The Butler weekly times. (Butler, Mo.) 1881-1918, 1895-04-18

pOuAds vi ufesSeO Detl or the
nine months ending March l, 1895,
New York exported 75,G09,S63
pounds of dressed beef. Boston's
export Of dressed beef showed a
heavier increase. For the nine
months ending March /, 1894. she
exported 54,25S,56l pounds of dress
ed beef. For the nine months end
ing March l, 1895, 60,955,177
pounds.
| There continued Secretary Nor
ton, lone finds reason for higher
prices. The Chicago yard figures
for Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday
and Thursday of this week would
show falling off of cattle receipts
from last years figures The first
four days this week about 25,0Oo
head of cattle to the Chicago yards
The same four days in 1894 brought
$1,000 head of cattle to the same
yards. This would mark a tremen-
dous falling off, either naturally or
by a combination. This latter is the
question the department is investi-
eating. However, while this falling
off in cattle at the Chicago yards
occurred, the price paid last week,
which, after all. is the business basis
# the big slaughterers.w was not high.
Quotations ran from 81 to Sc 10 a
hundred for from poor to choice
cattle. This would hardly justify
sirloins at 2Sc and porterhouse
steaks at 35c, when every pound OF
the animal. even every hair on its
hide, is utilized at higher than the
highest price per pound quoted for
live cattle. My own opinion is that
there has been a natural rise in
beef prices, which unscrupulous and
designing slaughterers have seized
on to send away above proper or
Legitimate figures
BOTH RAISER AND CONSUMER WORKED.
Washington, D. G, April IA -
Secretary Morton has received some
very interesting information as to
how the dressed beef combine works
both cattle raiser and meat consum.
er. The Secretary says his inform.
ant is a public man who has made
an investigation of the subject. 1t
is believed that his authority is Sen
ator Vest, of Missouri
This" said Secretary Morton, las
the story is told me, is the way the
com bination of slaughterers does
its buying. In their business it
would be the natural thing to plund
er both ways-plunder the live cat
tie seller, and then, having butcher.
ed the cattle, turn in and plunder
the consumers who buy and eat the
dressed beef. The first step would
be to break down prices for cattle
yards, where the slaughterers do
their buying. As first step they
are kept informed by wire of every
cattle shipment in the country.
Every morning and every night they
know to hair just how many cattle
are on their way to the yards, their
grade and cost, and all about them.
They get together and arrange their
buying. Ono is given first choice, say
at 6ca pound Call him A. The second
takes choice ST pound. Call him
S. The third takes third choice
at SC pound. Call him Fl. The
fourth has fourth choice at 4c.
Into the yards comes the limo,
cent seller with his cattle
A. offers &c for a choice. The
seller declines but no one offers more
| S. only offers SIC. H, drops to Sc
Six cents is the highest offer The
seller is in a box. If he refuses he
must face the expenses of yard
charges, the shrinkage in the weight
of his cattle, and the wild range
cattle feed badly in the yards
and other elements of loss He
gives up. All others like him gives
up The seller yields to the combi
nation. A. gets first choice al
&c, S takes second choice at 81 and
each gets bis choice at his figures
The yards are bid down as first
choice and other choices are made
. and taken away.
That, as I understand it, is tie
way the slaughterers work their buy
. ing. Then. SO 1 am told, they have
way of bringing the market down
| if it is too high for them and too OBJ
, durate to yield to the method quot
ed. They will order on cattle oil
their own and it is said they get re
: bates from railroads, which enables
: to move them at less expense thar
law abiding and less favored folks
and when their cattle are in the
. yards they will indulge in mock sales
( at low figures, and even sell the cat,
. tie several times over, until the mar
ket is trampled down in this general
2 procession of fctieieus sales to g