4884 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER. 
785 
£l)c perils man. 
STOCK NOTES. 
It seems a pity that the rivalry between the 
cities of Chicago anti St. Louis should in any 
way injuriously affect the live stock interests 
of the country, yet to what other cause except 
this rivalry can be attributed the bolding of 
two national conventions of stockmen at 
about, the same time—one at Chicago, com¬ 
mencing November 18, and the other at St. 
Louis, commencing November 17. Of course, 
there will be ample time for those who at¬ 
tend the former convention to he present at 
the latter also, but how many of them will bo 
there ? As the American Fat Stock Show, which 
commences at Chicago November 10, must 
attract a great number of stockmen to tbat 
city, it certainly seems to be the most appro¬ 
priate place for holding the convention. In 
view of the euormons losses indicted every 
year by contagious diseases on the livestock 
interests of the country, and of the urgent 
need of repressive and prevent ive legislation, 
State and National, It is of the highest Im¬ 
portance that the convention should bo large¬ 
ly attended by represen tot ve stock owners 
from all parts of the country, so as to add 
wisdom to the discussions and weight to the 
conclusions arrived at. Those who make the 
laws cannot disregard the views and wishesof 
so vast an interest as the live stock industry 
of the country, if properly set forth by a truly 
representative body. 
At the St. Louis Convention, the Colorado 
Cattle Growers' Association is to press a resolu¬ 
tion “requesting that appointments of agents 
tn the United States Bureau of Animal Indus¬ 
try be made by the Commissioner of Agricul¬ 
ture on the recommendation of the Natiouul 
Cattle Growers’ Association.” There is no 
doubt whatever that stock owners are very 
much dissatisfied with several of the present 
agents of the Bureau, and in view of the dis¬ 
closures made with regard to the personal 
character and professional incompetency of 
some of them, one is inclined to wonder on 
what grounds and on whose recommendation 
they were appointed. Among them one at 
least is notoriously intemperate, and several 
times while visiting ailing herds has been unfit 
for duty through intoxication. This charge 
has been publicly made over and over again 
against Dr. Trumbower by responsible parties, 
yet be still remains charged with important 
official duties. Mow many of the others knew 
little or nothing about veterinary matters 
until they “crammed” to secure their present 
positions? It is the distrust caused by the un¬ 
satisfactory character of some of the agents of 
tho Bureau that leads uiuuy to distrust their 
diagnosis of the cattle disease which has lately 
caused such alarm in Illinois, The Chief of 
the Bureau, Dr. D. E. Salmon, however. Is a 
thoroughly capable, honest and efficient vete¬ 
rinarian, and his decision iu the mutter is 
worthy of as much credit as that of any man 
in the land. Lndeed, from the fact tbut every 
new case hitherto discovered can bo traced 
back to some infected herd, it seems to me 
there can be no doujjt as to the contagious na¬ 
ture of the malady ; still, to satisfy the most 
skeptical, it would be well to hasten the ex¬ 
periment proposed by the Chicago Live-Stock 
Exchange. 
There appears to be some trouble in starting 
this experiment. The ten animals offered by 
the Exchange for the test are Northern and 
Southern natives and cattle from the interme¬ 
diate States, which are known to be hardier 
and thought to be less liable to the disease 
than any of the pure breeds. Dr. Phaaren 
the State Veterinarian, whose coarse and ar- 
bitary behavior is exposing him to severe 
criticism from the press and the public re¬ 
quires that two thoroughbred Short horus, 
Herefords and Holsteins should be admitted 
for test puiposes, the rest to be Texas aud 
Montana cattle. If the object of the exper¬ 
iment were to determine to what oxtent the 
disease is contagious among the different 
breeds, this demand would be quite legitimate- 
but, so far as I understand, the only point the 
Exchange wishes to ascertain, is whether the 
disease is contagious or not—whether it is 
genuine pleuro-pneumonia contagiosa—and 
this can be as well determined by means of 
cheap natives as by means of expensive thor¬ 
oughbreds. Of course, it may be, nay, it is 
desirable to ascertain, not only to what extent 
the different breeds are liable to contagion, 
but also how seriously they may be affected’; 
but it is hardly fair to increase the expenses 
of the Exchange in order to determine points 
which lie beyond its original proposition. In 
the Old Country all breeds and ages are equal¬ 
ly liable to contagion, although many Indi¬ 
vidual animals, through some innate idiosyn¬ 
crasy , resist all attempts at infection, while 
others show the disease only in a mild form. 
Mr. J. H. Sanders of the Breeder’s Gazette 
is, I see, subjected to a considerable amount 
of adverse critcism in some quarters on ac¬ 
count of his connection with the Treasury 
Cattle Commission which expired on July 1 
last. It is said that he traveled about this 
country aud a considerable portion of Europe 
drawing a salary aud expenses from the Gov¬ 
ernment while working for bis own paper; 
that while the agricultural press ot the country 
was equally entitled to early information with 
regard to the investigations of the Commis¬ 
sion. information was furnished to the Gazette 
before any other paper hud a cliance to ob. 
tain it, and in some cases Itofore it was re¬ 
ported to the Government. I cannot help 
thinking this criticism unfair. Before Mr. 
Handers' appointment on the Commission, the 
authorities knew quite well of his connection 
with the paper; probably, indeed, this con¬ 
nection was ouo of the causes of his appoint¬ 
ment. It was not stipulated that he should 
sever the connection before accepting the 
positiou: no complaint of the manner in which 
he discharged his official duties has over been 
made by the Government; on the contrary, 
the offer of the position of Superintendent of 
the Li ve Stock Department of the New Orloans 
Exposition made to him after the termination 
of the Cattle Commislon, proves that, his work 
had givcu satisfaction. There may be some 
doubt about tbc wisdom of the Government 
in appointing to office a man eugaged all the 
time in a private business which was sure to be 
vastly benefited by his official position; but 
there can be no doubt, about the wisdom of tho 
man in accepting it. Wasn’t it in the Rural 
I saw him blamed because our handsome Com¬ 
missioner of Agriculture had directed that 
communications concerning pleuro pneumonia 
iu the West should bo sent to the Gazette 
Office? Our handsome Commissioner may be 
blameworthy for thus advertising a special 
paper; but the editor of that paper would be 
blameworthy had he declined the advertise¬ 
ment. I don't kuow any editor or publisher 
who would have done so—do you? 
Hamilton Co., O. “roundabout.” 
Societies, etc. 
KANSAS CITY FAT STOCK SHOW. 
(RURAL SPECIAL REPORT.) 
ORIGIN AND PROGRESS OK THE SHOW. 
The successful establishment on the banks 
of the Missouri, in a region but a few years 
since iu possession of the Indiau and buffalo, 
of a national aunuul exhibition of butchers’ 
beasts, almost equal to the noted Smithfleld 
Show in England, may rightly be termed a 
notable event. Such was the inaugural exhi¬ 
bition of the Kansus City Fat Stock Show As¬ 
sociation In November, 1888, the second show of 
which was iu progress from October 25th ulti¬ 
mo, to November 1st Instant, inclusive. 
Of the origin of this enterprise likely to be 
so far-reaching for good to the meat-producing 
and consuming classes, the Executive Commit¬ 
tee, desiring to make it a matter of record, say 
in their report just made to the directors and 
stockholders: “The first public suggestion of 
the Kansas City Fat Stock Show wus the re¬ 
sult of a conference between Mr. G. W. Hen¬ 
ry, of Jackson County, Mo., and Mr, F. D. 
Coburn, of Wyandotte, Kansas, in which it 
was arranged that Mr. Henry should bring the 
subject to notice through a communication to 
the Live-Stock Indicator (Mr. Coburn being 
its editor,) and that journal should urge its 
consummation, which communication and 
editorial indorsement appeared accordingly 
August 10th, 1882.” A meeting was called 
and held September 28th following, of which 
Mr. Coburn was president. As a starter, the 
sum of $1,500 was subscribed by those present, 
and this amount was ultimately increased to 
about 80,000, to be used for the first exhibi¬ 
tion. an account of which was contained in the 
Rural soon after. 
For the show of the present year there was 
offered the liberal sum of $7,105 as premiums, 
or only $30 less than the aggregate of the 
premiums of the current, or seventh, annual 
show at Chicago, which is backed by the State 
of Illinois, and held under the auspices of its 
Board of Agriculture. The prominent fea¬ 
ture of this year’s show, as of last, was the 
cattle department, in which there were enter¬ 
ed 114 head as competing for premiums, be¬ 
sides a large number of others simply on ex¬ 
hibition. Of the butchers’ cattle 20 were from 
Kansas, 21 from Iowa, 20 from Illinois, 18 
from Missouri, 14 from Kentucky. 11 from 
Indiana, and four from Canada. Short-horns 
and their grades led in numbers, followed 
next by Herefords and their grades. In this 
line the black polled breeds were but poorly 
l epi esented, especially when compared with 
what might have been, had not too many of 
their owners been apparently “sulking in 
their tents” over some fancied slight or mis¬ 
treatment by the management last year—a 
management which was, by the way, largely 
in their own bauds. Their conduct has been 
foolish aud short-sighted, and, as such, will 
redound to the injury of themselves aud their 
favorites. Curiously enough, the second hea¬ 
viest animal shown was a cow, a grade Short- 
horu, mostly red, years old, called Canada’s 
Pride, weighing 2.665 pounds, and owned by 
the Canada West Farm Association, of Brant¬ 
ford. The only one above her in size was a 
roan grade Short-horn steer, of the same 
age, from Missouri, weighing 2,660 pounds. 
THE MOST NOTABLE ANIMAL IN THE SHOW, 
all things considered, was a barren, imported, 
Aberdeen Angus cow. Bride 3rd of Blairsbiu- 
noch, four-and-a-half years old, owned by 
G, W. Henry, of Kansas City, that with 
scarcely any preparation, won more prizes 
than any animal ever won in a similar show 
in this country, or possibly in Britain. Her 
triumphs were as follows: First prize (vir¬ 
tually equivalent to a sweepstakes) us best 
thoroughbred cow of auy uge or breed, three 
years old or over, $60; sweepstakes as best, 
cow, grade or thoroughbred, three years old 
or over, $75, aud sweepstakes as best dressed 
carcass of steer, spayed or barren heifer three 
years old or over, $75, and sweepstakes as 
best dressed carcass of any age, sex or breed, 
$100. Each of theHB prizes will be duplicated 
by the American Aherdeou-Angus Breeders’ 
Association, making tier total winning* within 
tho week amount to $600 This is tho more 
remarkable as her owner certifies that she 
ran in pasture from April to November, 1888; 
from that time to March, 1884, she rau to 
stacks, of both straw and hay, with no other 
shelter and no other feed. From March to 
August 26, 1884, she ran in pasture. Except 
one week at the Kansas City Fair and one 
week at Kansas City Fat Stock Show during 
1888, she had no feed of any description but 
that mentioned. Having bad a constant hope 
that this cow would breed, her owner had not 
allowed her any grain, and prevented her 
from getting excessively fat. Having refused 
service from April until August, he supposed 1 
her in calf and delayed feeding her on that 
account until August 86, 1881. Since then 
she had been in the stall, aud had eaten five 
bushels of shelled corn, 340 pounds of corn- 
chop, 120 pounds of wheat bran, 130 of oil 
meal, what buy she would out—750 pounds— 
and nothing else. 
Her live weight at the time of slaughter 
was 1,895 pounds and she dressed of not meat 
881 pounds, or 63 15 per cent, of her gross 
weight, ir excessively fat, her dressed weight 
would,of course,have been considerably great¬ 
er; but tho excess would have been of tallow 
und not of palatable food. 
ANOTHER NOTABLE BEAST. 
The next most notable ummal was a barren 
heifer, two years 0% months old, polled and 
black, with white face, called Burleigh's 
Pride. She was out or an imported cow and 
sired by an imported Aberdeen-Angus bull,and 
bred and reared by Mr. H. C, Burleigh, of 
Vassalboro, Maine, but exhibited by tho Indi¬ 
ana Blooded Stock Show Company, of which 
Mr. B. Is president. Her weight was 1,615 
pounds, aud she won the Breeder’s Gazette’s 
$100 gold medal as best beef animal iu tho 
show, bred and raised by an exhibitor. Mr. 
Burleigh informed the writer that this heifer, 
when calved, was very small, both her sire 
and dam being yearlings past, and that when 
a year old she was estimated to weigh but 500 
pounds. When 22 months old, having always 
been poorly kept on common farm faro, and 
then on scant pasture, her weight was 870 
pounds. Then she was taken up aud fed, and 
at 25 months,weighed 1,150;at27mouths 1,330; 
at 32 months 1,530, and at 88j^ mouths 1,615 
pounds. She was a model of symmetry—pre¬ 
senting the greatest weight within the small¬ 
est superflees and was deemed by many as of 
greater perfection than auy other animal on 
exhibition. 
The following shows the weights of differ¬ 
ent parts of the sweep stakes over-all, cow 
Bride 3d of Blairshinnock: 
,, , . . Pounds. 
Live weight... .. 
Weight ot tallow .. m 
“ hide . . 79 
“ left fore quarter . aa»w 
“ rltfht. fore rpiartor... &>4 
left hind quarter. 216 )* 
“ right hind quarter. 21i 
hiv'd .. j'iU 
■■ "fig 
" fe::::::::::::::— $ 
“ touKue. *2 
“ lun*n. a,- 
“ spleen. 
“ manifold. 221 * 
“ 'all. 
IN THE SHEEP DEPARTMENT 
there were but six exhibitors, having 22 en¬ 
tries; of these 11 were of Cots wolds or their 
grades, eight of South Down* and three of 
fine-wools, besides one car-load of 50 range 
sheep. The premium of $125 for heaviest fat 
sheep, went to a South Down weighing 233>£ 
pounds, owned by J. H. Potts & Son, of 
Illinois. The premium for the best dressed 
carcass was given also on a South Down 
owned by the same parties, aud showing the 
following weights: 
». , . . Pounds. 
Live weight... ISO 
Weight ot tallow.... nu 
“ pelt . 13$ 
the dressed carcass . us 
" head and tongue. 4W 
“ paunch . U>d 
“ intestines. su 
“ liver . iu 
“ heart . 2 
“ blood . 
IN THE HWINE DEPARTMENT, 
there were seven exhibitors, showiug about 
71 head, of the various prominent breeds and 
their grades, also a half dozen sandy, rusty hogs 
entered as “ thoroughbred Texan*,” brought 
as pigs from Southwest Mi-souri and claimed 
to be the semi-wild stock of that regiou. A 
live-stock commission merchant at the Kansas 
City stock-yards got hold of them,as nobody 
else appeared to have any use for them iu 
their forlorn and repulsive condition. Their 
new owner forciug them along for a j ear or 
more, entered them at the Fat Stock Show, 
partly as a Joku and partly to help fill the 
peus. In the limited and poor competition 
they held f.lietr own fairly, and in some riugs 
took prizes because of no competition. One 
of these wus first prize as dressed carcass oue 
year old and under two, (no competition) 
showiug weights as follows: 
.. ..... . Pounds. 
Live welvht ul lime of slaughter.Hill 
Weight of dressed carcass and head .lO.Vk 
Per cent, of carcass and bead to gross weight... 
. JV V.—;... 88 percent. 
Weight of head. .. 331 u 
“ fut or Intestines. nu 
“ “ liver and melt. 5 
“ “ oauucli. 2 « 
“ “ Intestines.. . ' i|u 
“ “ mood.g* 
“ “ hair, wet. 4 M 
“ “ lungs anil heart. 8 
Both tho sheep aud swine departments were 
far from creditable to the fanners and breed¬ 
ers of the country west of tho Mississippi,and 
had scarcely a tenth of what should have been 
brought to such a show at such a time aud 
place, and it Is hoped pride and self interest 
will prompt bettor and more nearly represen¬ 
tative displays iu future. 
JUDGING, 
The decisions of tho judges were, in almost 
every instance, well received both by visitors 
and exhibitors, aud it is a noticeable fact 
Unit there were twice as many people who 
could pick out the winners this year as there 
were last, which Indicates that the lessons 
taught by these shows are of no little value to 
those interested in the brooding and feeding 
of live stoek. Ihe plan of judging was to 
have two judges aud an umpire, the latter 
being called on only when tho judges failed to 
agree. 
It is suggested as desirable that next year 
the show be held, say, a month later—at a 
time when tho attendance and weather are 
likely to bo more favorable, and following the 
Chicago Show. The series of 
PUBLIC SALES 
by auction of thoroughbred stock, inaugu¬ 
rated last year, to be held duriug the pro¬ 
gress of the show, was a prominent fea¬ 
ture this year, and the following is a 
summary: The first sold was a lot of young 
imported Hereford bulls, property of T. J. 
Lewis, of Odebolt. Iowa. There were 24 
head of them, and.they brought fair prices. 
On Tuesday and Wednesday, the Short-horns 
contributed to tho Inter-State Hale by the 
breeders of Kansas and Missouri, were dis¬ 
posed of. Brices on the whole were fair. 
1 bei 0 was quite a uumber of superior animals 
in the lot, and some of these did not bring the 
money they should; some sold for their full 
value, and there wero others that were by no 
meuns of such character as to justify their 
being allowed in a collection of stock claimed 
as “representative Short horns” This fact, 
taken in connection with a suspicion of a little 
jockeying, or perhaps an undue amount of 
bidding by near relatives or friends of those 
who had animuls In the offering, perhaps cut 
the general average somewhat under what 
it should have been, or iu fuct would have 
been at a sale of a like number of strictly 
representative animalB. Another feature 
that tended in the same direction was a too 
great proportion of only ordinary bulls, such 
as were not suitable to head herds of thorough¬ 
breds, and of course the buyers bad not come 
to such a sale, at this time of year, seeking 
bulls for steer-raising purposes. Sixty-one 
females uveraged $296,88, aud 19 bulls, $283,15, 
or a general average, on 80 head, of #293,62. 
On Thursday S. E. Ward &Son, of Westport, 
Mo., sold 39 Short horns at an average of 
$160,76, and Mr. W. T. Hoarue, of Lee’s Sum¬ 
mit, Mo., Hold 15 well-bred, yearling, Short¬ 
horn bulls at the ruinous average of $51.66 
each, 
Tho closing day, Saturday, was occupied 
by tbe sale of Herefords, by W. B. Ives, of 
Sherbrooke, Canada. His average on 81 
females was $423.71, and on 18 bulls, $309,44, 
or a general average, on tbe 40 head, of 
$381,63. A lot of Aberdeen Angus females 
intended for sale at auction, were sold pri¬ 
vately as a lot for $360 each. On Friday 
