The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1906-01-03
A GREAT LIVE STOCK CENTER.

A GREAT LIVE STOCK CENTER.
There has just been concluded al
Chicago the greatest livestock exposi'
tion in history. 1t was q record
breaker 10 every particular-in the
size and variety of exhibits, in the
quality of livestock assembled in the
various departments, and In the throng
of spectators who visited the show, the
latter numbering nearly 466, 900 peo.
pie.
The great International Exposition,
held annually in Chicago. attracts
worldwide attention to that city as
the great livestock center of modern
times. Some Interesting facts regard.
ing the business transacted In that
market are given by the Drovers Jour.
nal in these remarks:
How many are aware that the do.
nestle animals in the United States
number nearly the population, and
their value exceeds that of all the
grain, cotton, coal and petroleum,
iron, silver, gold and precious stones,
copper, lead, zinc and other metals,
potatoes, sugar, molasses, wool and
tobacco produced annually in the
whole country?
How many realize that the Chicago
stock yards are the greatest market Of
any kind On earth?
How many know that there are re.
ceived and sold on this market
throughout the year q daily average
of over one thousand carloads of live
stock, of an average value exceeding
$1,000 per carload, or an average of
more than $1,000, 600 worth of animals
disposed of every business day OF the
year on this n market alone? How
many understand that 225, 900 OF Chi
cago's population get their daily liv-
ing directly from the business activi-
ties Of the square mile occupied by
the Union Stock Yards, and another
2225, 900 get their living indirectly from
the same source: that. 10 fact, the live
stock and meat packing industry was
the foundati and has always been
the chief element OF Chicago's won.
derful growth and prosperity, and is
today Chicago's leading industry?
The Union Stock Yards of Chicago |
consists OF nearly 500 acres of pens.
and facilities for receiving,
handling, feeding, watering, selling,
weighing and delivering several hun.
dred thousand animals per day. 1t
is, in short, an immense live stock
hotel and market.
The packing house district, familiar.
ly known as "Packing Town." con-
sists of q nearly equal territory To-
Gated Immediately back of and adjoin-
ing the Union stock yards proper,
and is covered with large brick build.
ings devoted to the slaughter and
manufacture of animals as 'raw ma
terials' for finished commercial pro
ducts. These products are widely
distributed throughout the world.
Owned and operated with the Union
stock yards a. part Of the same sys.
tenn Is the Chicago Junction railway,
consisting OF over 300 miles Of tracks
in the city of Chicago, connecting all
lines OF railway entering Chicago d.
rectly with the Union stock yards,
Packing Town and many other indus.
tries.
Conferred at this market are four
distinct interests, each independent Of
the others: l. The Union Stock Yard
and Transit company. 2. The com
mission men who are organized In the
Chicago Live Stock Exchange. 3. The
local packing houses and city butch
ers. 1. The eastern exporters auf
buyers OF live stock. More than 4O,OOl
men are employed in and about thu
stock yards and packing houses, ant
the daily volume OF transactions
reaches into the millions.
The daily capacity of the stock
yards is 5000 cattle, 300, 200 hogs,
$4,000 sheep and 5000 horses.
The number and value Of ANIMAL
received at Chicago in 1904 is show
by the following table:
Number. Valuation
Cattle ......... $3.50, 1855 sl49, 1922 %
Calves 26S, 499 2,574,67
Hogs 1888, 745 1866, 20
Sheep ......... ,504, $3.50 Is, 1923 81
Horses ......... los, $40 l4,3O3, II
Totals. ..l2,376, $40 1894, Ia, &C
Since 1900 there have been markete
and sold In Chicago yearly an ave.
age of over 5000, 900 animals, e,
ceeding $500, ooO, 900 in value, or abou