Omaha daily bee., 1905-10-26
CHICAGO SEEGS MONOPOLY
Windy City Men Want to Control Live
Stock Industry,
MISSOURI RIVER POINTS MAKE FIGHT
Omaha Heads in ERort TO Preserve
the Packing Trade Now Enjoyed
by Installations Not Lo-
Gated on the Lake.

In the United States circuit court at Chi
cago just now is pending a case that is
Of most vital Importance to the stock
yards and packing industries along the
Missouri river. Complaint was made to the
Interstate Commerce commission by men,
bers of the Chicago Live Stock exchange to
the effect that the difference in the rate
on live stock and dressed meats amounted
to discrimination against the Chicago
market. This complaint was heard before
the commission and an order was made
directing that the rate on live stock to
Chicago be adjusted to correspond with
the rate on dressed meats. At that time
the Omaha and st. Joseph stock yards
companies interviewed and made a showing
that IL any relief were granted to Chicago
in the matter, similar relief should be
granted the stock yards on the Missouri
river. The order made by the Interstate
Commerce commission is interpreted by the
intervening companies as covering their
contention. but the Chicago compliments
are now asking the federal court to enforce
an order that will amount in effect to Civ
ing Chicago a monopoly of the trade from
the Missouri river east, and which will
practically destroy the live stock industry
on the Missouri river.
Case of the IntervenOrs.
The Omaha and st. Joseph companies
have again interviewed and present their
case to the circuit court as they did to the
| Interstate Commerce commission. If Chi
cago is entitled to the relief prayed for the
Missouri river stock yards are also entitled
to the relief. 1t is contended that dis
turbance of rates as proposed, unless the
! equitable order asked is granted, will turn
all the cattle and hog shipments 20 Chicago
and place the other stock yards from st.
Paul to st. Louis at such disadvantage that
they cannot compete for the business. The
rate complained of affects what is known
| as the 231s -cent zone, and the statistics sub
mitted to the court show that at present
from 65 to 20 per cent of all the stock
shipped from this territory now goes to
Chicago, owing to the favorable shipping
conditions afforded by the railroads. II the
rate is changed according to the prayer OF
the interstate commission men, the remain
ing 30 to 80 per cent of this stock will be
forced to Chicago. How this will affect
Omaha is shown by the testimony of Presi'
dent Stickney of the Great Western and
Hiram r. Mccullough of the Northwestern
In 1904 the Great Western hauled from the
2sIh-cent zone to Omaha 1890 cars of stock
and the Northwestern hauled here from tn,
same territory $500 cars. This is part Of
J
seeking to divert to their own yards, thai
they may secure the commission for han
ding it. -
Commission Men Alone Benefited.
In the argument of the intervenors 1t II
plainly set out that neither the shippers no
; the railroads. nor the packers, will be il
any way benefited by the proposed chang
, in rates. All the good that will flow from
this disturbance of conditions will go di
rectly to the commission men, who will b
, given more cars of live stock to handle a
, their established rate OF commission. /
. the rate westbound is reduced in proportion
to the rate eastbound, and the parity /
, maintained, then the currents Of traffic will
! not be changed. This is wilAt the inter
. venors ask of the court. w To-
, Comparison of Interests.
AS showing the relative Importance OF tn
. interests involved comparison OF the liv
stock and packing industry In Chicago an
: at the other points to be affected by tn
n courts order is made. The figures ar
: taken from the last United States censu
Y and are:
= Packing houses at Omaha Kansas City