140 American Catih Markets and the Dressed Beef Trade, 
the American, have built up a mechanical system in the Yards 
which it would be difficult to improve upon. Trading is carried 
on in a very businesslike way ; there is little of that haggling 
met with in local English markets. More especially is this the 
case with the large buyers. They ride into the pen, glance rapidly 
over the cattle, make a bid, and, if the bargain is made at all, 
two or three minutes is all the time that is taken up. The sellers, 
of course, know the class of cattle each man wants, and conse- 
quently time is saved in this way — and in fact, as time is money, 
scarcely a moment is lost while active business is going on. The 
gossiping, incident to every business, is generally done in the 
afternoon in the hallway of the Exchange Building. Some of 
the largest commission houses handle from 200 to 500 cattle a 
day over and above hogs and sheep, and, as some of the buyers 
purchase as many and possibly more, it is easily seen that there 
is not much time to be wasted. 
The classes of cattle coming to market are pretty well 
defined. We have, first, the " exporters " ; this includes cattle that 
are suitable for the Eastern markets as well as good enough to 
go to England. Second, the " dressed beef" steers, suitable for 
the dressed beef business. Third, " butcher stufi"," composed of 
light steers and the better gi'ade of cows. Fourth, " canners," 
which includes everything not good enough for butchering ; and 
then as an extra class we have the " range " cattle, which are 
pretty well divided among the last three classes named. Last 
season, for instance, many of the best " rangers" went to the 
dressed beef trade ; but, as a rule, many of them are either put on 
to feed, or taken by the dressed beef men for a second grade beef ; 
while an enormous number of them, and more especially those 
from Texas, are put into cans. 
The prices ruling for all classes of cattle may be calculated 
from the following Table, taken from a market circular dated 
January 12, 1889 :— 
^ $ a d. s. d. 
Extra prime steers 5.25 to 5.50 = atout 21 0 to 22 0 
E.xporters, 1,450 to 1,600 lbs. average . 4.60 „ 5.25 „ 18 6 „ 21 0 
Good dressed beef and shipping steers, 
1,500 to 1,400 lbs 3.75 „ 4.50 „ 15 0 „ 18 0 
Fair to medium steers, 1,150 to 1,400 lbs. 3.50 „ 4.00 „ 14 0 „ 16 0 
Common to fair steers, 900 to 1,150 lbs. . 2.75 „ 3.30 „ 11 0 „ 13 3 
Good cows and heifers .... 2.85 „ 3.25 „ 11 6 „ 13 0 
Fair to medium cows and heifers . . 2.20 „ 2.50 „ 9 0 „ 10 0 
Canners 1.25 „ 2.10 „ 5 0 „ 8 0 
Bulls 2.00 „ 3.50 „ 8 0 „ 14 0 
Good stockers and feeders . . . 2.60 „ 3.50 „ 10 6 „ 14 0 
Common stockers and feeders . . 1.50 „ 2.64 „ 6 0 „ 10 6 
Calves, heavy, 300 lbs. and upwards . 3.00 „ 3.50 „ 12 0 „ 14 0 
Calves, light, 100 to 180 lbs. . . . 4.25 „ 6.00 „ 17 0 „ 24 0 
