224 



EEPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER OF AGRICULTURE. 



sAnrx LOUIS. 



Horses and mules. — The receipts of horses and mules were 22,721 in 

 187G, asrainst 27,51G in 1875, and 27,175 in 187i. The shipments were 

 26,3U1 in 1876, 28,675 in 1875, and 30,202 in 1871. It will be noticed that 

 in each of the three years the shipments are more numerous than the 

 receipts. This apparent discrepancy is explained hy the fact that the 

 receipts are conMned to rail and steamer and take no account of the 

 animals brought into the city from the immediate neighborhood. The 

 range of prices per head for all grades on the first day of each month for 

 the past four years was as follows : 



ltf75. 



1676. 



Mcnths. 



Horses. > Mules. Horses. 



Males. Horees. 



Males. I Horses. Moles. 



Jannarv I .$30 to$l75§60 to$200^40 to$ie0f75 toS200.*-20 to$-200'SS0 



FebnuuT \ ! j 30 to 105 50 to 200 40 lo 1601 75 to 200 £5 to 2Ci0 



March.." !S.^.O toSJOOeSo to$200' 30 to 16:; 50 to 200 40 to ieo\ 75 to 200 25 tj 200 



April I 50 to 200 fcjto 200 30 to 105 50 to 200 40 to 160' 75 to 200 25 to 200 



Mnv ' 40 to 200 85 to 175 30 to Im 50 to 20O 40 to ItO; 75 to 1^0 25 to 200 



Jtuie i 40 to 225 65 10 200 40 to 170 65 to 200 40 to ISO, 75 to 200 25 to 250 



JaJv j 40 to 230 85 to 200 40 to 200 70 to 190 40 to leO| 75 to 160 25 to 250 



Augast ■ 40 to 225 90 to 225 40 to 200 75 to 200 40 to 180; 75 to 2yO 25 to 2.=J0 



September I 40 to 225 90 to 225 40 to im 75 to 200 40 to 1801 75 to 200 25 to 250 



October I 40 to 225, 75 to 225 40 to 170 75 to 2<X> 40 to 200| 85 to 200 25 to 25(-' 



Xovembsr i 25 to 175 65 to 175 40 to 170 75 to 200 25 to 200 80 to 200 25 to 250 



December I 40 to 200i 65 to 225 40 to 17tt 75 to 200 20 to 200 60 to 200 25 to 250 



to?200 

 to 200 

 to 200 

 to 170 

 to 170 

 to 185 

 to 165 

 to 185 

 to 185 



to les 



to 185 

 to 165 



This trade is mostly with the South, and is not very remunerative, as 

 its declining aggregates indicate. The largest source of supply* is West- 

 ern Missouri and Kansas, full half the receipts coming from that region. 

 A large number come down the Mississippi Eiver on steamers. Illinois 

 furnishes about 10 per cent, of the whole, and a few come from Ohio, 

 Indiana, and Kentucky. 



Cattle. — The receipts of cattle amounted to 349,013 head, an increase 

 of 1 per cent, over 1875, but not equal to 1874. Shipments 220,430, an 

 increase of nearly 2 jier cent. 



The aggregate receipts and shipments of the last twelve years were as 

 follows . 



The above figures show a rapid augmentation of the cattle trade of 

 Saint Louis, especially since the immense production of Texas and the 

 southern trans-Mississippi region began to find its way to the eastern 

 markets through the Pacific railroads. The maximum receipts are 

 noted in 1874, but the reaction of 1875 was partially compensated by the 

 increased receipts of 1876. The new transportation arrangements with 

 the east-bound railways will inure to the advantage of this trade, as well 

 as to the Hour and grain movement, and it is believed that both receipts 

 and shipments will go on increasing in the future. 



