REPORT OF THE STATISTICIAN. 



441 



The number of cows is steadily increasing with increase of population, 

 and is largest in the more rapidly growing Western States. 



The increase in horses has been large, and not confined to any sec- 

 tion, though largest beyond the Mississippi, in the newer States and in 

 the Territories beyond. A slight enlargement of the number of mules 

 is indicated. 



The numbers of sheep have slightly decreased in the older States, in 

 sympathy with the tendency to decline in values of sheep and wool; 

 but the deficiency has been made up by some enlargement of flocks in 

 the Territories. 



The aggregate numbers of each class of stock are thus compared with 

 those of the previous return : 



Stock. 



1883. 



1884. 



Increase. 





10, 838,111 

 1.871, 079 

 13, 125, 685 

 28, 046, 077 

 49, 237. 291 

 43, 270, 086 



11,169, G83 

 1,914,126 

 13, 501, 2u6 

 29.046,101 

 50, 626, 626 

 44, 200, 893 



331, 572 

 43, 747 



369, 521 

 1, 000, 024 

 1, 389, 335 



930, 807 















The drain of cattle from Texas to supply the West Indies trade, the 

 shipments to New Orleans and other points by rail and steamer, and 

 the drives north through the Indian Territory, have taken all the annual 

 increase, and caused a slight reduction in the number remaining in the 

 State, if the returns accurately represent the numbers. 



The movement westward from the other Gulf States may have been 

 facilitated by the drought prevailing in that section. Many correspond- 

 ents assign this as a cause of reduction of numbers by sales and drives 

 towards Texas. 



While the movement of cattle from Georgia, Alabama, and Missis- 

 sippi is mainly to Texas, there is also a similar movement within that 

 State towards the cheaper land along its western borders, as well as the 

 usual movement across its northern boundary to the pasture lands of 

 Xew Mexico, Colorado, Kansas, and other grazing States and Terri- 

 tories. In Austin County, Texas, a decrease in the number of cattle is 

 reported as the result of heavy losses last winter; while a report from 

 Bexar County, in the same State, mentions the severity of the present 

 winter as a cause of suffering, the stock being already considerably re- 

 duced in condition. In Williamson County: " Decrease is due to large 

 numbers being driven further west, to better range." In Callahan 

 County: "Decrease is caused by removal of many to range further 

 west, the moving made necessary by the largely increased settlement." 

 Matagorda: "Decrease is due to large sales for Kansas drives." 



Another movement of neat stock westward is that of calves from the 

 Ohio Valley, and from more eastern States. From Shelby County, 

 Kentucky, come reports of " large numbers of young cattle shipped to 

 the West." Michigan reports indicate a decrease from sale of fat cat- 

 tle and movement of younger stock, on account of the failure of the corn 

 crop. Portions of Minnesota report the same cause of decrease. 



So sharp has been the competition for stock by the great cattle syn- 

 dicates of the mountains, formed by a combination of Eastern and 

 European capital, that the movement towards the great district cov- 

 ered by Xew Mexico, Colorado, Wyoming, Montana, and other Terri- 

 tories has been general, drawing stock, young or old, or all ages indis- 

 criminately, from all sections of the East and from the Pacific coast. 



