The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-04-12
SEEKING A COMBINATION
Falling Off in the Supply of
Cattle at the Principal
CenterS.
THE BIG FOUR's INFLUENCE.
Tactics Of a Railroad Combine That
May Be Found to Be
Unlawful.

WASHINGTON, D. c., April 11.-Secre-
tary of Agriculture Morton to-day began
an inquiry into the recent increase in the
price of meats, for the purpose of ascertain
ing if any ombination in violation OF law
exists. The Secretarys letter of instruc-
tons is as follows:
Or. D. E. Salmon, Chief Of the Bureau
of animal IRdustru-SIR Furnish at your
earliest convenience q statement OF the num-
Der of cattle received at the stockyards at
Omaha Kansas City, East St. Louis and Chi
cago during the months of January, February
and March, for the years 1894 and 1895. 1t is
important just at this time to ascertain as
nearly as may be from those sources what
falling off there is in the cattle supply of the
United States, as compared with previous
years.
In January, 1885, cattle sold for S. 70, in
February of the same year for So 90, and IN
March, the same year, for So 1715 per 100
weight at the Kansas City stockyards, and In
1892 they sold in the same market in January
for SIS, in February 81 80 and in March 81 20
per 100 weight; while in 1898 they sold in
January at So so, in February So SIS, in March
S. 20, and in January, 1894, at the Kansas
City stockyards, they sold at So %, in Febru-
airy 81 so and in March 81 so.
I wish now to ascertain the prices paid at
Kansas City and Chicago during January,
February and March of 1895, and also the
number of cattle received at these points dur
ing this time. The largest cattle receipts at
Chicago in any one day occurred, bell eve,
April %, 1892, when 1857 head were re-
ceived, and the largest cattle receipts at Chi
cago in single week were 95,52S head, re-
ceived during the seven days ending Septem-
Der 10, 1891.
The largest receipts OF cattle for a single
month at Chicago were in September, 1892,
when 395 ,466 head were received. Be kind
enough to instruct the agents OF the Bureau of
Animal Industry of the United States Depart
ment of Agriculture, wherever they may be
stationed, to collect and send in as rapidly as
possible all the reliable data at their command
which may tend to truthfully show wnat dim
mutton, if any, there is in the cattle supply of
the United States for the year 1895, as COM
pared with previous years.
Also instruct the agents of the Bureau of
Animal Industry to make thorough inquiry
as to whether in their judgment there is any
combination in violation of law by which the
cattle trust is putting up the price OF beef
products while tits putting down the per capita
price of cattle. Very respectfully yours,
J. STERLING MORTON, Secretary.
Concerning the inquiry Secretary Morton
said to a reporter of the Associated Press
stThe increase of the price of cattle has
been quite remarkable, and certain fluctua-
tons seemed unaccountable. 1t would APP
pear that the primary cause of the in
creased price is that the supply is
decreasing while the demand is constant
or increasing, and the tour points, SO
called-Chicago, Kansas City, st. Louis
and Omaha-where cattle are slaughtered
are falling off in their supply to the market.
The reduction last year was ID, 347 head OF
cattle, as compared with the year before.
This reduction naturally would bring an
increase of price to the consumer. Then,
too, corn-fed cattle are preferred, and our
supply of corn-fed fell off enormously last
year. This in part explains the falling off
in the production of high grade cattle.
And it is marked feature of the American
consumer that he wants the very best grade
of cattle, and the choicest parts-sirloin
and porterhouse rather than the more
nutritive round or neck"
Mr.. Morton's inquiries as to the influence
of the alleged trust are in part directed by
current statements as to the influence
which the Big Four have in depressing tlfe
price of live cattle.
He says that if there was a demand for
the live cattle the prices would go up, re-
CARELESS of the combine. His inquiry, he
adds, is designed to bring out just what in
fluence the Big Four have on prices.