504 



AGRICULTURE. 



Table showing the proportion of cattle to population , the value of cattle and 

 beef products exported, and the mean price of beef steers in Chicago. 



The above table shows that, in 1880, with a steady increase in 

 the price of steers since 1878, with 490 cattle other than milch 

 cows to the 1000 of population, and with an export of cattle 

 and beef products amounting to $31,544,360, the mean price 

 of butchers' steers in the Chicago market was $5.75 per 100 

 pounds. From 1880 to 1881, there was an increase in the 

 number of cattle of 12 per 1000 of population, the exports in- 

 creased over $1,000,000, and the mean price of steers increased 

 15 cents per 100 pounds. 



In 1882, we find a remarkable increase in the price of steers, 

 which cannot be explained by the data furnished. With an 

 increase of 20 cattle other than mikh cows, per 1000 of popu- 

 lation, and a falling off in the export trade of over $10,000,000, 

 the price of cattle not only advanced, but reached the highest 

 point of the decade. The increase in the mean price of steers, 

 from 1 88 1 to 1882, was 87 cents per 100 pounds. 



The mean price of steers in 1883 was $1.10 per 100 pounds 

 lower than in 1882. The exports for the year had increased 

 $2,500,000, and the number of cattle other than milch cows, per 

 1000 of population, was 14 greater than in the preceding year. 

 Here again the fluctuation of price is much greater than the 



