The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-11-01
FL0RIDA'S CATTLE TRADE.
INDICATIONS OF THE CUBA BUsI-
NESS BECOMING DEMORALIZED.

Opinion That the Florida Cattle
Raiser holds His stock Mt Too
Stiff a Price-HayRna's Beef Trust
/ Unable to Make Anything on Its
Dealings-Prospects That the BUSH
ness VIII BE Transferred 10 Texas
and Mexico, If South FIOridiRns Do
Not Grant "a Reduction of Price.
Havnna's Consumption of 400 AMI
mails Il Day VIII Soon Exhaust
South FIOrIda's stock.
Tampa, Fla, Oct S1.-From present in
dications, the cattle owners of South
Florida are in a fair way to utterly de-
moralze the Cuban stock trade, and by
their exorbitant demands kill the goose
that has laid so many golden eggs, in the
shape Of Spanish doubloons, In this state.
1t is a fact not generally known that
the cattle trade of Cuba is at present abb
solutely controlled by beef trust. incor-
pOrated with a capital of 81 10000. and en-
joying the fullest protection and conf
dence of the palace authorities. This
fact naturally gives the trust absolute
sway on the island, and bars out all com
petition. A representative Of this power
full combination is now in Tampa, and has
expressed himself freely as to the out
look and the probable result A prominent
dealer who has had extensive dealings
with this gentleman, said yesterday to a
Morning News correspondent that unless
the price of Florida cattle was immedi-
ately lowered, the loss of the Cuban mar
ket would inevitably result.
1T is not" he continued, Eat all difficult
to see the reason. Florida cattle owners
are now asking $12 to SIS a head for cattle
on the range-a price that is practically
prohibitive. At $12 these cattle cost us
$l3.25 a head on board the ship; the cost
of transportation is 1864, making the cost
to the Havana trust $29.S9 when the cattle
are delivered at the slaughtee pens. They
are now killing on an average 100 head a
day in Havana. DR.. Lykes who has just
returned from Cuba, told me that he
spent two days at the Havana slaughter
pens, and that 500 head were killed dur
ing that time"
what does the trust think of the prices
demanded by the Florida cattle men?' was
asked.
''They think they are cxorbitant, of
course. and they are well convinced of
that fact They are SO well convinced that
they can do better elsewhere, that the
representative of the trust, who is now
here, assures me that, unless the price is
lowered, they will al once discontinue buy
ing in Florida altogether and turn their at
tention to Mexico and Texas. In both of
those places beef cattle will average about
125 pounds heavier, and can be bought and
handled for less money. The average Flor
ida beef will not weigh over $50 pounds,
and the price charged is out of all pro-
portion to its true value. [ am under con-
tract to deliver cattle on board ship at
$13.25 a head, that will cost me more than
that laid down. 1 can make nothing. The
trust can make nothing by the time the
cattle reach Havana. l should like to see
this money continue TO come into Florida
Our people need il. But If this trade goes
TO Texas and Mexico we capnot continue
shipments to Havana, whose~market is, as
1 have said, absolutely controlled by the
trust. If that combine will not handle our
stock, you can depend upon it nobody else
will.
Good authorities say that there are not
now over 5000 head of beef cattle now
available for shipping purposes in South
Florida, and that this stock will soon be
exhausted if the shipments continue.