THE BEEF SUPPLY 



44,659,200. The gain since 1880 is over 100 

 per cent. The gain in the country's popula- 

 tion since that year aside from territorial 

 acquisitions is only about 51 per cent. 



The number of milch cows has increased 

 since 1880 much less rapidly, viz., by about 

 42 per cent, being in 1880, 12,000,000 odd. 

 In 1884 there were 13,000,000 odd; in 1886, 

 14,000,000; in 1889, 15,000,000; and in 1891, 

 16,000,000. In 1897 tne number fell off a 

 little, a trifle more in 1898, mounting to the 

 16,000,000 figure again in 1900. In 1903 

 the number was just over 17,000,000. 



The low-price average for native beeves 

 in the Omaha market in recent years has run 

 as follows: for 1898, $3.42; 1889, $4.03; 

 1900, $3.83; 1901, $3.81 ; 1902, $4.07. The 

 high-price average for the same years 

 ranges as follows: 1898, $5.24; 1899, $5.89; 

 1900, $5.70; 1901, $5.95; 1902, $7.10. 



We now turn to note circumstances which 

 must tend to increase the production of beef, 

 even supposing the demand remains the 

 same. 



One of these is the multiplication of first- 



