The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1902-07-18

I~sseresssss Facts Developed by the
lsvestsssaiess MADE ~ Ax~nss se
Depagtnent 80 Justice.

Washington. July A.-Inyestira-
tons that have been made by ths
agents Of the department Of justice
in connection with the litigation
against the beef trust have DEVELOPED
some very interesting facts concern
ing the meat question and the prob
abilities for reduced prices Of beef
and other meat products
Since the injunction cases wrrs
commenced against the beef trus,
some time ago the department Of las
tice has been making very exten ed
inquiry into the entire subirc'
meat production. including the cost
Of cattle on the ranges. the price q
feed, and all Of he elements Of X
pense that enter into the cost b;
meat foodstuffs as they come 10 The
American table. The purpose Of Tic
Investigation was solely to equip tbs
attorneys for the government with
means of meeting any arguments
that might be offered by the trust n
explanation Of the e%xorbitant prices
hat are being charged for meat.
In making the inquiry the agents
Of the department nave diseovered a
number Of facts which seem "a way
rant the prediction that. whatever
NAV be the outcome of the litigation
against the beef combine, there VII
be no marked decrease in the price u
beef for consumption for n year Il
least. II has been established e The
complete satisfaction of the dcpart-
nent that the prices of beef were IN
creased by the beef combine without
any Justification. and that enormous
profits were made through arbitrary
advance of prices, without any m
creased cost of securing h becf or
preparing it for the markets. Blt
I is also claimed. as a result ~ n
sestigation. that conditions are nes
such that cattle of all kinds will com
mand a stiff price in the market i'
he next veal at least. and an wtis
he prices will and can be reduced
considerably. there will be no return
10 the prices that ruled a coupe q
years ago. This opinion of the DE-
partment Of justice agents Is nase'
upon the reports received from =
Louis. Kansas City, Omaha and 'ai
-agi and from the range conNtue
md feeding places tributary to thps'
live stock market centers- Thesf re
(. Dorts show that last year d calue
: men of the west stripped their range
> and sold their stock at a saerihce 2
: account Of threatened drought IN -
stock belt.
: About a year ago. realizing tina
: grass was not making its usls
growth and that the water supp
= was running low and the corn GRO
: threatened, farmers and live sioe
:" men rushed their stock to MARE
selling il at a heavy sacrifice ! maj
Q distances. in order to avoid the meet
! sity Of buying feed at high pro
y The beef combine took due dvansa
e NJ this situation. With every marx
p ~ the country overstocked. =
: prices sarged low. and the pack
> boupht a mammoth supply OF sto'
~ If very low prices These were u
N tened and killed and added 10 q
stock of beef on hand in the col
D storage warehouses Owing to J,
high price Of corn and other feed !
stock. the small cattlemen did 2
buy the usual stock of cattle TO f.
and every hoof that was market
was disposed Of The result =
day that the supply Of markeia.
cattle il small. and will remain 81 =
er III the corn crop is gathered VI
ly the present ruling high price q q
er the prospect is against any large 1
as Of Il for feeding purposes =
n range fed cattle, known as !
= --erassers,- are coming into wes's
"a markets in smaller numbers than
~ ual, and every indication points
"A continued high prices for beef-