The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-04-19

ne is in the position of David fighting
a Goliath without even a sling.
Price Cutting Eliminated.
Men who buy dressed meat OF the big
packing concerns say the packers are
gradually effecting close organization
in The sale Of meats. Price cutting un-
less Of a very, systematic character is be-
ing eliminated Although each agent
in the various distributing centers is
whipped over the back for business from
the head Office it must be gotten in other
ways than by price sIashfng. The sup
ply of meat sent from each packing house
to each distributing center is gagged
to the entire volume of business more
closely than formerly when the agent, to
keep the surplus product from spolllng,
sacrificed the price without respect to
| TIE prices made to the rest Of the agents.
| It is asserted that the agents of the
packers in all of the distributing centers
hold weekly meetings to discuss and settle
| prices and policy The dictum has gone
forth from headquarters that prices must
not be demoralized, and il any indie
pendent element cuts into the market the
price reductions that follow are syste-
lnatically made.
Jobber's Job Gone.
Every year sees the power of the big
packer in the meat trade increase. He IS
already at the point where the jobber is
practically eliminated as an important
factor and the retail dealers ars Dependent
upcn him for all of their supplies. As
long as the small packer shows desire to
live commercially, the big packer must
| keep the price of dressed meat at point
where the small packer cannot make
money. When the smaller packing con-
Germs disappear entirely, the big mans
range of power will be greater. inc
progress of events toward Capitalization
i in the meat traffic is still rapid. 1t 10
& now in the hands of few men, vast ex-
/ nenses in operation can be saved by con-
solidation of all these interests An army
I Of travelling statesmen can be reduced 70
4 a regiment. Instead of five or six branch
houses. in every important city IN the
country, the business can De Done iioll
lone plant This is a power In the shape
i of economy that can be used IN driving OUT
all competition in the killing and distri.
/ hutton of meat and meat products ana
. the tendency is rapidly in that direction:
a High Prices Expected to Stick.
Predictions are freely made that the
nresent high prices on live stock Will pc
maintained and possibly be advanced IN
the next six months. Texas will begin to
shin it's grass-fed cattle in July and oy
September the entire grass product OF the
west will be ready for the market.
Whether prices will fall or not depends
upon the consumption and the supply OF
cattle Some experts contend that the
supply has been so affected by the opera.
tions of the past six months that 1t will
take until the first of the year for the
market to recover its normal tone. The
high price of hogs is expected to nave q
marked effect on the corn acreage OF the
northwest. Many farmers will be en-
{ couraged by present figures tt. raise corn
and convert it into hog meat. Cattle puy-
j ers generally predict an increased int 81
4 est IN live stock raising throughout the
northwest as result of the high prices
. which will rule through the summer.
w E. Davis.