132 American Cattle Marhets and the Dressed Beef Trade. 
It will be noted that in twenty-three years the increase in 
cattle has been six-fold and over ; while the shipments have de- 
creased wonderfully in proportion. To-day, instead of shipping 
70 per cent, of the cattle received, we slaughter over that number, 
and less than 30 per cent, are forwarded alive. Thus, in fact, 
about 70 cattle out of every 100 are slaughtered in Chicago. 
The greatest increase in any one year was in 1887, when we 
received 418,108 cattle more than in 1886. Last year, 1888, 
we note another increase of 229,535 head, making a total in- 
crease during the past two years of 647,643 head. This is a 
remarkable augmentation, and is due to various causes which 
will be discussed later on. 
In passing, it will be noted that the shipments made propor- 
tionately a gi'eat advance in 1888, which is accounted for by the 
fact that all classes of cattle last season have, on the average, 
commanded higher prices than in 1887, which was the zero 
mark in values so far as the Chicago cattle market as at present 
organised has ever seen. The demand, more especially during 
the summer months, was active, and competition was excellent 
for all grades of cattle. 
The receipts by the day, month, and year must astound 
readers who are not acquainted with the trade carried on in the 
above Yards. The market goes on day after day: no halt except 
on Saturday, when but few cattle are received, probably one- 
fourth of the usual receipts. Cattle are received on all days of 
the week and year, but no shipping takes place on Sunday or 
holidays, while trading and all classes of work, except what is 
absolutely necessary, are stopped on the first day of the week. 
The Stock Yards of Kansas City were organised in 1871, 
and while their growth has not been so steady as that of 
Chicago, the increase of receipts during the last year has been 
phenomenal. The increase, however, is not entirely what might 
be termed natural. It is owing to the development of the 
railway systems, which centre at this point : and what has been 
Kansas City's gain has been St. Louis' loss. Railroads pushing 
out into Texas from the former point have diverted cattle from 
the older lines that had connections with the latter city, and the 
further building and extensions of such lines promise to make 
the Kansas City Stock Yards as a receiving point almost the 
equal of Chicago. It will be noted, however, that it is, for 
the present at least, very much of a stopping point, as the 
shipments are exceedingly heavy ; many of the cattle coming 
from the South and West not paying yardage, but coming 
straight on, after feeding, to the older market. However, of 
the 1,056,086 head received at this point in 1888, 372,925 were 
