, 1866-10-31
THE LIVE STOCK RINC.n

A number Of persons, calling themselves
the Board OF Live Stock Commission men.
hare formed "ring" at the Union Stock
Yard, to suppress the reports Of sales Of cat
tie which have heretofore been published
in the daily newspapers. For the purpose Of
giving the public connected history Of the
rise aud progress or the ring" VIC repub-
lish number Of extracts from Our market
reports Of last week, together with some re-
marks from the Chicago Times on the same
subject The farmers will observe, {and We
desire to address cur remarks to thenl,) that
the ayowcd purpose Of the "ring" is to pre-
vent the stock grower from knowing what
prices his cattle bring when they reach this
market, and thus TO render it comparatively
easy to cheat him the next time. Thus
Farmer A. sells one hundred head Of cattle
to mlddlcman B. who forwards them to
commission man c. who sells them to
butcher D. or eastern shipper E. or what
not. By watching the market reports A. can
sec without much liability to error, just
what prices his particular drove sold for at
the Stock Yard. This he ought to know for
his own guidance and protection in future
transactions. And this Is what the ''r;ns"
wish to prevent him from knowing. They
wish TO keep him in ignorance of the mar
kct, while they and tic midd1cmen know all
about it. In nine transactions out Of ten, con-
Quoted on this basis, the stock grower would
receive less for his cattle than they were
worth. 1n commercial parlnnce this is
called "scalping."
We understand that the ring arc preparing
circular or pamphlet in defence Of their
policy. and that they intend to persevcrc in
it, They probably know their own business
best, but VIC eau assure them that the course
they arc pursuing, If vigorously followed up,
will make the Union Stock Yard one Of the
qnictest resorts in the suburbs OF Chicago.
The Legislature cannot pass law stringent
enough to send two year old bullock this
way, after it becomes well understood
through, the State that the Chicago cattle
market is not 10 be fully and trutAfully re-
ported. The ring need not be nt the trouble
10 print their circular. What is wanted is d
prompt reversal Of their policy, and unless
this is forthcoming wc shall advise all the
stock growers in the Northwest wAtnI
we can reach or influence, tu
avoid the Union Stock Yard
as they would the rinderpcst- We arc sur
pr;sed that the proprietors OF tho yard
eHoula tole1ate sEcu proceedings, Inc mere
suspicion Of which would tend to drive away
their business and impair the value OF their
property.
The cattle trade which centres Mt this
. point is Immense. 1t is counted by the null
; lions Of dollars, ard is yearly increasing in
magnitude and value. That This mammoth
trade should be at the mercy of set OF nm
principled scalIers, is ut once astonishing
and alarming. Neither the Press nor the
people Of Chicago can allow such trade to
10 be sacrificed ur triled with in this ,,aI-
ner. 1fthc Chicago Board Of Trade should
resolve to suppress all reports Of traDsac-
ii"ns in grim and provisions, and give the
the public only tue *'tonc Of the MARKET"
toning 1t Of course to suit themselves, such
proceeding would furnish parallel to the
action Of the board Of cattle brokers at the
Unicn Stock Yard. We understand that
there are half a dozen dealers who dissent
from tic action Of the majority and refuse 10
be governed by it. If the action is persisted
in VIC shall publish the names of those WIN
are responsible for its continuance.