Virginia gazette. [volume] (Williamsburg, Va.) 1893-192?, 1905-05-13

Very general interest has been manl-
Tested In the Government Investigation
now Ia progress into the mode or con-
Quoting business by the large packers
located iu Chicago and elsewhere.
Much has been written upon the ai-
legged Illegal and improper modes 90
business procedure connected with the
packing industry, but 10 seems that 80
TAR no definite charge OF amy kiad has
been sustained and no proof OF Illegal
or incQu.tahle methods has been dis
closed go the public While wave or
severe criticism of this great industrial
Interest Is now passing over tie coun-
Try it might be wci 90 remember that
the packers have had as yet uo oppor-
tunify 90 make specific denial tile
many indefinite charges OF wrour-GO-
Ing having never been formulated 80
that categorical answer could be
made
The recent report OF Commissioner
CARRIED. which embodied the results
OF an official inveStiga tion undertaken
by the Department az Commerce and
Labor 90 the United States. was a vine
dicati0n of the Western packers. but
this result having been unexpected ate
tempts ln many quarters TO d.screlit il
were made
stands, however. attention NAV proper
~ be called Go few facts that owing
10 popular clamor are now being ap-
parenuy overlooked. Fair treatment
I'm this country has heretofore been ace
corded 20 all citizens whose affairs ass
sumo prominence in tho public eve aud
some OF the facts that baar upon The
relation or the packers 90 the CONF
mevce or the country may az this time
he briefly alluded 90. 10 would he
difficult 70 estimate the Dement'S gained
10y Tie farmers OF the country result
Ing from the energetic enterprise OF
the packers Tor whatever is OF beupnt
10 the farmer is q gain TO the entire
commerce 90 The country. Aud COLI
neNcd with their continuous agrees
SiNe work no feature perhaps has been
more important than their Efforts lu
seeking outlets all over the world Tor
tile surplus products OF The farmer.
Our total exports of agricultural prod
uctS have gained but little in the past
twenty years. and leaving out corn tht.
total OF all other farm products was
Tar less In 1903 than in 1891. But in
packing houSe products there was con-
siderable gain during this period be-
cause am organized and powerful force
has been behind them seeking ne,~ and
broader markets.
Besides the benefits reaped bv farm
ers ON account OF the enterprise and
energy exercised by the packers I'm at
taining commercial results by foreign
trade. the great development in tie
manufacture Of packing house by-prOd-
ucts has added enormously 10 the
value OF ail live stock raised in the
United States The waste material OF
twenty years ago. then an expense to
the packer. is now converted into ar
ueles OF great value and. as an eco
monte fact. this must cogreSp0ndlngly
increase the value 10 the farmer OF
every head OF cattle marketed at the
numerous stock yards OF the country.
Let these facts be remembered while
now II is - popular 10 regard the
great packing Industry as deserving or
condemnation. At least IL must be adj
mltted that. so FAR. there is no ade-
Guate reason FOR the almost uuani-
nous howl that may BE heard every
where IN the face Of the Garncld r.
port above alluded TO which practical
~ exOnerateS the packers from the OBJ
scure and indeanite charges that have
been for some time past made the sub
lect OF popular comment.