El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1918-11-06
GETTING COWS BACK ON THE RANGES
PRESSING PROBLEM FOR WEST TEXAS


~ West Texas is the restocking Of the ranges Natur-
ally this apply every locality there are
Eons which have not been so stricken by drouth to
lead to stripping the ranges Of cattle but It does apply to
most localities
During the years drouth one of the most dis
quoting features gradual shipping out of cows and
hes for slaughter and others for breeders
Those shipped pasturage with to returning them
to the range few by comparison Owners Of cattle
shipped their steers first and kept their the range
long possible but they had to let them 90 ultimately.
These shipments have lessened but they still
tnuing to extent The records Of cattle shipments,
as printed in The Herald, continually disclose shipments
Of cows and heifeTs to places out of the state.
Lattey appears the tendency has been to ship this
breeding stock to buyers who intend placing them stock
farms in the middle west Fewer Of them have been going
to the butcher.
According to the agricultural department agent in
charge OF that work. more than 10000 head Of cattle have
been saved from slaughter this year IN Texas and sold for
breeding purposes Tanchmen and farmers in the middle
west About the same number were saved IN the same
way year. stated and both years have the
shipment Of many of which the agricultural depart
meut not informed.
The hopeful view to take Of this is that viii
be found since the being saved from slaughter
10 pat them again the OF West Texas Rains IN
the past few months have relieved the drouth situation to
the extent Of bringing up feed the and it is
fair prediction that fewer breeding cattle Will be sold from
They viii be sold only It may be necessary for
caemen to raise money in order to meet obligations
at the banks.
But the problem of restocking the ranges remains diff
cult There little money in West Texas for the pur
chase of and especially at the high prices which nov
prevail BANKS VIII Dc SLOW N lenoing money 1or tnls
purpose while the lasts When peace and some
basis for peace prices stock cattle IS developed the banks
vii be able accommodate the cattemen but that
time is Indefinite and may be quite remote Good stock
VIII be worth in calves whatever may have to be paid
Tor Them even cstteman with money and grass viii
think twice before paying double the ordinary price Of
COW And few Of them have money enough
way must be found however, for getting back
the ranges West Texas depends largely upon cattle
raising for its prosperity and the rest Of the country de-
pends quite largely upon West Texas for its meat sup
ply.
If the department Of agriculture takes to itself credit
saving slaughter 100000 head of breeding
cattle there splendid opportunity to complete this
work By finding way to get enough of them to the
ranges provide supply of beef cattle It IS rec
ognzed that the department could only do this through
cooperation with Of the federal banking systems for
financing purchases of stock by catemen liberal
terms but It could done This is something also, for
the Panhandle Southwestern and the other catemen's
associations to begin considering they have not already
done so.