CATTLE-GROWING OUT WEST. 25 



four States and Territories have increased their stock, 

 five have stood still, and thirty have decreased in com- 

 parison with the population. The rapid increase of our 

 population will soon require that more cattle be raised, 

 or we shall have to pay higher prices for beef. The 

 number of people is increasing much faster than the 

 number of cattle. The receipts of cattle in Chicago in 

 1867 were 334,188, as against 324,599 in 1868, show- 

 ing a decrease in one year of 9659 head brought to 

 market. Since then the cattle product of Wyoming has 

 done something to relieve the Chicago market, but the 

 number has not kept pace with the increase of popula- 

 tion in that city. In 1863 cattle brought in Chicago 

 $4.80 per hundred; in 1864, $7.52; in 1865, $8.46; 

 in 1866, $7.72 ; in 1867, $8.02; and in 1868, $8.10. 

 In 1867 the value of meat consumed in the United 

 States was $1,396,643,699, and in 1868, $1,337,111,- 

 822, showing that notwithstanding the increased value 

 of stock there was a decrease in the total value of 

 $59,531,877. Since then we have no accurate reports, 

 but the ratio of annual increase of stock in the country 

 is about If per cent. So we must raise more cattle, or 

 in a few years pay higher prices for beef. This view 

 of the case is most encouraging to the stock-growers, 

 and shows conclusively the importance of the cattle 

 trade. For ten years at least yet the stock-growers need 

 have no fear of overstocking the beef market. 



As before stated, the great pasture-lands of the 

 country aggregate over one million square miles, and 

 are located principally along the Rio Grande, Neuces, 

 San Antonio, Guadalupe, Colorado, Brazos, Trinity, 



