The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1872-02-01
LIVE STOCK COMPANY.

LIVE STOCK COMPANY.
We fear that the farmers AMI stock-raisers
Of Augusta do not sufficiently appreciate the
Importance Of the monthly sales Of this Com
p,ny at the Fair Grounds, from the complaints
which we learn are raised by many of them
as to the tariff of commissions which is charg-
cd for sales effected to wit, five per cent
Surely the owners of stock should be willing
to allow and pay at least as much for sales
effected at home. to the saving to them of the
loss of ,ceiyht resulting from driving to dis
tant city market, as they must aud do pay
when their stock is sold in that market. II
they would only subject questions Of this char
acter to the test of arithmetic they would
readily see their error. We understand that
the regular charge in the Baltimore Cattle
yards is 81 per cent commission and 81 for
specific charge or fee. Now take $40 per
head as the average value of steer, how
would such charge compare with the FIVE per
cent charged BY our local Company The
q per cent would be 81 and the additional
dollar would make So. Five per cent. on
$40 would amount to exactly the same, So
But if the animal should only be worth $50
the Baltimore charge, as above, would be ST.
IS, whilst the Staunton charge would be on
ly $l50 Now there is another great differ
ence between the two markets. The city
markets are organized to bring the 100000
city consumers into connection with the .eoun-
try producers, which gives them all the ad
vantages of the organization which they have
effected in their own interests, solely. Their
cattle-brokcrs are not subjected to the heavy
expenses attendant upon our Company's oper-
atoms in printing, advertising, travelling,
handling, &C., in the effort to establish a
home market to which the Spectator or city
butcher will come. Their market is organic
ed and established upon the basis Of competi
ton between Virginia, West Virginia, Ken
lucky, Ohio and other stock feeders at their
OWE doors-which produces a constant ten
dency to reduction Of values from glut in
their market. In that case we are at their mer-
cy. We have already suffered a loss OF weight
10 reaching them, and as we cannot bring our
sock home again, we must submit and take
what they choose to give us-frequently less
than what the cattle have actually cost, and
in that case, as is shown above, the city bro
keragc amounts to much more than the five
per cent Of our Company. IF our farmers
would only see and act upon their own inter
ests and, by sustaining their own local enter
prises of this character, reduce the pressure
upon and supply at the city market, the re-
suit would be in the city a demand greater
than their supply, which would again produce
steadiness or stifening of prices. This
again would compel city butchers and dealers
to increase their supplies by attending our To-
cal markets of sale, which would give us the
advantage or, at least, not putus to such a
great disadvantages. We understand, howev
or, that our Company, with view to the re
moyal of all Just cause Of complaint and in
the hope Of inducing our people to a proper
and liberal support of this enterprise, which
is gotten up solely in their interests, and mo-
for hope Of great gains to the Company, have
directed revision of its tariff Of commissions
in the hope that all antagonisms may be re.
conciled and our monthly sales be we'll sup
ported and we'll attended.