Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1883-05-08
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BEEF.

eating the meat market, and gives the
result in lengthy article, of which the
following arc extracts:
There seems TO be unanimity OF opinion
among the butchers concerning the real
cause 0f high prices. For instance, some
Of them argue that there 10 no difficulty
In obtaining cattle and sheep, while
others say that the severe winter OF
1851 killed many OF the yearliEgs in
Eastern Washington and Oregon, and
this With the advent of eastern pur-
chasers % lessened the number of cat
tie that the market IL difficult to supply.
One Of the butchers insists that the
Smith Brothem Of Yakima c0uRty are
the cattle kings Of the Territory; and
they are able, with their own large
hsrds, and An implied agreement with
other ranohmen in Eastern Washington,
TO virtually control tbs Puget Sound
market. Az the trade IL in the hands Of
one middle man or firm, namely, Samuel
Coulter 4 sons, the monopoly Of the
trade h argued, by some OF them to be
more effeCtually maintained. This
0fm, they say, kill from go to Z75
beeves and about COO sheep per month.
They supply tho Carbonate mines,
6tsilacoOm asylum, the Tacoma. Port
blaksly, Port Ludlow, and what 10
known - tho Puget sound Mill Com
pany. with many other mills and public
institutions In Western Washington.
Mr.. Coulter u said to b. one of the
shfewdest buyers and best judges Of
stock In tho Northwest.
Another retail arm iu this city attri-
butes the high prices, In addition to
those above given, 70 the great increase
Of all kinds Of expenses In connection
With handling the stock. They claim
that rents nrs about 100 per cent. higher
than q ycar ago; that hay, which twelve
months since could be purchased at $l2
per ton, II now selling at &2S and $50
per toli. The two per can't. ahrinkage in
handling the meat, from tho time il il
CHARTERED and cut Mp on the blocks and
sold directly 10 consumers, il, they also
claim, no small itezn In the business.
These are the real reasons assigned, but
they were brought out In every case bat
01se, By The most vigorous er0ss- ques-
tionin0. Much more that Vas submit
ted b. the dealeye, seemed b BE- nothing
more than . general attempt At making
IN aygumont, with tho aHQument left
out. The idcas were disconnected, and
would b. di6ieult to present In any
logical shape.
Most Of dc cattle como from east OF
the Cascades IN this Territory, and
from the same side Of tho mountains
In OreQon. Some, however, are brought
hsfe FROM Victoria. The sheep brought
hers are largely from the Willamette
valley. LAtely . good many cattle have
bseu brought In from Chehalis county.
Thofe Ass plenty Of cattle and sheep.
but no hocs Of any nOee. On the east
esn side Of the mountains, thousands Of
Aorea OF land ars devoeed almost wholly
70 cattle raising. The valley Of the va
tas valley, and the PAksuse country pro-
0n4 . rsa4y ale - Puget 6pund.
u Appeau that he middle naea above
mentioned have = monopoly Of the
tsads. on account Of large capital and
exHansive sxpsfisuos, and are enjoying
. aeaaon Of large profits. The retail
doalers nay that Mr.. Coulter u unSloubt-
edly making largo aums ont Of the trade.
Thy also admit they are doug exceed.
ina - thsusalves. They my thas .
49, N0O - 00su8 ny 8Au0 u u Ou8i-
~ = clearing the hidea and tallov,
and . man who h doing that much Il
maktng lArgs pro0tA In their own
vceJ3a hovsvoR they odd: ~6sill mat
OF - dsalen q Neu TooouAa realize
much larger profits than those from
hi6oo and tallou." The whole matter
summed up then = that the firm supply
Inn the rstnil dealesu, and the dealers
themeolveU, are making . good deal
moro than What would BE- ordinarily
called fAir pruats. and tho people are
PAYING The prices aud enduring &. Un-
len oompeltti0n apssdfly oeuss In the
people mu1e sahnh 10 he prsasnt state
Of a6airs, In about ok vooku the grass
fed cattls At the fakima couutsy win be
coming acrom ~ mountains, and peo-
Pc may then expect drop Ia prices.
A eoca = IT, snou dtaAppearx IA The
HnoQuAlrnie pan the younger cattle win
- hrooRhs 10 ~ sound. Then pxicee
VIII - down. Tho great present nsed
Indicated then = oompetition IA the
Wholesale trade. Let Il coms and let
not ". Coulter cpntinue 70 milk the
ooVuood bcof oatnesof the termiuus.