The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1897-11-10
COMMISSION HOUSES.

During the past couple OF weeks l
have been investigating the produce
market Of the city of Minneapolis, with
the view Of ascertaining who were re-
liable and substantial houses in the
produce commission business.
l am free to confess that l have been
annoyed at discovering such a terrific
volume Of business as is done in Com
Stacey & Sons, A. Byrnes & Co., Nc
Lean, Bryant & Co., Tilton Commission
Co., Caspers & Co.. and several other
firms all large and responsible commits
sion houses doing business of as high
as 27O carloads per month. l find upon
inspection that the notion which pre-
walls among the farmers and country
merchants that better prices for farm
produce can be obtained in Chicago,
New York and markets outside of our
state, is wrong. l find by an actual
comparison on the item of butter, for
instance, that the following prices on
butter prevailed on Saturday, Oct. 80,
1897:
New York best creamery, 23h cents
per pound.
Chicago, best creamery, 22k cents
per pound.
st. Paul and Minneapolis, 22115 cents
per pound
1t also costs ~ cents freight to go
to New York. This would net the sell
Ter of butter % cents besides having to
wait 10 days to two weeks for his re-
turns. 1 saw a shipment from one firm
of butter bought in Chicago and shipped
to Minneapolis and sold at a profit in
the local market.
The same conditions prevail in re-
gard to the live stock market South
st. Paul and New Brighton are paying
Il to "a cents per pound more for live
stock than is offered on the Chicago
markets.
Since I presented this fact to the
farmers and stockmen of the North
west, the South St. Paul stock yard has
grown from 100000 per week to about
100000 per week. And as result of
this satisfactory showing we have induc-
ed Swift & Co., of Chicago, Omaha, Kan
sas City and other points, to locate at
South st. Paul and engage in a vast
business of slaughtering, packing, and
distributing throughout the Northwest.
Within the space Of six months about
1000 men will be employed in this vast
enterprise. 1t will be worth more to
the city of St. Paul than the whole job
bling trade put together, as it will en-
ploy more men at permanent and prof.
liable employment. This enterprise will
prove a blessing to the farmers of this
state as it will create m.Aket for
thousands of carloads of produce, such
as hay, corn. oats, ETC., to feed the vast
shipments of stock from the farms of
Minnesota and the ranges of the North
west Some idea of the business of
Swift & Co. can be obtained when it is
known. that their business for last year
reached Iu0 uSuIC VI plUf,-
OOO, 100000
Now, if our farmers would take advan-
tage Of those improved conditions they
could increase the capacity of every
member of the Produce Exchange row
to ten times their present capacity. Why
not do so? The houses are good and
reliable. You will get better and more
prompt returns for your produce, while
you build up a market and help to Sc
cure your industrial union brother en-
ployment. The market for butter is
very good now, and 1 have orders tor
several carloads Of good dairy butter.
I have also got market for 1000 car
Dads of good potatoes as soon as cold
Weather sets in. Send me a list of what
yNu have for sale in any kind Of pro-
du,e and 1 will put you In communi-
cation with houses who will give you
the best figures that can be obtained
at anv market in the country.