The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-09-30
BACK FROM NE WYORK
J. Hudson Mcknight Talks
About Whitaker Plant.
MAY MAKE THE DEAL
With Butchers Association Be-
fore His Option Expires,

was in connection with the Whittake
packing plant of this city Mr.. McKnigh
organized a large and wen-stocke
wholesale and jobbing company whic
will handle all kinds fable and plate
ware on a large scale, and while Nj
Mcknight is to be the president of tn
company. he will remain in Wichita an
look after the western interests of tn
concern. He will employ an army 0
travelling men right away and put then
into the field. with headquarters in thi
city and other western jobbing centers
Mr.. Mcknight was seen at Willowdale
his beautiful suburban home, last nigh
by reporter for the Eagle concerning
the disposition Of the Whitaker packin,
plant
Il really haven't much to say abou
my trip to New York" said Mr. Nc
knight. 1.-The New York reporters triec
! to say a great deal about me and thu
| Whitaker plant, but they got everything
| exactly backwards"
You did not succeed, them in perfect
| ing deal for the plant?"
mo. However, have left my inter,
ests with very energetic parties who may
succeed in closing the deal heretofore
mentioned with the Retail Butchers
association I could not afford to stay
any longer on that business, but 1 think
the butchers association is very well i'm
pressed with the Whitaker plant and the
proposition made to them"
What advantage would such a plant
be to the butchers Of New York;" queried
the reporter.
at would enable them to market their
own stuff and at great saving of ex-
pense. They would virtually be their own
own hogs and cattle here and sell it in
New York without having to depend on
anybody else"
Would they be in competition with
other packing houses for trade in the
southwest"
Not necessarily"
How soon do you think an under
standing will be reached?"
81 would not care to venture an opin-
ion on that subject, as yet because
there might be Slip
do you think a deal will be made at
alp"
Here Mr.. Mcknight looked in the other
direction. Finally he said: "Well.
wouldn't have spent two months in New
York If I hadn't known a thing or two"
1.-The fact is said Mr.. Mcknight 1.-The
butchers of New York are going to in
vest in packing plant on the co-opera-
tive plan The big rise in the price of
meats in New York City this summer
forced by the packers, set the retail
butchers to figuring, and they are going
to have a plant. The only thing is to
get them to take the Whitaker plant.
They are abundantly able to do it, but
they are very slow to act. The only
thing necessary now is to get them to
act together and come to decision. They
are abundantly able to join in such
movement There are 2,2G0 butchers in
New York City who are able to invest
$1,000 each in such a plant and never
miss the money. With the stock that is
held by St. Louis parties and other stock
which would be held by Wichita men,
the capital of the Whitaker plant could
be increased to such an extent as would
make it one of the finest concerns in the
country and its success would be certain
from the start"
How would the stock be placed in case
the deal should be nader"
my opinion is that the retail butchers
and St Louis stockholders would hold
about an equal share with the controll-
ing interest in the hands OF Wichita
men. I should want it that way in order
to protect the interests of Wichita"
It is reasonably safe to say in the light
Of Mr. Meningitis experience in New
York City. that the Whitaker packing
plant will be in operation before another
year, although Mr.. Mcknight is very
slow to speak for publication with regard
to the matter. He admitted that he had
bought an option on the plant. and that
the disposition Of the plant is entirely in
his hands for quite a length Of time. on
his way to New York he stopped in ST.
Louis to see Ex-Governor Francis and
Mr.. Thompson. cashier Of the National
Bank of Commerce, who are two of the
largest stockholders and have authority
10 represent all Of the other stockhold-
ers. Each Of these gentlemen will retain
their stock in case the Retail Butchers
associatiO takes hold OF the plant. This
will give the concern immense financial
and prestige.
New York City uses in the neighbor-
hood Of 2e50O10 pounds OF beef per day.
besides the other meats. and in case the
Whitaker plant is used by the Retail
Butchers association Il would be neces-
sary to enlarge the beef departments OF
the plant and the opening Of the plant
by such an arrangement would be much
better than II II were operated by a
strictly commercial firm and would give
TO southern Kansas the best market for
cattle and hogs that il has ever had.
Mr.. Mcknight left New York City
Tuesday night, after Dewey arrived IN
the harbor. He took a journey around
Sandy Hook and got within 80 feet of
the great admiral. and saw him standing /
on the deck Of the Olympia He said the /.
Olympia wss one OF the finest war yes
sells he hSd ever seen. lie also saw the I
fine yachts. Columbia and Shamrock, and /
Sir Thomas Linton who expects 70 /
wrench honors from the Columbia
Judge Glenn has secured this week no
tee OF the allowance u three pension |
claims: John Mccormick. raised from /
So 10 ST; James II. Lane, raised from 81 /
to 81: John 2 Brown. raised from S. 70 1
IS All are Wichita soldiers.