The task of furnishing the world with meat constitutes the largest industry in existence.

The United States furnishes more than one-half the world's supply of swine, more than one-third its cattle, and nearly one-seventh of its sheep.

Ranch, near the Sprague, Crab Creek, Washington.

There were in the civilized world in 1902, approximately 200,000,000 cattle and 450,000,000 sheep, and 125,000,000 swine, of which perhaps 25 per cent of cattle, 45 per cent of sheep, and 95 per cent of hogs were available for food-making.

The United States contained, in 1900, 69,438,758 cattle, 61,837,112 sheep, and 64,694,222 swine. In other words we furnish 34.72 per cent of the world's cattle, 13.74 per cent of its sheep, and 51.75 per cent of its swine, valued at $4,000,000,000.

Texas has more cattle within its borders than any other state. In 1900, it had 9,426,196, Iowa recorded 5,367,630, Kansas 4,491,078, Nebraska 3,176,243, and Illinois 3,104,010.

TexasLonghorn—the old-style steer.

The average value of all the cattle in Texas in 1900, according to the twelfth census, was $17.38, Iowa $26.50, Kansas $26.17, Nebraska $25.96, and Illinois $26.47. It is thus seen that the cattle of the other four states named averaged over 50 per cent greater in value than those of Texas, which is merely a breeding state, while the others feed the cattle brought from Texas and fit them for the market.

In sheep production Montana led, in 1900, with 6,170,483, closely followed by Wyoming and New Mexico.

Iowa headed the swine list, with 9,723,791. Illinois, Missouri and Nebraska respectively rank next as pork producers.

In 1901, the receipts of cattle at the three great markets of the country were: Chicago, 3,213,220; Kansas City, 2,126,575; Omaha, 818,003. Of swine Chicago received 8,900,494; Kansas City, 716,404; Omaha, 2,414,052. Chicago led with 4,044,095 sheep, followed by Omaha with 1,314,841, and Kansas City with 980,078.

The Union Stock Yards and Transit Company, of Chicago, and similar companies in other cities do the receiving, weighing, feeding, watering and delivering to the buyer; the independent plants, which are practically tenants of the yards, do the slaughtering, refrigerating, manufacturing, curing, storing and shipping.

The business done at the Chicago Union Stock Yards is the largest single business in the world. and the entire industry has more than 45,000 employes and does an annual business of more than $500,000,000.

The old-time open cattle range is rapidly disappearing, with its immense herds of cattle, held by few owners, and is being replaced by fenced ranches and farms on which are raised and fed cattle in smaller herds. This is more profitable as it obviates the heavy annual losses by freezing and starvation resulting from the old methods of handling. Irrigation has also helped materially to bring about this change. Almost the only extensive tracts of free open range now remaining are to be found in South Dakota, Montana, North Dakota, and parts of Wyoming and Colorado.

When the cattleman speaks of having his ranch cut up into pastures, the statement is likely to be misleading to the layman who is not familiar with the size of the Western pasture. Many a ranch pasture contains 100,000 acres.

Probably the largest ranch in America is owned by the organization commonly called The Capitol Syndicate, in the rich grazing, country of Texas, which comprises 3,000,000 acres of land.

Altogether the largest ranch held by an individual owner is the property of a woman. It is more than 2,000,000 acres in extent and is the property of Mrs. Adair, of Paloduro, Texas.

For facts and statistics contained in the foregoing, the publishers of this volume are indebted to the Saturday Evening Post, of Philadelphia.

WESTERN FARMS OF GRET EXTENT
HOW THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OFFICIALLY TRAVELS OVER THE COUNTRY
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© 1998, 2002 by Lynn Waterman