Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1887-1890, 1889-02-16
DRESSED BEEF.
CATTLE OWNERS AND BUSINESS
MEM MEET.



ment Manifested In Favor
Of the Project. ---
Cattle owners and leading business
men met last evening at the Townsite
company's office to promote the establish
ment of dressed beef warehouse here.
Among the leading cattlemen present
were Mr.. Hobson Of the Judith, Mr..
Vaughn Of Sun River and Mr.. Boardman
of Miner & Boardman, Shonkin.
Charles M. Webster presided and Will
Hanks was secretary. Mr.. Laine Higgs.
of Minneapolis, who has taken leading
part in promoting the enterprise, was In
vited to address the meeting and outlined
the project as follows:
Gentlemen: hope to clearly set be-
fore you proposition that will answer
for itself. Its merits are based upon
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
1O1 Oul CAVtl0l 1xOW CdA We htOlu tl0
troublesome way Of shipping and taking
These two questions are answered by
saying that BY 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
offal, and right in our midst grow up a
gigantic enterprise, one that every man
Of this section Of Montana will be proud
of. You may7ask 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 busi-
ness increases find eastern markets for
your beef and mutton.
THE WINTER SUPPLY.
The question will undoubtedly arise to
some like this: Where will you get your
winter supply? Gentlemen, you are
going to have all the cattle you
wish for. What makes cities but
its markets and its manufactures?
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 20 to the mountain be-
cause 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 wear
round. Every man will see why It is
to his interest to do so. The eastern
farmers that will settle up this vast sec
tion of Montana will see a 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 COM
missions charged for selling his cattle;
end lastly, he will not have to take ahy
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. i,s
GENERAL GAINS.
What are the benefits derived from
slaughtering at home? First-The SUI
perior condition of the meat as an article
Of food. Second The saving of bruised
cattle, which makes difference of one
to two cents per pound and, lastly, as
stockholders you enjoy the profits from
such an enterprise. As to the business
that can be done here. After careful ex-
animation and looking into the markets I
find that there will be no difficulty in
selling 100 cattle per day, soon after be-
ginning operations.
AS to money made in the business, I
will take for instance: / was offered by
ranchman 10 steers for $40 piece;
they were 5, 4 and 5-year-olds, and would
average from 1000 to 1900 pounds each.
I will suppose that they average l 400
piece. They have cost $4O0 delivered at
the works. These cattle will dress out
1880 pounds Of beef; sold in Helena at
&c. per pound would bring is cash $578.-
80; hides at 415c. would net $500; total
at &C., $37 80; tongues and eatable por-
tions Of the offal, with the bones, blood,
feet and horns, would bring $12. These
added to the sale of the beef would be $15;
cost of selling $39.9O; Of freight $2S;
added to the cost of the cattle would be
$482; leaving profit of $84.50, 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.
LOCAL BENEFITS.
Where an industry Of this kind is To-
Gated, a 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 important industry, and that will be
profitable in this country, will be gluco
works, candles and soap factories, tan.
neries, followed by glove, shoe and har-
ness factories. These are bound to fol-
low, and the chances for labor will be in
creased and the population will be
doubled.
Gentlemen and Mr.. Chairman: The