The Middlebury Register

Texas Cattle.

We take the following editorial from the New England Farmer:

The editor of the Western Rural says that an extensive dealer in live stock at Chicago told him that but for the presence of Texas cattle at that market the price of beef would have gone up to 12 cents per pound, live weight, or some 3 cents a pound higher than it has done. This estimate may possibly be a little extravagant, but there can be no doubt that the Texas cattle have materially reduced the prices on our native stock, and that New England farmers have received many thousand dollars less for their cattle than they would have obtained if there had been no Texas stock in the market.

We have therefore thought that a few facts in relation to the trade in Texas cattle would be interesting to the readers of the Farmer.

These cattle come principally from the northern part of Texas. The cost, by the head, when bought by the herd, where raised, is for beef cattle about $11; milch cows $6, three-year-olds $7, two-year-olds $4, yearlings $2.50. The average distance driven on foot is about 700 miles. Cost of driving, $2 per head exclusive of 20 per cent. risk; time, about two months. A town on the Kansas Pacific railway, called Abilene, is the point at which most of them are received. This place is 160 miles west of the Mississippi river, 440 miles from St. Louis, and 670 miles from Chicago. The grass and water in the vicinity of Abilene cannot be excelled on the continent; and the mildness of the climate, and the absence of flies and mosquitoes contribute materially toward the fattening of cattle rapidly and with little risk. The facilities for shipping, and for the general transaction of business pertaining to the trade are also first class; and there is little reason to doubt that Abilene will become, at no very distant day, the largest cattle market in the whole country.

Arriving at Abilene in good order, a mixed herd is held at about the following average figures:

Beef cattle,.. $20
Milch cows,.. 12
Three-year-olds,.. 10
Two-year-olds,.. 8
One-year-olds,.. 5

After being "grazed" through the summer, the same cattle are worth 20 per cent. more. Beef cattle, of average flesh, ready for market, are valued at $25.00.

The cattle sent to market usually average about 900 pounds, and not unfrequently go over 1,000. They sell in St. Louis and Chicago at an average of 3 1/2 cents per pound—oftener above than below that price.

The larger portion of the Texas cattle, however, are shipped direct to New York and other Atlantic cities, where many are packed and sent to Europe. The price in New York averages eight cents per pound. This makes the value of a 900 pound steer, in New York market, $72, or about double the St. Louis and Chicago value. The additional freight, however, very nearly covers the difference in quotations. The freight from Abilene to St. Louis or Chicago is six to seven dollars per head. The freight from Abilene to New York or Boston is nearly four times as much as to St. Louis or Chicago; and there is, in addition, a 20 per cent. transportation risk, growing out of the increased extent of the route, and the greater time consumed in getting to market. The money actually invested in a Texas steer up to the time of his reaching St. Louis or Chicago is about $23; and he brings on an average at three and a half cents per pound, just $31.50 leaving a profit to the seller, on the total investment, of $8.50, or about 30 per cent. The same steer sent to New York or Boston will represent, on reaching there, about $55; and he sells in those markets for $72, average—giving but a trifle more profit than if sold in western markets at a price one-half less.

The bulk of the cattle held at Abilene are owned by what are called the "big cattle men," who usually have 5,000 to 10,000 each. Small dealers hold from 100 to 1,000 each. The largest dealers control the market.

The Topeka (Kansas) Record, from a lengthy article in which we condense the foregoing facts, says that last year about 50,000 head of cattle were shipped eastward from Abilene, and so great has been the increase of the business at this point, that the number for the present year is estimated at one hundred and fifty thousand.