, 1891-04-02
A BIG MEETING.
The Question of Meat Prices Con-
servatiyeIy Discussed.
Butchers Give Figures TO Support
Their Action.
A Committee Appointed to Obtain
Practical Information.

The opponents of the beef combine, to-
Eether with most Of the butchers them
selves, were present at Library hall last
evening to discuss the all important
question of the rise in retail prices of
meat. Besides being freely advertised
by the newspapers and by distributing
hand bills, a brass band PLAYED at the
opera house, and served to remind listen
ers of the meeting, so hat when s O'Clock
arrived Library hall was well filed.
c. D. Kelly, who was elected tempo
rary chairman, in a brief speech
stated the object of the meeting, and
nominated Mr.. J. ]. Wilson for perma-
nent chairman, who was elected. Mr..
Clarence Richardson was elected score
tary.
Speakers were rather shy and difident
at first, but gradually warmed up to the
question, which was discussed in all its
bearings.
Me-. George Bignall made the first
speech. He saw a remedy for the evil of
high prices in a cooperative plan Of a
general store which would soon be started
and which would sell clothing. boots,
shoes, groceries and meats. He advised
all who had any kick coming in regard to
high prices to join the cooperative store,
and purchase shares in the cooperation,
A meeting of the cooperative store people
will be held next Saturday night and he
invited all to be present and take shares.
MIR. Wilson, the chairman. was very
much opposed to buying meat of Armour
or any of the Big.4 combine, but would
not be held up by the local butchers.
G. ID. Kelly moved that a committee of
five be appointed, three from the South
side and two from the North side to take
the question under consideration.
John Charles Thompson was 10 favor
of hearing from the beef combine and
the call was made for MIR. jerks, who re-
sponded and stated the reason for the
rapid advance in the price of meat.
MIR. jerks made a very clear and COM
prehenslve speech and was prepared with
statistics to prove that the advance in
price was with the market men a matter
Of self preservation. He said the loss 10
cutting up a beef was immense and could
not be overcome unless the less desir-
able cuts of beef could be disposed Of.
Here in Cheyenne everyone wants a
choice cut, and it is impossible to maintain
the old prices here and live. The price on
the less desirable cuts, has not been ad-
vanced aud will not be-"
The Cudahy Packing company's price
list was read. 1t quotes loins No. | at
fifteen and seventeen cents per pound;
ribs at thirteen cents and fourteen cents
per pound. The prices sent up from
Denver we're given and they were a trihe
lower. The Cudahy beeves, however, are
corn led while the Denver meat is hay
fed. The rate OF freight from Omaha is
SLIGO per hundred pounds and $l.0o from
Denver.
Mr.. jerks was of the opinion that in
view of the prices of beet by the piece,
that the rise in the retail price OF meat
was not unreasonable.
The object OF the association was two
fold. In the first place the butchers are
troubled with bad debts, and in the sec
ond place it was to avoid cutting on prices
by the different markets, and that the
price was not for n year, or a week, or a
day, but until such time as meat could be
bought cheaper.
The question was asked him, what per
cent profit there was in meat, and he re-
piled that in the last year there was not
five per cent profit for him in the BUSH
ness.
Mr.. r. N. Heath was called upon to
make a few remarks, MI. jerks, how
ever, had covered the ground so thor
oughly that there was not much left to
say. Mr.. Heath extended an invitation
to any gentleman appointed by the meet
ing to come to his market aud he would
cut up a beef and demonstrate to him
that he could not cut first cost out of a
beef at the old price.
MIR. Heath read a letter from Marsh &
Cooper of Laramie, 10 which they stated
they had refused an offer made to them
for beef on the hoof at fonr cents, and
dressed at six and one-half cents per
pound. He suggested that the best way
out of the difficulty would be for a com
mlttee to visit the markets and see for
themselves how much profit there was
In cutting up meat.
L. Il. Haybarger, an out-of-town man
from Omaha, who represents a loan asso-
citation of Omaha, was the next speaker.
He made an address threatening the
market MIN with all sorts OF direful hap
p~enings if they did not cut down their
prices, and limited at the possibility of
Cudahy coming here, provided he was
assured Of support.
It is understood from an outside source
that the gentleman would like to estab-
fish a market here for some of the
dressed beef men.
c. ID. Kelly wanted the committee APP.
pointed to look after the npestion ,,5