Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1889-09-19

views by incontestable facts, it would
probably be as valueless as its predeces-
sors to the cattle business. The occasion
would call for reliable knowledge
and not such as would be likely to result
from the spontaneous action, for a COM
prehensIve review of the cattle industry
and the disputed points as to values
would necessarily involve figures and
estimates from various sources. For in
stance, it should give the receipts and
prices for several years in the leading
markets; also the prices at which dressed
beef III carcass has been sold to retailers
for the last eight or nine years, as we'll
as the prices charged to the consumer
during the same period. 1t would also
be important to get from the most au-
thentic sources the proportion of neat
cattle to population for several years
back, to ascertain what relation, If any,
overproduction has had in pulling down
prices.
The dressed beef men claim that the
reduction to the retail butcher has kept
pace with the decline to the cattle
grower. That point is essential and even
vital to an understanding of the ques-
ton. It should be traced and answered
with certainty. It is a vital point be-
4
an unfair profit anyN here, for if so it is
at the expense of the producer and its
existence would show an unjust obstruc-
ton in the channels Of trade and enable
the convention to locate that obstruction
The line of inquiry indicated would also
throw light on the contested point as to the
relation of the great packers to the cat
tie business. 1t is maintained on one
hand that the concentration of the bust
ness in few hands results in a monopoly
that dictates prices and piles up wealth
by grinding the producer; on the other
hand it is held that concentration pro-
notes economy of work and expense,
and that the great facilities to which it
has given birth have made a regular
market at some price, while otherwise,
with the enormous receipts of late years,
there would have been frequent Cuttings
and widespread individual disaster to
the producer. 1t is also claimed that III
creating and maintaining a foreign mar
ket for American meats, the big pack
packers have materially extended the de-
mand and stimulated prices at home.
The importance of accurate knoWl-
edge on these points must be apparent to
all interested in the cattle industry. AS
sertions will not answer. Facts and
uSureS are needed IS RUE the read
ing of papers at popular conventions is
nuisance. The present is an exceptional
case and it would be wise to designate
subjects that would cover the essential
features of the problem and engage the
most competent attainable authorities to
prepare statements that would rest on a
foundation and carry some weight with
the country as well as with the conven-
ton.
Cattlemen have been acting in blind
ness and pulling against each other for
the want of the kind of informa ton indi-
Gated. If the Fort Worth convention
shall be shaped so as to develop such
knowledge it will open the way for the
first time to get an intelligent view of the
and to outline some way of nit
igating the severe depression of the cattle
business.
The proposed meeting is to be COM
mended and the states and territories in
terested should be well represented. The
invitation is general and every bona fide
cattle producer will be welcomed.