The Pioche weekly record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1877-1900, 1895-01-17
THE MEAT TRUST.
How the CentraIizing Process
Works Harm to the
Consumer.
What Congressional Committee Learn
ed Of the Methods OF the Big Four.
The Danger to the People.

What Is known as the centralizing pro-
cess, by which capital is combined in the
formation of trust, has been as yet but
little known III California. An entering
wedge has, il is true, been introduced here
in the etfort-thus far futie--to combine
the meat interests of the State under a
single CONTROL. c., to drive all dealers in
meat into single herd, and place Chicago
yaquero and a few swapping collies in charge
OF the drove. In other words, it has been
sought to compel the butchers to yield sub,
servience to a combination of an Eastern
monopoly, whose only purpose is to obtain
the mastery, at whatever cost, that it may
later recoup at the expense of the con.
sumer.
A Congressional Committee, appointed to
determine the nature and the results of
various trusts, has found that under the
centralizing force of the Chicago meat com
bine every tributary industry suffered de-
probation to the verge of extinction, and
from its iron rule there is no scape except
abandonment of such pursuits as might
have continued profitable under less arbi-
trary and oppressive conditions. For in
stance, in January 1884, the best grade of
beef cattle sold in Chicago at S7.15 per 100
pounds. Under pressure of the combine
known as the Big Four" the price stead
lily declined until, in December, 1889, it
was but $3.50 per 100 pounds, the market
price OF that city dominating absolutely the
price of beef cattle in the whole country
4" This great business" says the committee
"is practically in the hands of four estab.
lishments in Chicago"
The result is that "cattle owners going
with their cattle to the Chicago and Kansas
City markets find no competition among
buyers, and if they refuse to take the first
bid, are forced to accept a lower one."
These are facts which it is well that the
cattle owners of the Pacific coast should
carefully consider, in view of possible re-
suits should the combine obtain the mas
terry here.
1t Is well, also, to consider the effect of
this centralizlng process upon the retailer,
who must of necessity become the servant
of the monopoly. 1t was admitted to the
Senate Committee by the biggest of the Big
Four that they combine to fix the price
of beef to the purchasers and consumers, so
as to keep up the cost in their own inter-
est" They combine in refusing to sell any
from them. The following telegram was
sent from the office of one of the combina-
tons at Chicago to an agent in Pennsyl-
vania Cannot allow S. to continue
killing live cattle. If he will not stop make
other arrangements and make prices SO we
can get his trade" s. was a local
butcher. He testified that he was ap.
preached by the agent with a proposition
that he should sell dressed beef. Upon his
| ROT ua oil 10 do ba ,pf l.
would be broken up in business. He was
afterward boycotted by the combine for his
refusal to discontinue killing cattle. Such
is the condition which threatens the butch.
ers and retailers of meat in this State. The
recent opening of markets in San Fran.
cisco for the sale of refrigerated meat is 6
stride in the direction of similar consum
nation here. 1t may be urged that this
meat is now sold cheaper than that killed
| by local butchers.
1t is vain for the consumer to hope for 6
continuation of this reduction, which is Al
a loss to the combine. Once the tentacles
of the centralzing octopus have graspeC
every source of production, it will ICON
troll the market and fix the price of bee
cattle in its own interest,"" and the con
sumner must then contribute, however un
willingly, to recoup the combine for it
| previous losses For example, 1T was shown
to the committee that one of the companies
of the Big Four made in 1889 profits equa
to 20 per cent on its capital-which may O.
may not have been paid in.
These are facts-and facts are stubborn
things-and they point moral which mea
consumers and cattle raisers on the Pacifi
coast will do we'll to carefully consider
They will serve also to explain the feelin,
of alarm which at present pervades tn
butchering industry of California. Tn
butchers and those whose interests ar
meat monopoly produce nothing but will
wiring every dollar out of the people that