Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1902-04-24
People Cannot Afford to Pay Beef
Trusts Prices.
Demands for All Kinds Of Meat Fallin z
OFF in BuIlinRton-.Local Represen-
tatives OF the Trust do Not Agree
rs to the Cause OF Extor-
tionate Prices.

pi hcIDlc Vi tne trust 10 an extent tndt
they, too, are buying much less. Like all
other places of any size i'm the country.
burlington is absolutely in the hands of
the beef trust and retail dealers and con-
sumers who do not like the prices imposed
have only to go without.
The beef trade of Burlington Is in the
hands OF two companies, the burlington
Beef company and the Lake Champllir
Provision company. While they are sup
posed to be competitive houses, they have
an agreement so that the prices of one
house are the same as those of the other.
The merchants of the city cannot pur-
chase from any other houses In the State
They are in the hands of the trust for
there Is practically no Eastern beef to be
bought.
The trust has not stopped ut beef and
lambs are now soaring skyward. While
the trust does not control pork that prod
uct is increasing in price from sympathy.
AS an Illustration of the power of the
trust the case OF David Fraser of Hines
burgh is mentioned. Some time ago Mr..
Fraser had quantity Of lambs. lie sup
Piled the local markets for s and Sth cents
per pound. The prices of the trust were
higher but when they discovered that Mr..
Fraser was selling they Immediately cut
their prices to about a cent less than his.
The local dealers refused to trade with the
trust but some of them remarked to Fraser
that after his sheep were gone they would
have to pay tor their acts. And their eX-
pecta tons proved true, for soon the
Fraser animals were disposed of the trust
| forced prices up and has continued to do
so until lamb is now 1919 cents
The black list of the trust is one of its
recent Innovations and is a highly dis
| pleasing ole to meat dealers and in some
cases it appears unjust. Under the old
rule the dealers settled their accounts with
the trust every month but some weeks ago
| orders were issued that All bills must be
! paid weekly one local dealer a man of
Irnuuestioned credit and one who had dealt
| in meat for wears. was in debt t, both local
houses When he received notice that he
must settle his accounts weekly he had
| been investing heavily in pork and was UNI
able to settle on the day stipulated His
account ran over three DAYS when notice
was sent out that his name was on the
black list He Immediately settled with
the firm and began dealing with another
Louse which was merely a change from
one branch of the trust to another
| Local dealers report that the demand for
beef is falling off and that in fact the sale
of all kinds of meat is decreasing While
the trust has raised the prices. the dealers
have not increased the retail prices in
the same ratio. They claim that they are
selling meat now without any profit and
that if the trust increases the wholesale
price which will probably be done soon,
! thnv must either raise their prices or go
out If business
The representatives Of the trust in this
citv we're interviewed Yesterday and cx-
dressed their views in regard to the in
crease in prices.
i John FaIlon manager of the Burlingt on
| Reef Co said:
Last wear live cattle sold on foot for g. 30
to s. ~ This wear live cattle sold on foot
! for s6 10 to & 10 Cattle sold the highest
this March in Chicago that thew have any
mt