Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1895-04-18
FIGURES WANTED.
TIE BUTCHERS CHARGE A COMBINE.


WARRINGTON, April II. l2.-Secretary OF
Agriculture Morton yesterday began an
inquiry into the recent increase in the
price Of meats, for the purpose Of as
certaining II any combination in viola
ton Of law exists for the purpose Of
putting up prices His letter Of in
structions for the inquiry is as follows,
Dr.. D. D. Salmon, chief OF bureau Of animal
industry--Sir. Furnish at your earliest con-
venlence statement Of the number Of cattle
received Of the stock yards In Omaha In Kan
sas City, In East St. Louis and In Chicago dur
ing the months Of January, February and
March for the years 1894 and 1896 1t Is impor-
tant Just at this time to ascertain as nearly as
may hs from these sources what falling OF
there is in the cattle supply Of tho United
States as compared with previous years.
In January, 1885, cattle sold for $40 In Feb
ruary, the same year, for E.o,, and in March,
the same year. for $a77h per 100 weight at the
Kansas City stock yards. In 1892 they sold In
Tho same market. In January OF v, In February
at tl60, spd In March Ut tA7o per 100 weight;
while In 1903 they sold In January at $50, in
February at SIS, In March Of &70 In Janu-
cry. 1904, Of the Kansas City stock yards, they
sold u N& In February OF Ne0, and In March
atA5Q. I wish now to ascertain the prices
paid u Kansas City and Chicago during jan
uary, February and March OF 1895, and also the
number Of cattle received OF these points dur
Ing that time.
The largest cattle receipts ct Chicago In any
one day occurred, believe, April q, 1892, when
&,N7 head were received; aud the largest cat
To receipts In Chicago In . single week were
oo,b3e head, received during the seven days
ending September 10, 1901, and the largest re-
cdpts for single month Of Chicago were 10
September, io92, when $4,000 head we're re-.
ceived.
Be kind enough to instruct the agents Of the
bureau Of animal industry Of the United States
department Of agriculture, wherever they may
10 stationed, to collect and send In as rspidly
% possible all reliable data OF their command
which may tend to truthfully show what diui-
mutton, ifany there 10 In the cattle supply Of the
United States for the year 1905. o. compared
With previous years.
Also instruct the agents Of the bureau Of
animal ipduatsy to make thorough inquiry as
10 whether, in their Judgment there Is any
combination, In violation of low, by which o
cattle trust" il putting UP the price Of beef
plooucss vnhe !! !" putting aown down. .ne per
'Ap' p''ss y srrnrrxo s, NJ Mosrnw = ssorstayv yS'
This investication IA due 10 the fact
that in ali Of The cities Of the country
the nrices Of beef have been raised ma
terially since March /. Charges have
been frsaly made that the "l,ir -Four"
packers' combine has been respon siblc
for The rist ae.a tHst,, cattlener. have
not proflted by It.
THE BUTCHERS CHARGE A COMBINE
KANSAS CITY, No.. April ls.-The
butchers here have for a long time in
sisted that the local packers were mem.
bers of combine. An effort to have
them indicted upon the charge of vio-
latinr the antitrust law was made
some time ago, but the butchers were
not able to get enough evidence
to prove their claims. As a reason
for the belief that such combine ex-
lists the butchers point to the fact
that there is practically no such thing
as business competition between the
local houses, as far as the home trade
Is concerned All the meat Is graded
the same by each house and the prices
are exactly the same. If the prices Of
meat are advanced all of the houses
advance M eyactlv the same hour. All