The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1902-05-02
BIG SIX PACKING FIRMS
The Ppublic Believe Regulate the
Buying and Selling Of the
country's Cattle.

SA6o necoIu-I1eTalQ nave made. e
tensive and painstaking investigation
into cattle and feed conditions in Mi
nesota, Illinois, North Dakota, low
Nebraska, Missouri, Kansas, Texa
Candada and Mexico.
These correspondents have int
viewed stockraisers, bankers interes
ed in cattle loans, stock reporter
railway stock jobbers, editors an
others and have placed themselve
in touch with the great cattle, shee
and hog producing factors.
In the United States they touche
the 500 and 600 mile area out fro1
Chicago, in which the finest beef, porI
and mutton of the world are produced
In Mexico and Canada they studio,
the peculiar conditions surroundin,
the cattle industry brought about b,
American tariff restrictions. Car,
was taken to investigate other sub
jects that might throw light on tn,
actual reasons for the present higl
prices of provisions to the consumer
AS a result of their investigations
the following summary is presented:
Fdrst-Drought areas have been
comparatively small, the drought pc.
riod short, and the pres,lt conditions
OF the grass fair to excellent. No
permanently destructive drought has
existed.
Second-Feed was high during the
fall and winter, and this led to the
throwing on the market of many thin
cattle, but not in sufficient quantity
nor SO inferior in quality as to justify
the recent sharp price advances.
Third-The cattle shortage has
been greatly exaggerated, and in
steers does not exceed over 1900, 900,
as compared with the last stock cen
sus, that 10000, 900 steers are now on
the ranges.
Fourth-Hogs and sheep are in ex-
cellent condition, and the supply ap-
parently is ample for ordinary de-
mands.
Observation-Disclosures of the railways
with the big packing firms have ex-
listed to the injury of the competitive
stock raiser and packer.
Sixth-Prices to cattle sellers have
been regulated by either a one-ma
market, as at st. Paul, or by mutual
agreement meetings of packers rep
resentatives, as in Sioux City.
Seventh-No Incorporated beef trust
is alleged. but a distinct public opin-
ion exists that all buying and selling
Of cattle is regulated by six big pack
ing firms, without regard to natural
conditions.
Eighth-Excessive storage facilities
and railway rebates have enabled the
big packers to monopolize and manip-
ulate the live stock and dressed beef
markets and incidentally poultry and
eggs.
Ninth-The conditions now existing
in the live stock and dressed beef
markets are similar to those discover
ed by the United States senate in
1890.
Tenth-The investigation of the in
terstate commerce commission in
January of this year s~ustains the
charges now made as to a community
Of interests between packers and
railways.
y Eleventh-The cattle supply condi-
ton OF Mexico is fair, but the Ameri-
IAN tariff and severe inspection laws
prevent that country's product COM
in this market.
Twelfth-There is a cattle shortage
n Canada, due largely to export trade,
ind prices are high. Canadian cattle
ire barred from this country by tariff
positions.
renth-Under the Dingley law
erai beef cattle is 27k per
trucn.worth here 800 would
teis from Canada $127.5O. Z
WIN t.heep is $3.50 a head;
uu~c'eN'veal, mutton and pork, !
cases d. +
" ues3etween the protection 4
cfue'sd the rebates of the
anu oAckers of the country
iuies, $1,000 pounds of stor-
just to +bo oren;ns !, .h;s t
iespona 1-cent advance in =
cofit of $4.OO0,OO I
mate o. tho uas+ +haro t. a
the beef market is L
b packers. {
pathy ;cn, e.
for viii Ii
and Tar is the best =
IS lghs, colds and lung
u ~ that it has cured
Butte gshe first stages" .,