Year: 1878

4


The following, from Griiiith's Chicago Lire


Stock Reporter, evidently written with care,
possesses great interest for cattle growers:
! Now that the spring season seens so near
at hand-nearer perhaps than it is, owing to
! the extreme mildneSs of the winter-increas-
/ ing interest is felt In the future OF cattle
/ VIII prices be higher or lower than they are


now, are the questions of the hour, and viii
| probably so remain until it has been answer,
| ed by the revelations which shall then be


made We have, however, never seen a
greater unanimity of opinion upon the SUBJ
| ject in this market than exists to-day. We
| have vet to hear of one of our dealers


either a buyer or seller-who is looking for


even present prices to be sustained, for any
grade of cattle excepting stochers and feed


ers. In regard to these the opinion is held
! that there viii, in the spring season, be an


active demand and especially SO should ii be


an early and favorable one for grass 1t is
| Thought that the supply of stock cattle In the
west is at the best small, hence that there


will be an active competition such as may


serve to bring stock and fat cattle nearer to-
gether in price than may be relished by farm
ers, who for months formerly have been law
ishly feeding their corn to stock We have,


within few days, heard experienced and


good men express their belief that choice
fat cattle, such rs are now selling at 81 p
as 80, win in little while not exceed 81,
and that medium grades viii fall from what


may be supposed their present low values, III


similar and further degree is the better


grades.


Whether these views be realized or Iot,


We cannot tell but this is clear; that the


tendency of the cattle market Is to-day, as


it has been for weeks past, downward. The


comparatively high and extreme prices which


for years past have been pad for hogs, has


made fresh pork a sort of luxury, which


could only be enjoyed by the more wealthy :;


but now that it is the cheapest fresh meat IN


market, consumers have made change Of


base, and 10 such an extent, tina: the demand


for beef has materially fallen oh, and the
demand fer pork product more than doubled.
A few years since, when the speculative life


of the country ran high, but few among rs


cared for a few cents per pound IN purchas-


ing supplies for the table; now, however, all


has changed Instead of plenty and excess,
there is a privation and poverty largely IN
termingled among our rural and city popu-
lations, and therefore an anxiety displayed
to make every cent 90 as far as 1t can. We
may further state as an active cause OF the
present weakness and depression in our beef
| cattle trade, the radical changes which have
taken pace within few years IN slaughter


Ing and preparing it for the market. Dur


ing the past year an enormous number OF
| cattle were slaughtered in the west, for the
purpose of preparing canned and eorned
beef. which can to-day be had cooked and


ready for the table at very nearly the same


if not a lower, price than it can be pur-
chased fresh from the butcher. 1t Is true
| that large quantities of these meats are ex-
| ported TO other countries, but We must not
overlook the fact that our eastern cities are
| also using this largely, nor can We help The
conclusion that to the influences now referred
to NAV be attributed much of the depression
| which for some time past has been reported
from New York and all our eastern markets
OF course, all sorts of excuses are alleged as
the active causes-mild weather, or ram, or
large receipts; but We fancy We see through
them all the shadow of restricted demand
plainly outlined. Whatever views western
cattle dealers hold upon this subject, We may


not know; bGt any way. 1t Is to be hoped


that they will rot run the risk of contract


ing cattle for futures upon the quotations OF


the market to-day. Indeed. TO our view,


there has not for years been a poorer time


for specalating, either in beef or pork