The morning call., 1894-03-22


The plan, as outlined to q CALL re-
porrer yesterday, will not be confined to
Merced County alone, but will reach out
to this and other cities in the State. Il is
said that Mr. Armour, during his recent
visit here, closed the contracts for OPEN
ing number OF retail meat-stores in this
city. and that a similar plan will be put
into operation in other cities on this
coast, and it is expected to make the pork
packing establishment mentioned the
basis OF supplies for that class of meat.
while it Will also stimulate the trade
which Mr.. Armour's other investments
near this city do not at present enjoy.
The plan is not new one with Mr.. Ar
mour. Throughout Indiana and other
States he has pursued the same course.
When he found that the retail butchers in
given place would not handle his meat,
he simply went to work and opened up a
lot of shops himself. The plan works sd-
mirably-frOm his point of view. AS he
buys in large numbers and butchers the
same way. the cost is reduced TO a mini
mum, and when be feels that the trade is
not exactly TO his liking he simply puts
the price OF meat down to point where it
means either going out of business TO bis
competitors or the alternative of pur-
chasing meat of him.
Butcher-shops have of late days, espe-
cially In the East, become the general
marketing place for butter and eggs. II
will thus be seen that the bog-killng es-
adjustment would not only 60 into busi-
ness with an assured business already be-
lore ii. but that the creamery would also
be in fai: way to achieve success from
The start. About two weeks ago Messrs.
Hatch and Waiknp made a trip to Merced
in company with w. H. Mills. land agent
of the Central Pacific Company. who has
had charge of the disposal of the Merced
lands for the Crocker estate. They rode
over the land and they walked over the
land. and in all they travelled ninety
miles without leaving the tract, in which
are included just ,638 acres.
A most thorough examination was made.
The soil was tested and the capacity of
the canals looked into. The water supply,
as to volume and continuity OF flow and as
to feasibility of distribution, was made a
subje of inquiry. Some tests were made
with reference to depth as well as strength
of soil, and the question of seepage was
not neglected. This has proved valua BILE
factor in many sections OF the San Joaquin
Valley. and it is said that the sub-stratum
IN certain portions of the Merced lands is
of tough, clayev nature, which Will make
irrigation by seepage possible.
When the syndicate which Messrs. Hatch
and Walkup represent first con sidered the
subject of purchasing lands at Merced it
was with the idea of buying Is. COO as a
maximum tract. After the first visit OF
these gentlemen to the coast, some time
ago. the capital of the syndicate was in-
creased. and the present visit of Messrs.
Hatch and Walkup was made with author
ity to negotiate for the entire tract.
The result of their journey to Merced
and the examination of the lands there was
a verbal agreement for their purchase.
After q prolonged discussion, extending
over several days. w. II. Mills last Mon
day on single sheet of paper drafted the
outlines of an agreement. This was shown
TO {. +. Crocker, who declared that he in.
diyidualy was satisfied. This outline
was sent 10 W. II. Crocker of the Croker
Woolworth bank, and shortly afterward
came the telephone message that he too
was satisfied.
Tuesday and yesterday were spent in
putting this outline of the agreement into
legal shape. Messrs. Hatch and Walkup
wsre very particular as to phraseology.
There were everal bitches in the negotia-
tions over minor points. but with much
discussion an understanding was finally
reached. In order that there should be no
future misunderstanding the single page
of legal cap which contained the outline of
the agreement in plain terse terms was
expanded into many folios with all the
redundancies and tautologies Of legal ver-
biage.
The Chicago syndicate, after the agree
ment is signed to-day. will enter into
possession of the entire tract and will
assume the contracts made with previous
purchasers of Merced lands from the
Crocker estate direct. 1t is the intention
of the syndicate to expend quarter of
million dollars to induce Eastern farmers
to settle On this tract.
When seen last evening W. b. Mills
declared that the deal had not been for
mally closed and declined to discuss the
subject.