San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1882-12-14
Beef for Chicago.
Chicago Tribune.

The rumor having become current
that the Wilson Packing company,
which for many years has been the larg-
est Gamer of meats in the world, was
on the point of abandoning the business,
Tribune reporter last evening called
upon Mr.. William j. Wilson, at his
home on Ashland avenue, to question
him on the subject. In the course OF the
interview which the gentleman very
courteously granted, several facts were
developed which will be of interest to
large number of Chicago people. In
reply to direct question MIR. Wilson
said that it was the purpose OF the COM
pany to give up the business OF canning
meats, for the reason that 1t had ceased
TO be q money-making business.
you made money very rapidly few
wears ago, did you not?" queried the
reporter. ,-
aOh, yes, q great deal of money was
made in the business, and number OF
men got very rich. But the time Tor
making money has passed"
what caused this2"
well, six years ago we got out pat
tents for canning and packing, and
went to work on an extensive scale.
We made great deal of money, but we
were not bent on making all the money
in the business, so we licensed Libby,
Mcneil & Libby, and they entered up
on successful career in the same busl'
ness. At length our patents were In
fringed, and we sued the various firms
so encroaching. Among these were
the Anglo-American Packing company
the Armour company, and the st.
Louis company and Turner Brothers.
These cases were carried to the Supreme
Court at considerable expense to us,
and we were beaten. That was last
March. Since that there has been no
money in the business, the competition
having reduced the profits as well as
the quality of the goods prepared"
at is stated that Mr.. Armour entered
the business with the avowed purpose
of using his extensive capital to drive
out all competitors, and to that end he
sold the product of his house at loss
to himself; and that this course has
swamped the St. Louis company, and
has frozen you and the Anglo. American
company out. Is this true?"
mo, sir; it is not. There has been
no swapping nor freezing out about
the matter. The st. Louis Packing
company is virtually Samuel W. Aller.
ton and several other gentlemen OF
equal or greater means. Now, 10 one
will for moment suspect that Mr. Al
lerton has been swamped, 1 don't think.
The truth about the st Louis Packing
company is that like myself, they see
more money in another direction.
They have very extensive establish
ment, with capacity of freezing large
quantities of beef, and, as I understand
it, they propose using this for the
preparation of the chilled beef, which
they propose shipping East-an enter
prise which is well known-and which
is revolution in the meat trade. Any
one who has observed the trade will re-
member that every eight or ten years
there is revolution in it, and one is
now coming over it. As for freezing
US out, that is all nonsense. To be
frank about tho matter, I have found q
place where more money can be made
than in the packing business, and I
propose working in that direction. 1t
will not require great erudition to see
that in order to build up trade in
the East the Chicago market must be
depleted of it's best beef, for the very
choicest will be necessary to win favor
from the Eastern people for the enter
prise. If meat killed in Chicago is
better than that shipped alive and
killed in the east, how much better
must meat killed right where it is raised
be than that shipped at all alive? Now,
Chicago demands good beef, and pro-
pose giving it the very best that can be
furnished. By patent which is com.
paratively new, cold air for chilling
meats can be generated anywhere su-
perior for the purpose to ice. This
machine can be put up as well on the
prairie on the ranch where cattle are
fed, for that matter-as it can in city,
so that can see no reason why cattle
should not be slaughtered in the far
West, where they are raised, and the
meat delivered at Chicago in the same
manner as Chicago beef is laid down
in New York. Anyway, it is my pur-
pose to try it, and you can rest assured
that will not fail in the undertaking
on account of MY capital"
"Have you decided upon location
in the west?"
"Not yet. 1t may be at Cheyenne,
some place in Colorado, or some con-
venient point in Texas. Chicago must
have as good or better beef than she
now secures for less money, and 1 claim
to be able to, and will furnish it, and l
hope soon to make definite arrange
ments with regard 70 the matter"
will you discontinue your packing
and canning business in this city en-
tirely?'