The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-02-21
GOOD PRICES FOR STOCK
A Prosperous Season Ahead for
Sheep and Cattlemen.
THE COMBINE BROKEN UP
It May Lead to a Big Packing House at
Great FaIls-A Rise in the Price
*@~N OF Hogs-One Buyer Who
Will Make Money.

Great Falls, Feb. 20.-Some days ago
the Standard contained an article in
which was given an interview with one
OF the members of the firm of Clark
Brothers, wool growers, in which the
gentleman predicted higher prices dur
ing the coming season for cattle and
sheep. Among other things on which he
based this prediction was the fact that
both Armour and Swift, the two big
packers of Chicago and Kansas City,
had their buyers in the field at the
present time, which was by several
months earlier than was customary.
This morning A. d. Dorm, buyer for the
Swift people, arrived in the city from
the southern part of the state and is
now here. During the day he has been
engaged in conversation with several of
the cattle and sheepmen who make this
city their headquarters. If one may
Judge from his experience so far on
this trip the average Stockman of Mon
tana can see a rising market ahead as
well as any one Mr.. Dorm left the
train at point on the Great Northern
in the eastern part of the state and
there began his inquiries. He figured
on a bunch of cattle. 1000 head, but
found that the price was too high He
went from there to Billings and the
country tributary to that town, and
there he met with no better success,
not yet having found a bunch of cattle
or sheep which were low enough in
price to warrant purchase and holding.
1t is learned that the combination
which was entered into by the Chicago
houses which was to last for four years
has been broken up, and now the pack
ing houses are all working each for
itself That there was such a COM
bination cannot be doubted. One of the
heaviest shippers of lambs from this
H.. Il
that after the shearing season he began
his shipments, and they occupied about
eight or nine weeks, averaging 1000
head per week. He was in Chicago all
of the time in which the lambs We're
sold, and he is willing to make affidavit
that three firms in rotation bid in his
lambs as they were placed on the mar
ket. So regularly was this system of
bidding run that he was able to tell
the next days purchaser without miss
ing, The existence of the combination
has been practically admitted by pur-
chasers, and they now state that the
breaking of the agreement is the cause
of the rise in the price of hogs.
These matters have a direct interest
for Great Falls, as 1t is believed that
only the formation of the pool kept
Armour from putting in an abattoir, and
possibly a packing plant at this city.
Everything was apparently arranged
for it, and then the whole matter was
suddenly dropped. With the breaking
up of the pool the scheme is again feas-
ibe. Under the present arrangement
the beef and mutton is shipped on the
hoof to Chicago, killed and dressed
there, and then sent back into this
country. Under such circumstances
the profit making of plant sufficient
in size to supply the wants of the state
and surrounding markets is without
question.
Probably the only buyer who will
make money this year is ]. b. Long,
who represents an Illinois syndicate.
He started into the market directly af-
ter shearing time, and purchased
throughout the summer and fall, until
he had contracts on 100000 head OF
sheep, not to mention the cattle for
which he had contracted in the same
period. cattlemen and sheepmen here
estimate he will clean up 100000 even il
the market does not continue to i'm
prove, and it is likely that he will
make much more.