The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-08-01
HOW THE TRUST DOES 1T
An Example of How Local Butchers
Are Held Up On Meats.

The Armour Packing company of
Kansas City this morning obtained
the contract from Adjutant General
Kelsey to provide the Kansas National
Guard encampment with 10,625
pounds of fresh beef at $6.12 per
hundred. The Wolff Packing COM
pany of Topeka was the only other
bidder and asked $685. per HUNDRED.
The state demands the best quality
or corn led beef on the market, from
the fore and hindquarter meat pro-
portionately, including all the best
cuts The necks must be cut off at
the fourth vertebral joint. and the
breast trimmed down. The shank of
the fOrequarters must be cut off four
inches above the knee joint, and the
headquarters eight inches above the
hook joint. NeckS, shankS and kid
ney talIOw, and beef from bulls and
ed heifers) are excluded from deliv-
cry No carcass may weigh less than
500 pounds dressed.
This meat must be supplied to the
encampment at Vinewood park from
August Is to "a in such quantities as
the commiSSary department may re-
quire. An iced car will be used to
store the meat. The car will be run
over the Vinewood track and kept at
the terminal southeast of the park.
A butcher must be provided by the
Armour company to cut the meat at
the grounds for the commissary de-
partment.
An interesting feature in connection
with the letting of this contract is
the manner in which it "shows up
the beef trust. Butchers in the city
of Topeka pay IS per hundred pounds
for corn fed beef and 81 for grass
fed. The trimming of the shanks,
neck and kidney suet mean about so
pounds to a steer weighing 500
pounds. The butchers in this city do
not get the benefit of having this tai
ont off
hundred, while the state has all of
these superf1uities removed and gets
the best corn fed beef on the market
for $6,12 per hundred.
That is a discrepancy which the
beef trust would have some arguments
to make to get away FROM The state
is getting the very best meat stuff
which can be obtained, as its specifi-
cations dictate. On the contrary the
consumers and dealers in the city pay
the same amount for trimmings as for
the good meat and pay almost 81 more
per hundred pounds. The consumer
in the city is the one who feels this
part of it. And then they say that
the beef trust don't make money.
Fifteen hundred soldiers will be fed
for ten days by the state at the en-
stuff will be needed. The fresh beef
contract is the only one which has
been let far. Advertisements for
bids on the following materials are
now out: Z,ZoO POUNDS OF bacon,
1,125 pounds of ham, 1900 pounds of
canned corn beef hash, 500 pounds of
mackerel, 1850 pounds of soft
bread, 1900 pounds of hard bread,
$50 pounds of crackers, 1850 pounds
of -four, 1875 pounds of beans, 375
pounds of beef, $50 pounds of rice,
1900 pounds of potatoes, 500 pounds
of onions. 665 cans of tomatoes, 90
cans of jam, $50 pounds of corn, $50
pounds of peas, 1900 pounds of
ca image. ESQ pounds of DruneS, $50
pounds of peaches, 1000 pounds of
coffee. 5000 pounds of sugar. IS gall
Ions of vinegar, IS gallons of pickles.
600 pounds of salt, 81 pounds of pep
per, 400 pounds of lard, 1900 pounds
of butter, $50 cans of milk, $50 pounds
of cheese, 500 pounds of soap, 200
pounds of candles. 1 case of matches,
also pounds of ice.