524 



Missouji Agricultural Report. 



end of our riot of resources and incite us to better business 

 methods. 



Paradoxical as it may seem, the leanest years have been our 

 fattest, and were it not for the hope that we may be able to "beat 

 the game" again, no doubt many of us would be tempted to abandon 

 the feed lot this year, but experience has taught us that a change 

 in occupation often proves disastrous ; men who have spent the best 

 of their lives in any pursuit are slow to adapt themselves to new 

 conditions. The evils of which we complain today are largely of 

 our own making, and when thoroughly convinced of the error of 

 our way, I have faith that energy and good judgment will find a 

 remedy, that in this fast age of complex business activities the old 

 methods which at best yielded only a scant remuneration will be 

 abandoned and that keener perception, advanced ideas and closer 

 application will suggest better methods; that in studying to better 

 conserve our resources we will also learn to eliminate waste and 

 husband the forces which, when intelligently directed, will again 

 restore our business to normal conditions. 



HOW TO PREPARE CATTLE FOR MARKET. 



(John T. Alexander, Chicago, 111.) 



Before taking up the subject upon which I am to speak, allow 



me to say that I am very glad, indeed, to be 

 with you today. I have many personal 

 friends in Missouri and have frequently 

 said to my wife and Illinois friends that the 

 Missouri people are the most clever in the 

 world. I want to congratulate the cattle 

 feeders of Missouri on their organization. 

 I believe it is a step in the right direction. 

 Indiana has a cattle feeders' organization 

 which has been organized several years. 

 Prof. Cochel, now of Manhattan, Kan., and 

 Dean Skinner of Indiana were the organiz- 

 ers, and that association is growing, meets 

 twice a year, in April and November, and is 

 undoubtedly doing a great deal of good. 

 Packers and stockyards people are well organized, as you all 

 know, and packers keep well posted on the supply of stock on feed 

 in the country. Why should not the cattle feeder be just as well 



J. T. Alexander. 



