The Helena independent., 1889-12-14
FROSTED BY PHIL ARMOUR
The American Meat Company, OF
New York, Being Deserted by
the Capitalists
The "From Ranch to Table" Plans
of Dorsey and Others Spoiled
by Chicago
Warner Miller Gets Out of the Concern
and the Secretary Says the Com
pany Il Through.

Ex.Senator Warner Miller has just con-
cluded a Wall street experience, says the
New York Times. Il hasn't been long; it
has been sufficient. He decides that be has
had enough. he quits. The stock exchange
district is likely TO know him no more.
His friend, ex-assistant secretary of the
treasury, Charles L, Coon, authorizes this
statement.
When the political whirligig had disposed
Of the ex-senator's craftsmanship ambitions
and he was on the lookout for some other
enterprise to occupy his time and talent IT
happened there was deep felt want in
Wall street for president of the much eA-
plotted project known as the American
Meat company. That scheme had variety
Of relations in and out of Wall street. IL
had pleasing plans. II promised wealth to
investors. Ii was heralded with vigorous
blasts. One member of the Astor family
was quoted as a subscriber 10 500, 900 of its
capital stock before the company's sub
scription books were even opened. Other
names of consequence were, with more or
less authority, identified with it, The S25,-
10000 of capital stock was sure TO be
greatly oversubscribed and-so abo lnding
assurances went-tbe shares were bound to
command big premium speedily.
But just as hopes were highest, along came
frosty breeze-and Philip ID. Armour WAS
charged with blowing ito call and nip the
budding prospect. The declared purpose of
the Anne rican Meat company was to raise
cattle NJ ON western ranches. ship beeves 10
eastern nark ts and iinancier retail meat
stalls in this and other cities. This sort of
programme naturally had no attractions
TO the Armour contingent of western dressed
beef magnates who were threatened with
competition by il. Yet Mr.. Armour averred
that he was innocent of the charge of hav-
ing paid any attention TO the scheme; il had
collapsed, he insisted. for the reasons he
had had nothing to do with. All the same
Armour or no Armour-there was trouble
Of very substantial sort in the company's
affairs; its president resigned; Its fiscal
agents deserted it. The willingness of War
ner Miller TO come to the front as a Moses
was, therefore, decided godsend 10 the
friends who were sitting up o nights with Il
languishing boom.
Aud for a time there seemed fair chances
for success for Mr.. Miller in his revivica-
tion scheme. He had some we'll known
names in his board of directors. including
ex Gov. A. b. Cornell and Assistant ex Sec
retary of the Treasury Coon. But many
months have gone 10y and 30 little has been
accomplished that finally President Miller
his personal friends announce it-has felt
obliged to give up his task.
In the American Meat company, among
its originators are Deacon 5. V. White, Col.
Robert q. lngersoll, ex-senator Steve Dor
sey, j. II. Flagler. ex-president of the cot
ton oil trust, and one OF two of the mag
mates of the Standard Oil company. Inas-
much as all of these distinguished gentle
men owned ranches which were put INTO the
American Meat company on ground
floor" basis, there were cynical people in
Wall street who insisted on characterizing
the enterprise as scheme 10 un-
load Improbable ranch speculations
upon the public Warner Miller
had nothing TO do with any such
scheme, however, even II there were such
one. He went into the company as man
ager, not as a speculator. II is intimated,
in fact, that it has been because of his un-
willingness to be party to speculative
plans, dear TO the heart Of Steve Dorsey
(but by no means favored 10y majority of
the board of directors) that Mr. Miller
steps down and out. And there are rumors
that even the resignation of Its president
will not be the last Of all the troubles that
have followed the company in the cam.
paign proclaimed in poetical prospectuses
Of Transporting the succulent beefsteak and
rosy rib roast From Ranch to Table"
Mr.. Charles h. Coon, who il a member of
the banking firm of Greene n Batemln. IL
Broadway, and who has held the position of
secretary of the Amercon Meat company,
said last night that Mr.. Miller's resignation
meant also practical dissolution of the
company. While nothing more would be
done on the lines of the plan by which the
company had proposed TO operate, how
ever, he thought there was some Likelihood
Of work being begun with similar purpose
that of raising cattle and delivering meat
TO consumers at some future time But
necessary factors in the successful conduct
Of such an enterprise would be general
Improvement III business, and equable and
lower money rates.
Mr.. j. II. Flagler said that he really
didn't know what was the matter with the
American Meat company. He had a ranch
that he was willing 10 sell them, but some
bow or other, he remarked, the appetite
which the company used 10 have for that
ranch seemed 10 have sadly subsidized.