Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1901-11-22
SPIRIT OF THE PRESS
FACTS AND OPINIONS GATHERED
FROM CONTEMPORARIES

The statement OF Kew. EDWARD HUI
gerford in his communication on the es-
tabishment of slaughter house and
rendering plant in Burlington by the
Swift Dressed Beef Co. to the effect that
the far-seeing corporation in question ex-
pect the rapid filling up of the West and
the absorption of the cattle ranges to
compel the beef industry of the future to
return more and more to the East, opens
up profitable line of thought for the
farmers of Vermont as we'll as of other
New England states.
Indications are not wanting that the
era in question is much nearer than many
people suppose and that the production
of meat will speedily regain its place in
the list of Vermont's important indus
tries. 1t was the ability of the ranch
man to allow his herds to roam over vast
tracts of grazing country that originally
led to the transfer of the production of
beef on a large scale from the East to
the West and compelled our farmers to
devote their. attention to other specialties.
Conditions in the East have been rapidly
changing during the past few years and
the process of fattening beef for market
has become much more expensive than
formerly. At the present time 1t is nee
essary to make three shipments of West
ern beef before it reaches dealers In the
East. The cattle are collected from the
plains and shipped to some central point
where they are fattened on corn. They
are then put on the cars again and sent
to some Strengthening point like Kansas
City or Chicago. The meat is then hung
up for time in refrigerators and is ship
ped to its destination in different parts of
the country.
AS result of this increase in cost of
production and transportation the prices
of meat products have reached an alti-
tude where the farmers of the East can
profitably produce beef, pork and NUT
ton; but farmers in this section are slow
to take advantage of the situation. They
have been out of the business so long
that they do not readily grasp the oppor-
tunity to regain partial control of lost
industry.
In some cases farmers are not entirely
responsible for their failure to restore
the meat industry to its former proper
lions in this section. 1t is a notorious
fact that as soon as the great packing
houses note disposition on the part of
our farmers to bring beef and other meat
products into market they promptly put
down the price of their goods, aud thus
compel the farmer to sell at Il loss. When
they have again secured a monopoly, they
speedily increase prices, and the Gus
toner pays the freight
Consumers can continue to pay eXtor-
tionate prices, if they are so Inclined, or
they can gradually improve the situation
by favoring native meat products when
ever such a course is possible. Farmers
can thus be encouraged to fatten beef as
well as to bring into our markets increas-
ing quantities of pork, mutton, veal and
poultry, and the money will be kept in
circulation in this vicinity instead OF be-
ing sent to enrich the big packers of the
West. Eventually the cutting up of
ranches in the West will force the growth
of the meat industry in the East, but
cooperation on the part of customers
and farmers in this section will mater
tally hasten the process to their own
mutual antage.-Burlingto Free
Press.
Hoo>
ELECTRICITY IN MOUNTAIN RAIL ROADING.
1t is wholly within the range Of posi-
bility that electricity generated by water
power now running to waste, may be
used to operate the mountain division of
some of our great western railroads
The availability of cheap water power,
the relatively high cost of coal and other
reasons, have led to a serious considera
ton of change of motive power. Some
of the roads are already reported to be
planning for the use of electricity as
partial substitute for coal
On certain portions of the lines where
the roads cross the mountains with heavy
grades, each train requires the assistance
of a 'helper" engine in addition to the
regular engines, and as all the mountain
trains on these divisions are hauled by the
big mountain climbing engines the coal
consumption is enormous, amounting
sometimes to as much as $50 tons day
or nearly million tons year. In
addition to the saving of coal the discom
forts of transit through the long tunnels
and snow sheds on the route would be
greatly lessened by the avoidance OF
smoke and coal gas.
The proposed use of electric power
under these conditions is an interesting
comment on the growing value Of the
country's smaller streams. This is
especially true in the West, where, first
as supply and in mining operations,
then for irrigation and finally for cheap
water power, the rivers are proving
themselves Il most valuable natural
resource. So fully is this understood
that for several years the govern
ment has been engaged in sys-
tematic study of the inland waters
through the United States Geological
Survey, which is making measurements
and collecting data for future use ID
their developement.-M ontpelier Journal.
>OO~
FREE DELIVERY OF RURAL MAILS.