794 ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Due. 



tributed, is the Shorthorn. The breed had its origin during the 

 18th century, in the North of England, in the Counties of Durham, 

 York, Lincoln and Northumberland — early known as North Umbria. 

 They were known as Durhams, Teeswater cattle, from the river Tees, 

 and Shorthorn as distinguished from the Longhorn cattle to which 

 they were the more worthy successors. As the Anglo Saxon race 

 is the blending of the best elements of several nationalities that suc- 

 cessively ruled and plundered England for centuries, so the Short- 

 horn breed of cattle represents the commingling of the best bovine 

 blood of the kingdom, which was intensified and improved by in- 

 telligent husbandmen, and soon became, and has continued to be 

 the leading breed of the world. Some importations of these cattle 

 were made to the American colonies during the latter part of the 

 18th century, but during the first half of the l ( Jth century these 

 importations became numerous, and many of these improved cattle 

 found their way into New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and then 

 to Kentucky, Ohio and on to Mississippi Valley. As the fame of 

 these excellent cattle spread, the demand for them increased rapidly 

 and consequently their value rose. As early as 1810 Chas. Colling 

 sold 47 head at public sale for an average of $735, one bull selling for 

 $5,000, and two cows at $2,000 each. Sales, both public and private, 

 continued with varied success uutil they reached a climax during 

 the decade from 18G5 to 1875. In 1857 an importation was made 

 into Illinois and sold at Springfield at an average of $1,165, and in 

 1875 J. H. Pickrell, former Secretary of the American. Shorthorn 

 Breeders' Association, sold 23 head at Decatur, Illinois for an aver- 

 age of $1,265, and at this price Mr. Pickrell felt the bidders had 

 robbed him. September 2, 1875, Mr. Torr sold 85 head in England at 

 the remarkable average of $2,860, and four days later Lord Dun- 

 more sold 39 head for an average of $3,829, and sold the bull, Duke 

 of Connaught for 4,500 guineas, equal, at that time, to $26,900 Ameri- 

 can money. But the sensational sale of all bovine history was made 

 at New Y r ork Mills, September 10, 1873, where the bidders lost their 

 heads and afterward their money. At this sale 109 head sold for an 

 average of $3,504, and one cow brought $40,600. 



As the Shorthorns became scattered through the country they 

 soon made a wonderful improvement on the native cattle. This im- 

 provement was greatest in Kentucky and Ohio, into both of which 

 states several importations had been made from England. The 

 farmers of these states soon produced large number of excellent 

 steers, that being matured and fattened then found a market in Bal- 

 timore, Philadelphia and New Y r ork, after an overland journey of 

 500 to 800 miles. The pioneers in this overland traffic were George 

 and Felix, of Ohio, the former taking 68 steers across in 1805, and 

 the latter 100 head in 1817, which he sold in Philadelphia for f 134 

 per head. In 1841 K. R. Seymour drove 840 fat steers to Philadel- 

 phia, and between these dates mentioned many droves were taken 

 to seaboard markets. Owing to the condition of the country and 

 the profusion of wild grasses it was possible for cattle to make this 

 long journey and arrive in condition of prime beef, at least for that 

 time. The long journey was made by big well-formed steers from 4 

 to 6 years old, lazily cropping the succulent grasses which grew in 

 rich profusion everywhere, and slaking their thirst in the bubbling 

 springs and clear fresh rivulets with which the country was abun- 



