Charlevoix county herald. (East Jordan, Mich.) 189?-1953, 1920-06-11

Abundance Of Grazing Land and I'm
proved Breeding Point to Boom In
Industry In Paraouay-W. A. Reid
Of the Pan-American Union, After
Survey, Says Country only Lacks
capitaI-Future Prospects Bright.
The low price at which beef can be
fattened, the abundance of grazing
lands and improved breeding In Para
quay, point to bright future I'm cattle
raising, an industry that is already
well under way In that country, ac-
cOrding to William A. Reid of the Pan
American Union. after a survey of
conditions.
In Paraguay the fattened steer suit
able for market on the average Is
nearly five years old. About eight
acres Of land are required to support
one steer. At land cost of 60 cents
an acre. the interest at per cent Is
slightly more than cents a year; and
allowing eight acres a head about
1914 cents year, or total Of SLIGO,
Is the interest on land which produces
a steer ready for slaughtering. In
other parts of South America where
cattle activities are well developed an
interest charge of $16 year and up
ward Is not uncommon. In the United
States similar charges are much larger
than those given for South America,
although these figures vary in different
localities.
Capital ls Needed.
The reason this country, comprising
10000 square miles in the heart OF
South America, has been backward In
developing its two principal industries
stock raising and quebracho exploit
tation-is attributed, not to the lack
of rich grazing pastures or to the
scarcity Of timber lands, but to the
need for capital for their development.
"When the call for larger supplies
of food is still echoing around the
world" says Mr.. Reid, writing In the
Pan-American, bulletin, ''it seems
great pity that In some sections of
South America only few years ago
many cattle were allowed to perish by
drowning. Such an instance came I'M
der the observation Of the writer while
travelling through the lOwlands of
Paraguay In the wet season. Exten'
sive areas of this country were sub
merged owing to period Of unusual
ly heavy rains, and although hills and
rolling uplands lay near. lack of hui
man direction and foresight resulted
In the loss Of vast numbers Of fine
beef cattle.
"Such conditions, however, are not
likely to continue today, for the de-
mand for meat products has quickened
the activities Of stockmen the world
over, and skilled cattle raisers have
sought newer fields, where suitable
and natural conditions will enable
them to develop their industry, and In
their search they have gone to hitherto
undeveloped regions.
Sew, IL any countries furnish a
better illustration Of this statement
than Paraguay. The scarcity Of popu.
lation, estimated at 100000 persons.
so far below what might be maintain.
ed, is one of the conditions that tend
to draw outside capital, tempting the
great corporation with Its various &C.
tivities to develop virgin fields. Fer.
eign corporations are now In sufficient
number to make themselves felt COM
mercially, and the fact that the newer
companies are progressing, II not al.
ready returning dividends, speaks well
for future prospects.
Decline In United States.
To-day the vast pampas Of Argen-
tina are furnishing more beef for for
eign consumption than do the plains
of our Golden West; In the United
States the growing Of cattle is de-
clining year by year. the farmer, the
mechanic, the MINER taking the place
of the romantic cowboy. and cereal
crops being grown where the lowing
herds once grazed. In other words,
the last two decades have seen de-
crease in certain western cattle lands
of over half billion acres.
ITO use another comparison and
quoting from report Of the federal
while our population (from 1880 tc
191O) Increased more than 50 per cent
the production of beef cattle grew only
% per cent. From 1910 to 1919 the
United States population increased
about IA per cent, while the number
of cattle decreased about 10 per cent
Bearing these facts In mind, II Is
no wonder that cattlemen and packers
should seek new lands for producing
food animals. Argentina with her 90
100000 beef cattle. not to mention vast
herds of sheep and swine. is gradually
extending her grazing lands northward
to the Gran Chaco. This fact and the
success that has followed such enter
prises have turned the eyes Of corpora
lions to the virgin lands Of Bolivia
and Paraguay.
One United States company which
entered Paraguay several years ago,
and whose property now includes MIL
lions of acres of lands, one tract alone
locally known as Pinasco, comprising
4 OEA oO0 aorao to aofivalv ON on Oad In