Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1890-01-16
Interstate Cattle Meeting.

| Ao"""S 10 'he caii iSsueu ny the
chairman OF the committee appointed
to investigate the cause OF the depress.
ion in the cattle business:
WHEREAS, The estate Inspection
Law" has been declared unconstitu-
tional, and the "Senate Investigating
committe" have as yet been unable to
suggest any means of relief for the
depressed condition OF the cattle in
dustry, the undersigned officers OF
associations and individual owners OF
cattle in the state OF Texas. believing
IN the efficacy OF united action, do
most earnestly call upon all who are
interested IN this important industry
to Join with them in an Interstate
convention to be held at Fort Worth.
Texas, on March l3, 1880, for the
purpose OF agreeingupon some uniform
plan of conducting the cattle business
in the future.
In the present disorganized cOndi-
tion OF our industry, it is impossible
to correct the abuses that are known
to exist, and unless some well defined
plan is established in which each cattle
producing state will unite, there is
little hope OF defeating the combina-
tion OF buyers in the prominent
markets OF our country.
We would respectfully call attention
to the fact that the troubles we have
to correct are OF "a commercial nature.
and it therefore requires the very best
commercial ability to meet the emer
sency; We trust, therefore, that bank
ers and merchants throughout the
West and Southwest, who depend so
largely upon the prosperity of the
cattle trade for support, will Join us
IN our endeavor to place our business
upon n proper commercial footing.
When IT Is considered that the value
OF our product has declined over 80
per cent. and the consumers of meat
throughout the United States are
compelled TO pay the same price land
IN some instances higher for their
daily supplies, as they did when we
were paid normal price for our
cattle, it will convey some idea of the
magnitude OF the wrongs we arc suffer
lng. and the Importance the matter
bears to the commercial welfare OF
our common country.
Estimating the annual consumption
of meat in the United States at To-
oOo.OOW head (which Is equivalent to
one animal for every III, OF our pOpu-
latIon, and IN the absence of any sta
tlstical information on the subject his
is believed to he a very conservative
estlmate), We are losing the enormous
sum OF over S2OO,OOO, 900 annually;
and this fabulous sum, reaching al
most to the value of the entire cotton
of 81.
hands OF comparatively very few
butchers, and. to II very large extent.
into the hands OF four men, who are
commonly known as the "Big Four"
OF Chicago.
With this terrible depreciation in the
value oil our resources. is it any won
der that Farmers are poor and the
commercial industries OF the west and
southwest SO paralyzed?
We believe we can correct the evil.
but 1t will require the combination of
all parties interested, and we therefore
respectfully request the chief executive
OF all states and territ ories trading
with Chicago, Kansas City and st.
Louis to send delegates fir ON their re-
,pective sections, and while it is essen
tial that the owners OF cattle should
unite with us, II is important that "A
banking and commercial element be
well represented in the convention,
through whose ability a proper orsani-
ZatIon can be recommended.
We appeal to the press to aid us in
our struggle, and to urge upon their
people the importance OF vigorous
action.
In calling the convention to meet at
Fort Worth, We are sensible OF the
fact 1t Is somewhat removed from the
center of trade, Yet when We reflect
that it is largely owing to the rapid
development OF the range business in
Texas, Colorado and New Mexico, that
the present demoralized condition OF
our industry is due, We believe much
more will be accomplished ii the meet
ing i held in the southwest than in
one OF the older states.
WILLIAM l.. BLACK,
Chairman.