Image provided by: Crook County Historical Society/Bowman Museum; Prineville, OR
About Crook County journal. (Prineville, Or.) 189?-1921 | View Entire Issue (July 12, 1917)
.It" Y 12, 1917 PAGE 2 A-:.,a.;.'j LIVESTOCK IS OUR SPCEIALTY ".' '.' !TT " "T " """" Tr Central Oregon Is one vast live atock country. Hood River has become famous for apples. Salem for cherries, "White Salmon for strawberries and ther localities for special crops which they are able to produce bet ter than most other communities. A half doien years ago the Prlne Tille country was uncertain as to Ha tuture. We produced first class wool, mutton and beef to be sure, raised potatoes at Powell Butte that re unexcelled anywhere, and our farmers have always grown large and profitable crops of grain and al ia It a hay. But the past very few years have learly defined the future for the Central Oregon country of which Prineville is the logical center, from a commercial, geographical, educa tional and financial standpoint. It is the big livestock country of the west. In tact no better cattle are grown anywhere. The fact that a shipment of steers draught record prices at North Port-1 hud occasionally op to 190S was( given but passing comment at the time when all cattle were shipped from Shaniko, after having been driven through the mud and storm a distance of from SO to 100 miles to reach that point. - Feeding was a dangerous busi ness, and a loss was veryoften the xcsult of a winter's work Instead of a profit. Since the shipping facilities have anproved the conditions have chang ed until today at least 30 per cent f the total shipments received in ihe stockyards at North Portland are from the Prineville country, be- de shipments that are made to the Seattle and Tacoma markets. Finishing beef for the market is an established industry and the cat tle are of a type that commands the respect of buyers wherever they are , affered. These results are not obtained by accident First the quality of the animal must be good as to breeding, and have the ability to finish well without becoming too large for the test demand. Healthy, thrifty animals, such as are produced on our ranges are Ideal tor finishing under local con ditions, although surprising results have been obtained on rattle shipped from other ranges In this and other states, some of which are a long distance from Central Oregon. The quality of the hay produced In this vicinity and most favorable weather conditions for feeding as sist greatly iu the general resulu also. Many of our most expert men ar able to produce a grade of beef that tops the markets regularly as they are offered, on hay alone, although grain for finishing, especially hurley, is being more commonly used than was the practice a few years ago. The Bteer commonly referred to as "baby beet", which is an animal that is ready tor the block at eight een months or even in some in stances as young as twelve months, at an average weight of from 900 to 1100 pounds. Is becoming more common each year, and as they com mand a price somewhat above that received for the heavier cauls this is a very profitable branch of the industry. Although the Prineville yards supplied a little more than 30 per f I t cent of the cattle for the North Portland market (Hiring the 1916-17 season, large shipments of feeders were made to other states from our ranges, one speciul train being shipped to Montana early iu the fall of 1916. The sale of feeders has been made necessary hy the limited supply of alfalfa hay that has been produced in tho Prineville vicinity where most of the feeding Is done. ' This shortage will he greatly re lieved with the completion of tho Ochoco Irrigation District which will provide an abundance of water for 35.0P0 acres of Kind of the best quality, 20,000 acres of which has no water supply for irrigation ut pros, 'H and the remaining purl Is less than fifty per cent efficient be cause of a shortage of water at the season v.hen it Is moat needed. These things considered. In uddl tlon to the fact that the resources I of the community, ils sheep uml their wool, dairy IndiiHuy, mineral ami lumber and small farm possi bilities, all of which are treuted in this edition of The Journal, make those who have boon Identified with the rrowili and development of this part of tho stato tor years, and who have taken a pride in watching it fnrgn ulirii'l. ni'motlni a flint, and lit other time faster, but always ahead on a solid, substantial btiala that hiia Injiii'ed no one, but made for tunes t r many from the wonderful liient fHotircna that are si viinnT ina and varied here, feel that the future of th" rrliU'Vllln country, it" people and its Industries la assured b'Woiid tho hunt doubt, The count rv will, upon the Irrlpa- ji i . ' v.'" J"-t .mm m i m " '" " n ii i tlon of It arid lands, and the eraili- , ruUtyi of various pests that have ' preyed upon Its ranges and stuck at times, get Into Ils stride, and gain I ih recognition to which II is en I (Hied, that of elnu the point in tho west where the best quality of rattle tire produced, and the largest uum ' hers of them. i Kxltit copies of this edition of The Journal may be had at 10 cent ciirli. S"inl one to a friend and help advertise tho Prineville country. ; ! I 1 ....... ' . I 9 7r tA- - MR f Thrift and economy is the slogan of today Under normal conditions one dollar has the same purchasing power as three at the present time iig Be Prepared for the Normal Conditions! SAVE We call your attention to our savings department. Systematic saving brings results. Four per cent paid on your deposits. We wish to lend every aid in developing our community and the live stock interests. Your prosperity means prosperity for all Crook County Bank Prineville, Oregon