New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-04-30
PLANT OF THE PEEF MEN.
ARMOUR 4 60. SAY THEY DID BUSINESS AT A
loss DURING THE WHOLE or 1894

LOSS DURING THE WHOLE OF 1894
Washington Apri; pa sworn staten. Mt. made
nv i / Martyn Of the Chicago firm Of Armour
g. CO. concerning the profits ana losses OF that
concerns beef slaughtering business for the last
sixteen months has been submitted 10 the Score
tsrv OF Agriculture. Referring 10 the share that
the dressed beef business had bad TO stand In the
commercial hardsnips OF the last two years. Mr..
Marvin declare. that during 1894 cattle were fairly
plenty and the beef slauRhterers pushed the bust
ness to the utmost each trying 10 outvie the other
in the manufacture OF dressed beef and the open
ing of branch houses. until now there is hardly n
town in the East capable Of consuming Il carload
of beef per week that has not two beef houses.
while the larger towns have from four TO six.
where one-haf the number woid easily care for
the business. At the Eastern markets. which are
the principal outlets. the public were short OF both
money and work and dragged the prices OF dressed
beef down to the lowest possible point, and az
dressed beef cannot be held any more than fresh
fish they got IL very cheaplyv
At the first Of the year II became apparent that
cattle were short. and beef slauGhterers were
obliged to put their delivery houses on shorter
commons. Cattle and beef began TO advance
slowly eliminating in April. when live cattle were
on an average 81 30 hundred pounds higher than
in January Retailers got excited and pushed their
prices up. fearful that the advance would con-
tnue and their next supply cost them more money.
This caused consumption TO fall oil. ana imlne-
diat.y dressed beef and cattle broke sharply dur
Ing the second week in April one thing people
could not understand was why dressed beef should
advance more rapidly than the price OF live cattle
The for this is that the value OF the hides
horns and offal from steer costing three cents
hundred is applied to reduce the price Of the
dressed beef. II cattle advance 4 cent or two a
hundred the offal does not catch the advance
Arguing further In this direction. he quotes the
market report. which shows:
There is shortage weight OF cdttl.
at Chicago for the period Of the last week, as
compared with the week OF 1894 OF twcnty
pounds per head and 5000 cattle in hummer, equa
TO decreased supply Of 100000 pounds. or 2vOcy
| pounds per day At Omaha the decrease Ii eve
greater The four principal cattle markets snow
! a decrease since January l Of practically $4,000
head 20o.0o0V0 pounds from the receipts of the
! corresponding period Of 1884 Armour o. Co
| per head paying full prices for the hides, talloN
and ona and continue the business az long as Tho
other party desired
! Enclosed in the document presented by MIR. Mar
| tyn 10 Secretary Morton Is an abstract from th'
| books OF Armour g. Co.. showing results oi
42i7e0 cattle slaughtered and marketed In the yea
ending November g. 1894 OF an average loss PEI
memoranda showing: Live cattle. i2l.720 wcishn;
Az 800 pounds; dressed weight 2i ils4f0 pounds
which. together with salaries. labor. fuel rcfrgera
ton etc. present total of ns.oS3 OBS 90 counte
statement, giving the credit with deduction of al
! expenses. including bad debts. etc. shows los
Of s7S $50 AZ. or as stated. IA cents head A sim
liar showing on H3H cattle slaughtered and mar
keted during November and December, 1884. exhibit
loss per head OF 1871 cents. while better figure
are given on 65,9iS cattle slaughtered and marketed
during January and February. 1895. In which gall
| per head OF &5.lS cents is recorded, with one OF
cents head on 1882 cattle slaughtered during tn
period Of February % to April a.