The herald., 1895-04-12
TIE PRICE or MEAT
), t " Morton of the Agricultural Pepart-
ment tarts an Inquiry

WAS ftNGTON, April 11.-Secretary OF
; Agriculture, MOI ton today began an in
quiry nto the recent increase in theTprice
y. meats for the purpose of ascertaining if
any combination in violation OF law ex-
lists. l. he secretary's letter of instructions
is as follows
Dr. d. +. Salnnn. Chief OF the Bureau
OF Animal Industry: e.
Sir :-Furnl sh at your earliest cOnyen-
j nee u stltement of the number of cattle
received at the stockyards in Omaha.
Kansas City, East st. Louis and Chicago
during the months of january, February
and March in 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 sup
ply of the United States as compared
with previous years. In January. 1885.
cattle sold for 500; in February, same
year. fo- $3.50, and in March, same year.
City stockyards, and in 1892 they sold in
the same market in February, 1884. and
in March at S4.70 per 1000 weight while
in 1893 they SOLD in January at $3.50. in
February S525, in March $50; and in
January, 1894. at Kansas City stockyards
they sold at 1926. in February $3.50 and
in March $3.50 l wish now to ascertain
the prices paid at Kansas City and Chi
cago during Janpary,.I February and
March of 1885, and also the number of
cattle received at these points during this
time. The largest CATTLE feceliPts at Chi
April 25, 1892. wEeif ssa75: sHsad. we're re.
ceived. and the largest Cattle Receipts at
Chicago in single week were ~ 42S head,
received during sever days $iSuing Sep
tember 10, 1884, and the 48rgest receipts
of cattle for single month AZ Chicago
head were we received. Be Kind! sspush, to to
instruct the agents Of: tEss b,fteiftl of ami
NAL industry of the Emitted Sta te9 depart
ment of agriculture wherever taaey may
be Stationed to collect and send in as
rapidly as possible all reliable data at their
command which my tend ira tfhully to
show what diminutions # any there sis in
The cattle supply Of the United States tor
the year 1895 as com pared With previous
years. Also instruct agents of the bureau
to make thorough inquiry as to whether
in their judgments there is aanyscom bine
trust is putting up the price,of ..,lJeef pro-
ducts while it is putting ,dQWnictbe per
capita price of CATTLE eTE, 2resjlectfully
yours, J. STERLING M0RTANA
l4s eoal .aai secretary
WASHINGT0N;I-;April 11.-Concerning
the inquiry, Secretary Morton said to a
reporter of the Associated Press sC
1.-The increaseof the prize ofzcattle has
been quite remarkable and certain huctu-
ations seemed unaccountable., It. would
appear that the primary cause OF the in
creased price is that the1Ss1pply is de-
creasing while the demand is constantly
increasing, and the four pointsDsso-called
Chicago, Kansas City, st. ,tbuiss and
Omaha-where cattle are islaughtor are
falling off in their supply to thes mar ket.
The reduction last year WIS i42,;;}47 head
of cattle as compared With the year be-
fore. This reduction would bring an in
crease OF price to tire fconsumer. Then.
too corn-ted cattle are preferred and our
supply of corn-fed fell off enormously last
year. This in part explains the falling off
III production of high grade cattle. And
it S Il marked feature of the American
consumer that he wants the very best
grade of cattle. and the choicest parts,
sirloins and porterhouse rather than the
more nutritive round or neck"
Mr.. Morton's inquiries as to the infiu-
ence of the alleged trust are in part
directed by current statements as to other
influence which the Big Four have in de-
pressing the price of live cattle.
He says that If there was a demand for
the live cattle the price would go up re-
gardless of the combine. His inqui y, he
adds, is designed to bring out just what
influence the Big Four have on prices.