Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1906-02-09
LEWISTOWN, MONT, Feb. 8, 1900
MEAT PACKING PLANT.


Montana is to have a million dollar
beef packing plant which is to be To-
Gated in the Deer Lodge valley. 1t is
said the company will be formed in
a short time and that the prime NOV
ers will be composed of such men
as Joe Toomey, of Deer Lodge: John |
Gerdts, of Garrison; Senator Conrad
Kohrs. Charles Nick. John Bielenbere,
Lodge. and Henry Maher. of Race !
Track.
Surely, if there is any chance for
success in such an enterprise the
above named citizens ought to be a
sufficient guarantee.
These gentlemen met in Butte re-
Gently and perfected plans for the
formation of the company. In addition
to the men named, says the News.
many of the states wealthiest stock
growers will be interested in the en-
terprise A number of good sites
have been offered for the plant, but
the immediate location remains to be
determined.
Speaking of the proposition the
News says: For years the matter
of Strengthening Montana cattle in the
east has been referred to as CONNER
clal idiocy Why should Montana cat,
tie be shipped to Omaha or Chicago.
slaughtered and dressed, and sent back
to Montana to sell at big prices when
the livestock was originally bought
at three and four cents a pound?"
Realizing that modern beef killing
and packing entails the handling of
numerous valuable by-products it is
proposed to equip the plant in a man
ner which will allow nothing TO go to
waste. Hides will be handled and
turned into leather; tallow will be
manufactured into butterine and cleo;
horns into combs and hoofs into glue.
Beef extracts and possibly canned
products will also be manufactured,
houses and branch offices in Butte and
in all Montana towns and cities and
tne people of the state will be able to
buy its own beef cheap and fresh,
without paying tribute to the trust.
II will be seen that this is a huge
undertaking. and as to its success
there are likely TO be a good many
doubling Thomases. The difficulty is
~, i
lars invested in the business and have
everything pertaining to their opera
tionS reduced to a science The prob
lem of handling everything from first
to last at the minimum of cost has
been given years of study The sal
wage of every part of an animal and
ready market for all of the by-pro-
ducts cut no small figure in profit
making. Location or such plants and
the traffic arrangements entered into
with the railroads are also advantages
that must be considered in any effort
10 compete with the meat barons.
Another thing must be taken into
consideration. While the meat trust
is in a position to demand big price7
fol its products ii can also invade
its competitors territory and under
sell them at a profit, and if necessary
will do so at a loss for a time in order
TO drive them out of the field. This
is one of the great evils of the trusts
the power to raise prices to the
consumers, and to lower them when
necessary to iniure independent or
competing establishments.
No doubt the gentlemen who are to
engage in the meat business in Mon
tana are we'll informed as to what
they will nave to contend against and
know where they are going to get
oil or they would not lend their names
10 or subscribe stock for such an I'M
dertaking. Possibly they have figured
il all out and know that there is
money in the business right here in
Montana. Let US hope that this is
true and that it will be demonstrated
that large packing plant will pay
in cattle country, and that it will
not be necessary to ship all of our
beef thousand miles to find a me rket.