The Coconino sun., 1922-12-15
GENTLEMEN OF STATE SAY THAT STOCKYARD
 LOWERS THE MARKET

Cattlemen of Arizona are experience ing the most unsettled conditions of cattle markets that have been known for many years. The uncertainty of market prices for cattle coming from feed lots and ranges of our state seems due to very great extent to the present chaotic condition of the Los Angeles stock yards.
 The Union Stock Yards in Los An geles have been direct cause for hold ing back several cattle buyers who heretofore have worked throughout this state and as a result not nearly so many cattle have moved from our ranges as in years back. Since the opening of the stock yards November l, hundreds of head of cattle have moved into Los Angeles from Texas, New Mexico, Colorado, Utah, Wyom- ing, Idaho and Montana that have formerly gone to eastern pens. These cattle are thrown on the open market in the coast city and in many in- stances have sold for a great sacri- flee being unable to move elsewhere. This condition added to that of hold ing back buyers from adjacent states to California has resultel in fewer cattle being sold throughout Arizona than for several seasons previous. It directly forces Arizona cattle to com pete against the everemely heavy steers and cows from those northwest and Rocky mountain states.
 At present good heavy beef steers are selling from 6 cents to 7A cents per pound in Los Angeles whereas the same steers bought on the ranges and taken to plants in San Francisco will cost buyers from cents to cents laid down in the Bay city. This ma terially reflects a much weaker mar ket in Los Angeles today over that of the prices paid by San Francisco buyers. Many shipments of cattle have been forced to feed several days in Los Angeles before a buyer makes a bid on them and this expense of care is bourn by the owners who ship to that market. Furthermore, the freight charges and the shrinkage as we'll as the feed during transit must be met by the owner. This coupled with the delay at the yards in find ing a buyer makes a much reduced market price for cattle in Los An geles. Even after a buyer is found the owner must pay very high com mission for the sale.
 It is a deplorable condition indeed and cattlemen not only in California but over the ranges of Arizona are feeling the heavy effects of the de- pressed conditions. The stock yards thusfar are proving no salvation whatsoever to the cattlemen of this state and it will be interesting to watch the progress of those yards up- on the cattle industry of the entire southwest.
 The cattle growers are loathe to give up the present fair system of selling their herds at the ranches where "cutbacks" can then be left at home and never be shipped if not sold. The buyers thus handle the shipping as the cattle leave the ranges, and the cattleman himself is in this way not forced to play the other mans game on the open market.
 From a feeder standpoint which is the bulk of the cattle Arizona sup plies California-the stock yards so far prove of not value whatsoever and the same respect as on fat cattle are depressed conditions materially.
 Arizona cattlemen should watch constantly the progress made by the union yards in Los Angeles and the effects they are bringing about. Cal ifornia receives practically all of Ari- zona cattle and if the Los Angeles yards continue to prove a intolerance the cattlemen should do all within their power to keep away from that system of marketing. Should they prove a success, of course cattlemen will welcome the change of conditions.
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