The Great Falls leader. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1888-1900, 1889-02-13
The. Great Cattle Talk !
CATTLE MEN AND BUSINESS MEN
OF GREAT FALLS IN CON-
SULTATION.
MIR. LAME HIGGs LAYS BEFORE THE
MEETING THE REFRIGERAT-
ING ENTERPRISE.
THE SOLID MEN OF THE COUN.
TRY EN- RAPPORT WITH
THE WORK.

representation of the business and stocl
interests of Great Falls convened at tn.
Office of the townsite Company.
Among those PRESENT were Messrs
Paris Gibson, E. G. MsDlay, Mr.. Hobson
Judge Huy, Mr.. Eaton,J J.. NJ. Boardman
Robert Vaughn, G. n sDickenson, w. q
Stark, F. NJ. Morgan, +. B. Wilcox, F. P
Atkinson, Will HanksI Aldermen John
son and Wegner, and nAany others.
The meeting was c1lled to order b,
Mayor Gibson and onImotion Mr.. G. NJ
Webster was called to the chair. Mr.
Will Hanks was chosen secretary.
Chairman Webster, after few prelim
mary remarks, called upon Mr.. Lainit
Higgs to present the objects of the meet
ing.
Mr.. Higgs arose and stated that he haG
prepared brief statement for the con
sideration of the stock and business mer
of Great Falls and Northern Montana i1
general, and read the following:
Gentlemen: hope to clearly set be.
fore you a proposition that will answer
for itself. Its merits are based upor
business principles from the start and
need the thought and careful consider.
alton Of every thinking man. The ques.
! tion is, How shall we obtain better prices
| for our cattle? How can we avoid the
troublesome way of shipping and taking
| our chances for a good market?
These two questions are answered by
saying that by a home market we will
avoid these two troubles. The only thing
then to be done is to erect slaughtering
establishment right among the cattle
ranges and market our own beef, cure
the hides, render the tallow and treat the
ofal, and right in our midst grow up a
gigantic enterprise, one that every man
of this section of Montana will be proud
of. You may ask where shall we dis
pose of our beef? Why, right here at
home. There are markets that stand
ready to buy your beef and thousands OF
mouths ready to eat it, and as the bust
ness increases find eastern markets for
your beef and mutton.
The question will undoubtedly arise to
some like this:
WHERE WILL YOU GET YOUR CATTLE IN
THE WINTER?
Gentlemen, you are going to have all
the cattle you wish for. What makes
cities but its markets and its manufac-
lures? What builds up the country
but these industries? Heretofore
you had no other resource but
to ship your cattle to the East.
Mohammed had to go to the mountain
because the mountain would not go to
him. Now the mountain is going to Mo-
hammed. A home market is hereby es-
tablished because an institution stands
ready to buy your cattle and dress them
for the market. Every cattleman will be
induced to maintain this enterprise, by
supplying it with fat cattle the year
round. Every man will see where it is
to his interest to do so. The Eastern
farmers that will settle up this vast Sec
tion of Montana will see ready market
for them, and they too will help to sup
ply this institution with beef cattle. Your
winters are not as severe as Illinois, In
diana, Wisconsin and Iowa, and they
seem to have plenty of cattle. Now
what benefit is this to the cattleman? He
will realize more for his cattle.
First.-He will be saving to himself
what his cattle will shrink while in
transit.
Second.-He will save unto himself
the extra expense attached to shipping
alive, as for hay, yardage and labor.
Third.-He will save to himself the
commissions charged for selling his cat
tie; and lastly, he will not have to take
any chances in losses of injured cattle
and good market. will let you figure
this out yourself and you will see what
there is saved to your pockets.
WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS DERIVED FROM
sL.AUGHTERING AT HOME?
First.-,rhe superior condition Of the
meat as an article of food.
Second.-The saving of bruised cattle,
which makes a difference of one to
two cents per pound and, lastly, AS stock
holders you enjoy the profits from such
an enterprise.
AS TO THE BUSINESS THAT CAN BE DONE
HERE:
After careful examination and looking
into the markets find that there will be
no difficulty in selling 100 cattle per day,
soon after beginning operations.
AS to the money made in the business,
will take for instance: I was offered
by ranchman 10 steers for $40 apiece;
they were 3, and year olds, and would
average from 1900 to 1900 pounds each.
l will suppose that they average 1,40O a
piece. They have cost $4OO delivered at
the works. These cattle will dress out
$3.50 pounds of beef; sold in Helena at
&c. per pound would bring in cash $47S.
80; hides at 415c. would net $500; tai
low at Sc, $3.50; tongues and eatable
portions of the otfal, with the bones,
blood, feet and horns, would bring $12.
These added to the sale of the beef would
be $5665O. Cost of slaughtcring would
be $15; cost of selling 5000; of freight
$29; added to the cost Of the cattle would
be $4s2; leaving a profit of $S4.50, or
$3.50 head. The beef is figured at &c.
which is very low for this time of the
year. You can easily see for yourself the
profit.
THE BENEFIT TO GREAT FALLS.
Where an industry OF this kind is To-
Gated, national market will be found.
Mechanics of all classes will surround it,
for trades must follow and the products
of the soil must be consumed.
The most importantindustries and that
will be profitable in this country, will be
gluco works, candles and soap factories,
tanneries, followed by glove, shoe and
harness factories. These are bound to
follow, and the chances for labor will be
increased and the population will be
doubled.
Gentlemen aud Mr.. Chairman: The