370 
The American Cattle Trade. 
factory return. In further support of this [statement, reference 
may be made to the prices paid by the United States Government 
for beef bought by contract in large quantities for the subsistence 
ol the army and of the Indians on the Plains. In 1869 large 
purchases were made at lfe?., dressed, or 3/. 10s. a head for 
steers of 1000 lbs., delivered in the Indian territory, 200 miles 
from the Texas ranges. (I inspected many of these cattle myself, 
and know they were good beeves of their kind.) In 1872, at the 
same point, a little more (3*68 cents per lb., dressed) was paid 
for 6,000,000 lbs. ; in 1874, 1-frf. per lb. ; in 1876, l%d. Here 
is an average of 37. 12s. for four-year-olds of 1000 lbs., which 
covered driving, risks in an Indian country, and the large 
profits always secured by the Government contractors on our 
Irontier. The average price received for these animals by the 
ranche-men who raised them was probably 21. 16s. Likewise 
in Wyoming territory during the last three years, contractors 
have sold the United States 25,000,000 lbs. of dressed beef, when 
the animals had to be driven 200 miles north of Cheyenne, at 
an average price of 2±d. per lb., which is about 51. As. a head 
for bullocks of 1000 lbs. The stock-raisers of Colorado and 
Wyoming could have sold them more profitably at the railroad 
for Al. As. each, had there been a demand ; although this is 
15 per cent, below the market rates of that vicinity. 
It is undoubtedly true that the Eastern markets will not remain 
satisfied with the grade of beef which these extreme Western 
herds have produced. But already an improvement is perceptible. 
The New York reports for June state : " Texans, which, by the 
by, are rapidly improving in quality and reputation, brought 
5^d. and 5frf. per lb., 56 per cent, of beef." This improve- 
ment is certainly to be expected, and a little experience will 
assure its progress. The breeders find that by using pure-bred 
Shorthorn bulls, the first cross with the Texan stock produces 
animals which are better prepared for market, in size and con- 
dition, at two and three-years-old, than the natives a year or more 
older. The saving of time and freeing of capital thus secured, 
more than counterbalance the objections to the necessary outlay, 
and will ultimately cheapen the production as much as it helps 
the quality of the beef. 
It is therefore safe to assert that it is possible for beeves 
weighing 1200 to 1300 lbs., such as now sell in New York for 
157. to 17/., to be placed there at a cost of from 10/. to 11/., 
and still be profitable to all who handle them. That being so, 
beef can be sold in our Eastern markets at 3^d. per lb., of the 
same grade as is now quoted at 5^d. 
The next point is to connect these beef-sales in New York 
with the subject of exportation. The animal I have described 
