Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1882-11-17
S264 925


shipment of dressed beef to Eastern mark
cts than apy subject the stOckmen and tire
packers have considered for some time
The prlcticibility of slaughtering near the
stock-raising districts all beeves intended
for the EasterII'mrkeis, was discussedcfor
months, but it has not been long since the
matter assumed definite shlpe-when prom
inent Eastern men commenced to negotiate
for the purchase Of Western packing estab-
lishments and TO talk of erecting others.
Chicago, ST. Louis and Kansas City were
considered as available points and each city
pointed to its pec,.liar advantages as a
slauglitering point. The excitement ex-
tended further,a and from Omaha to San
Antonio there was fig..ring abO t slas gh-
tering houses, the ice crop and refrigerator
cars. Every cattlc-growing section issanx-
iOas TO have its products reach the market
at the lowest cost, aud it is generally adj
United that TO ship the beeves dressed is the
cheapest way. But there is an obstacle in
the way that promises to be- tro blcsome.
The railroad corporations are not prepared
for the radical change in the manner of
transporting beef. They have prepared
endless Numbers of stock cars and have
counted ON the immense profits Of handling
the live cattle of the country. An undress-
ed beef steer weighs twice as much rs when
dressed. Here would be loss of half the
tonnage Of the railroads. Rrfrig .rator cars,
Ice houses aud ice machines would b. nee
rssary, and these would call for the expen-
diture OF millions. The railroad compa-
mics own the principal pa of the immense
stOck-yarls at Chiclgo-worth $26OOO.0OO
and those Of Philadelphia and New York,
and to stop live cattle from going to these
points would ruin the value of this proper
ty. So the railroad magnates have COM
menced to object to the shipment OF dress
ed beef unless it pays exorbitant rates.
Vanderbilt is moving ia the matter and
ne has following of prominent Eastern
capitalists. II is announced that their first
move Is to extensively engage in the pack
ing b siness, and, having control of the
railroads they can so reduce rates that COM
petition will b. wiped out-then the live
stock ship nents will be resumed.
These are some of the rumors and opin-
ions. afloat. They may be only circ..ll-
ted for sensation. Certain il is they will
have no effect on the prices of cattle in the
West. Every day the prices of range cat
tie are getting up. The talk Of shipping
dressed beeves increases values. The r.mor
OF pools in the packing business has no
effect on the cattle grower. Whether the
beeves are to be shipped dead or alive, raw
or cooked, the Western stockman cares NOT.
AS long as he knows that the appetite for
beet is growing and that the population of
this country is Increasing. he feels secure
III holding on to his herds and is contented
II the natural increase keeps TIP.
In an interview lately OIL this subject
Rufus Hatch of New York said: 1t is re-
ported Mr.. Vanderbilt has recently organ
lzed company to ran refrigerator beef
from the west to the eastern cities in CON-
petition with other refrigerator companies.
II this be true he has no good motive in it.
ana Is simply trying TO drive other compa-
MES OFT of the business. His object is to
restore hi stock yards interests to the po-
Slt'oh they were in before the refrigeration
oeei agitation began. Mr.. Hatch express
CT an opinion that the advantages of refrig-
orator beef in every WAY were such hat it
must r"n, even though opposed by the
millions invested in stick yards at Chicago
anil other EASTERN cities.
ii. G. Thompson & Co. are inst now offer