The ranch. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1902-1914, 1907-09-15

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Camilla }. knight.
Ranch by the meat packers, they nevertheless
read the article and Charles II. Frye, OF the Frye
Bruhn Co. Seattle meat packers, made reply
through the columns of the Seattle Daily Times.
In order to be fair to everyone concerned, we are
glad to reproduce Mr.. Frye's interview in The
Times here, but at the same time we also desire
TO produce statement by Mr. George Kindred,
of West Seattle who had some dealings with the
FryeBruhn Co. the day that Mr.. Frye's state
ment came out in The Times. The article from
The Times was as follows:
Charles II. Frye today made a strenuous de
NAL of the charge preferred by The Ranch,
farm paper published here, which insists that
stockmen in the northwest are helpless before a
combine Of Pacific Coast packers which is hold
ing prices lower than those paid in Omaha, Kan
sis City and other middle western packing cen
ters The farm paper declares that eastern Wash
ngton stockmen killing their own stock and
saving only the hides because prevailing prices
lower than the expense OF raising cattle, and
it is impossible to carry the stock through the
winter at a profit.
We are paying more than the middle western
packers insisted Frye today speaking for the
Pacific Coast packing houses Our company has
purchased 5000 head of cattle in California, pay
ing - cents a pound the hoof I'm California,
or from 3-4 to cents delivered at Seattle We
peting for them against Omaha packers. Not a
head of cattle has been shipped TO Missouri river
packers from Montana. Our prices were the bet
ter and we succeeded in getting the stock.
In Omaha we bought ten carloads of stock
and near Denver We bought a similar supply of
beef cattle. in each instance paying more than
Omaha and Kansas City packers and competing
against them in their territory We paid
81 80 a hundred more for our California grass fed
steers than the Cafomians could get from Miss
ouri river packing houses
Cattle growers in this state and throughout
the northwest are getting the advantage of their
proximity to our market in the prices We pay for
their stock We have paid more all along for
stock i'm this state than the Missouri river packers
pay i'm their territory There is no foundation for
the charge that Pacific Coast packers are under
paying the farmers and stock growers for their
cattle
In direct conflict with this statement made by
one Of the leading meat packers of the Pacific
northwest is the statement OF George Kindred. of
West Seattle, who. while he is not regular stock
raiser keeps few COWS and now and then sends
one TO market On the very day the article in
The Times came out. Mr. Kindred decided to send
a Durham COW. which he had been faucuiug. to
the packers He called MP the Fryc-Bmhu Co.
and was referred to the chief buyer When The
latter gentleman came 10 the phone the following
conversation ensued:
Mr.. Kindred-"l have a very fine Durham COW
here weighing about a thousand pounds which
want 10 market. What can ] get for her?
Buyer els she fat and in good condition."
Mr.. Kindrcd-"Yes'
Buyer-"WcIL if she is all You claim far and
in good condition. and You Will deliver her right
here an the door of the packing house. We viii
pay you ~ cents pound for her
This very generous offer was declined by Mr.
Kindred. who decided that if he could get no
more than that for his animal he would rather
keep her himself and slaughter her. for there is
no money in selling stock for less Than ar least
-four cents pound. II costs almost thar much 10