The Norfolk weekly news-journal. (Norfolk, Neb.) 1900-19??, 1907-07-26
rHE NORFOLK WEEKLY NEwsJoJRNAL FRIDAY JULY 2s 1907

communication from Chicago in which
IL Is stated that the Sioux Fails pack.
ing plant, recently transferred to Sioux
City parties, was purchased for the
purpose Of keeping II out Of the hands
Of Independent packers and that II will
not he operated
The writer, who asks that his name
be not used, says II Is the plan Of the
combination to keep Independent
packers out of what II calls its terri.
tory and that Sioux Falls is in the
territory OF Sioux City and St. Paul,
both OF which are packing centers
under the jurisdiction OF the united
packing interests.
The Press gives this information for
what II is worth and does not know
how much II is worth. The writer
seems certain of his premises
One thing has been learned from
the experiences of the past - that
packing Industries have been short
lived within the territory of Sioux City
and st. Paul. outside of those cities
Sioux Falls has made three efforts to
maintain meat packing establishments
and Yankton has made one, and in
each instance the packing houses have
been summarlly closed after q few
months Of activity.
These experiences lead to the con-
cluson that some influence is at work
to prevent the extension of the pack
ing industry outside of limits that
may have been prescribed by strong
combinations.
The business could be made as prof
tah nt Vol
at st. Paul and Sioux City, but 1t has
always failed and for no visible reason,
and the stock that could as well have
been slaughtered nearer the scene of
It's production has been carried by to
more distant killing centers.
An influence that can prohibit the
existence of valuable industry, If
there is such an influence, represents
the legal definition of statute pro-
scribed trust, for 1t exists in restraint
of production and therefore in re-
straint of trade.
The Chicago correspondent of this
paper say the combine" is not ac-
tuated by desire to retard the bust
ness prosperity of Sioux Falls, but is
acting in pursuance of its policy to
prevent Independent packers from in
truding upon its field.
The socalled combine Is taking care
Of itself and Sioux Falls has the right
to do the same thing. If the proceed
ing Is in restraint of trade, 1t would
be a matter Of public interest to prove
it.
When it is considered that there
are millions and millions of acres of
range grass land to the northwest of
Norfolk, in western Nebraska and
southern South Dakota on the Rose
bud reservation, producing thousands
of cattle each year for the packers
and sending scores of trains directly
through Norfolk to South Omaha and
Chicago, 1t would seem that enough
of sprinkling of those cattle could
be induced to stop here for slaughter
to justify packing plant in this city
If anywhere in the world on an indie
pendent basis. Independent plants do
succeed other places and Norfolk is
ideally located for such an institution.
The fact that the Sioux Falls plant
has been bought by the big packers
in order to keep 1t idle ought not to
affect the situation. Twenty years
ago Norfolk organized a company to
establish a packing plant which would
slaughter 800 hogs per day. Today,
with building which might be used
for the purpose, and with more miles
of railroad radiating in here, the con-
ditions ought to be much more favor
able. A large packing plant is sue
cessfully operating at Nebraska City
and surely Norfolk has much better
location for such an industry than Ne
braska City.