Jamestown weekly alert. [volume] (Jamestown, Stutsman County, D.T. [N.D.]) 1882-1925, 1920-12-16
YOUNG EXPLAINS
PROPOSED EMBARGO
ON CANADA STOCK

TT1CeS has NOSl INVA eAWCo>
Farmer. Millions Of Dollars
-Blames Foreign Coun.
tries.
Congressman Young's bill for an
embargo on the importation OF
grain,wool, live stock and other pro-
duets for one year, is based upon
the conditions and financial losses
of farmers thruout the west. Re-
garding the bill he is quoted as say
ing that price of wheat has been cut
far below the cost of production.
He also advocates the licensing and
control Of grain exchanges of the
country,
On the subject of live stock ne
says:
Many Canadian Cattle
During all my thirty years resi-
dence in North Dakota 1 have never
known so many cattle trains from
Canada pass through our state. Just
prior to the war, prices on cattle
we're almost as low as at present. At
that time, best range beeves sold
at from 50 to $3.50 per hundred
weight, while the choicest grass
COWS and heifers were sold at S6.5
to 1925 per hundred weight.
''The high point was reached dur
ing 1918. Since the armistice, there
has been a gradual decline. During
the past few weeks we have had the
most radical slump in prices exper-
fenced during the past twenty years
with the exception possibly of the
year 1907, which was only temper
ary. The present decline amounts
from $3.50 to 81 per hundred
weight. On October II, 1918, best
range steers were selling around
$12 to ST per hundred weight with
choice fat cows from $9, to $11.
Good grade sold from IS TO 50 per
hIndred weisht 7:' ~ 81 s'''s' 2 2
Range beef steers show q tre-
mendous loss to the producer and
amounts to from $40 to $50 per
head at this time as compared with
1918. Fat range cows are selling
at loss of from $40 to $25 per
head, and it must be remembered
that the overhead or operating ex-
penses are as heavy as during the
war. .. |
'In the Northwest states, it cost
from $50 to $40 per head to winter
cattle. This, with the big decline in
value, has cost the farmers from $40
to $50 per head to carry steer for
one year, and from $45 to $50 per
head on cows, not counting interest
and overhead. On the top Of this
unfortunately, many stockmen are
forced to market immature cattle on
the present market to meet pressing
obligations. This unprecedented sit
uation calls. for immediate govern
mental action.
"The situation as to sheep has
never been SO bad since 1893. Con-
ditions then we're better as wool had
a value, though low, and during that
period it cost very much less to op-
crate
'1At the present time, fat lambs
are selling for 50 per hundred
weight lower than q year ago, and
with practically no sale for wool It
is easy to see where the sheep pro-
ducers will. land with operating ex-
penses still very high.
Cost to Produce Wool
according to figures issued by
the Sheep association, it costs 42H
cents per pound to produce wool.
and IL cents per pound to produce
lambs. Wool. today, will bring less
than half its cost. Lambs are
worth 9scents per pound on an aver
age. One year ago. breeding ewes
were selling at $12 per head not.
swithstanding bad drouth conditions.
To-day, with the abundance Of feed,
theres .is no demand for ewes and
they are not worth to exceed $3.50
per head. ss.3l ,5...l
One year ago. wool pelts sold At
81 q piece, and today. $3.50. Beef
hides, year ago were worth from
S4Oc to Acc z. pound and are selling
with dihiculty at from &c to, ! e per
pound. 3. s s3.s VI s5s X
Present conditions as to wool
and mutton are brought about
chiefly BY foreign countries dump
5ing their surplus wool and mutton
~ l, our mark ksts, auaing tremendous
losses to [ our prod ducers. The trou-