hear of the fellow that strikes it, while the fellow that fails Is almost unheard of. The result be- ing that many people believe that all ycu have to do is turn a few cattle ba lot fal. of themselves and then after two or three years gather 9 train load of beef, ship to market, sell and then be rich and happy ever after, But we in the business know that such condition is as false as the picture showing in a mirage on the desert
 Just a Bit Of History
 Since 1868 the price ot cattle has been up and then down. IL was about this year that great interest became apparent in the cattle business. for il was then that there first com menced to be driven numerous large herds from the state Of Texas to the northern states. Abilene Kansas was the main city where the Texas herds were driven to. and it was from this point that they were dis tributed by purchasers in the country further north as well as the east. This influx of cattle caused great packing houses to be started and markets to be ma0e at Boston, Chl- cago and other cities of similar size.
 And Thiie this caused q great in terest to be taken by many men in the cattle business they found that the southern herds brought their own troubles With them. The greatest ol which was the fever tick. which to some extent got q foot hold in parts Of the north and east through the handling of these southern cattle Yet the net results to men who went into he industry about that time was the accumulation of grest fortunes.
 This condition did not lasr long. for bliZzards came. other reverses were met, and in 1874 many of those who thought they had accumulated fortune found il swept away
 In 1880 prices of cattle were advinc- ing and in 1884 beef on the Chicago market was worth $520 d hundred pounds. which at that time was a record price. and it vas this increas ed price that started the rancher of the west stocking the ranges About 1884 there was population in the United States or 5s.000.00e people while the estimated number of cattle was 43. 006 900 head.
 1n ISS5-6 partly on account of money conditions in tLe east and partly on account Of the passage O. the law prohibiting ;he fencing of public lands for range purposes the price of cattle once more tumDled wi,h the usual result that a great many head were sacrificed by the eat tie owner at a considerable loss.
 From 1886 to 1893 there was marked increase in the number of cattle in .he United States. Cattle increasing until there were over 50 000.00 head. About this time the great feud between the cattle and sheep interests commenced which caused financial loss to both.
 Ii was about the time last men toned when to my Knowledge cattle sold as low as S5.0o per head. e at other times when they arrived at market. it was found the price re- ceived would not pay the freight
 Prices Again Advance
 In lssl the price of cattle in Inc east had again commenced 10 ad- vance. bdt in Arizona and New Mex ice drouths had occurred with such frequency that the cattlemen had be- come discouraged and so involved fi nancialiy that many Of them were compelled to sell their herds to meet their obligations. with the result that many cattleman who Was rich ir the middle eighties found himself paaper in the early nineties
 There are many cattlemen in this association who will remember when . three -year-olC steer would not bring as much as COW hide woulc today, and when vearling was about of the value of a sack of peanuts.
 In 1900 higher prices were reached than attained since 1884 and specu- lativc prices were greater than in any previous market. and fl was about this time that the range yearling touched the high price of sl4.00 per head.
 Af,er 1900 cattle seemed to drop in price but had increased in numbers to 6l.00o.0o0 head With fine rising and falling Of prices for cattle com plaints commenced 10 be heard as tO the cause thereof. much of the trouble l being blamed upon the packing in dustry. with the result that the first bakers investigation was had and witt: the resultant fight agalnst cmbalmed beef. we found tfat the United States export trade YVES almost destroyed. and with it's destruction. we suffered loss although in no way blamable for the condition.
 The number of cattle increased until in 1907 there were about 72 000,000 head in this country. with the price continuing to grow little bet ter. In 1914 a foot and mouth dis ease broke out in this country and a great many cattle were killed in an attempt to stamp out the disease. But the greatest harm came from the fear by the owners of the many herds not afflicted. that the disease might spread, with the result that they hn