Hot Springs weekly star. (Hot Springs, S.D.) 1892-1917, 1903-12-11
AFTER TIE BEEF TRUST
Plans Under Way by Stoc!Smen to Unite in
Forming an Independent Pack
ing Company.

ing company.
There has been great deal of talk
relative to the organization of stock
men of the west for protection
against the gigantic beef trust which
has been grinding down the price of
beef A recent meeting of western
stockmen at Denver copleted an organ
ization which promises to be a success
if the stockmen will join in the effort
to obtain fair and honest competition.
The following information sent out by
those who are organizing the lnde-
pendent Packing company will be of
interest to Black Hills stockmen:
"Because of the undesirable condi-
tions which have existed at the various
live stock markets for some time, every
grower and feeder of cattle, sheep and
hogs is compelled to give the question
of self protection serious consideration.
as upon the adoption of some plan to
secure this depends the future success
of the live stock industry.
ssEveryone knows that the leading
packing firms of the country, to all
intents and purposes, have entered into
combination by which they absolute
ly control and fix the price of the live
product to the grower, and also the
price of the finished product to the
consumer. Representative of the four
great packing houses meet in Chicago
every week day afternoon and fix these
prices for the following day, regardless
of all laws relating to the supply or
demand. and these prices prevail at all
OF our markets. BY this method of
business all competition is destroyed
and the farmers. stockmen and con-
sumers are st the mercy OF one of the
most far reaching trusts ever organized
in this country.
"'The truth of this assertion is obvi-
Gus when you consider that fifteen
months ago No. l beef, on the hoof. sold
i'm Chicago from $50 to $3.50 per hun.
dred. Today the same quality of beef
brings but from So So to s.. 40 per hun
dred pounds. "a decline of FULLY So per
hundred or $50 per head for a 1000
pound animal. The dressed product,
it will be seen, has sustained but an
Insignificant reduction, entirely out of
all proportion to the decline in the
price of live animals
''Hogs, on October s, 1902, We're SELL
ing from 500 to 51.lo per hundred.
One year later they were worth but $500
to S599, decline in the value to the
farmers of about 81 80 on every animal,
while there is no perceptible reduction
in the price of pork products to the
consumer.
"rhe decline in the price of sheep is
proportionately AS great as that on cat
tie and hogs.
''Because of this manipulation at the
markets, other influences have been
brought to bear tending to a reduction
in the price of live stock. On account
of which the losses to most men who
fed cattle i'll Kansas, Nebraska, Mis-
souri,, Iowa and Illinois during the win
ter of 1902 and 1908 amounted to from
s. to $50 per head.
''There is no just reason for these
conditions-th the country being general
ly as thoroughly prosperous in every
way as a year ago, employment as plen-
tiful, and with the masses, times are
good and the demand for meat products
greater than ever, but the consumer is
paying today as much for meat as one
year ago. The sole excuse for this state
turers to increase their already large
profits.
"The only remedy for the present
evil is healthy, legitimate competition,
which does not now exist
'First. The first proposition of this
company is to organize and get sutf
cient of its capital deposited in state
repositories, that packing plants may
be erected at the best and most suitable
places obtainable, with view of return
ing to the stockholders the best posi-.
BILE results.
Second. The company proposes to
enter the field covered by the packing
business with clean hands, untram-
meled by trusts and combin atoms, and
independent of all enterprises of like
nature.
"Third. 1t is our intention to pur-
chase our products in open markets,
and sell our output to all nations of
the earth, with view of encouraging
honest competition by making quick
sales and small profits.
"There is much more of interest that
might be said concerning the company.
This, however, will give an idea of the
object and prospects of the organiza-
tion, and those wishing to investigate
further should send for prospectus"
We have made arrangements so that
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