The Washington times., 1910-11-18

That the Chicago meat packers are in
absolute control Of the meat suppIy OF
the world, with the possible exception
OF that in Australia. and that they have
already intrenched themselves IN South
America 70 prevent competition in the
United States in the event Democratic
House puts meat on the free list is
disclosed in reports received by the
Department OF Commerce ana Labor
ffo1li its South American commercial
agtns-
Argentina and the United States are
the two greatest meat producing coun-
tries IN the world It has generally
been supposed that Argentina would
furnish the meats 70 enter into coupe-
titiOn with the Chicago packers as
soon as the duty was taken OF by
Congress L now develops that the
Chicago packers wiu be little concerned
about a tariff on meats since their in
terests in Argentina have become so
extensive that they dominate the
markets there, just as in the United
States, and where they have been IN
able to buy outright they have entered
into agreements as 10 selling prices,
etc
One Of the latest reports received at
the Department. OF Commerce and La
Dor states that the extent Of the in
terests OF the Chicago packers In Argen-
tina IS only partially known 10 the pub-
lie, but they admittedly hold two OF
the seven companies engaged IN the
production and export Of cOId-sIoTaEe
meat, and are believed 10 have at least
a working understanding with several
OF the others. They have also secured
land for the purpose Of establishing new
plants
Specific Instances.
Two avOwedIy North American com
panies. says a report TO the depart
ment, are the La Plata Cold Storage
Company and the la Blanca Company
The former since coming under its pres
ent control has risen from state OF
insignificance TO that Of the largest
single producer in the Argentine field
Taken together the La Plata and the
La Blanca companies last year pro
duced = third OF ArgentIna-s total out
large proportion OF the mutton and
lamb Their RAPID expansion is indi-
Gated by the fact that jointly they
have chartered all the space in the
nineteen new steamships ordered ~
the Nelson line tor the river Plate fresh
meat trade The importance of the
position Of the Chicago companies in
Argentina is that apparently. II
n
cIpaI producing countries IN the same
hands Argentina now occupies the
place formerly held by the United
States as a pUrveyor OF beef TO Europe,
the increase in the home consumption
having cut down our exports In marked
degree
Argentina has been looked upon as
competitor OF the United States in
the beef industry. and has even been
considered By some as a possible source
Of cheaper meat for this country. Tie
present outlook there lends no color
TO such suppoSitiOu- Shipments of beef
from the River Plate to the United
States may come shortly, but they viii
probably be directed by the same in
not in opposition TO them
To Build Own Plants.
1T seems likely that in the future
the United States packers viii build
plants Of their own rather than ac-
quire existing ones. The Armour, Nor
ris, and Schwarzchild & Sulzberger
companies have secured tracts Of land
at Zarate, probably with this IN view"
That the supply of meat in ArgeACina
is plentiful is indicated in another re-
port to the deg I--Zent- In 1863 there
was produced 2661.243 carcasses Of
ters of frozen beef, and 1.eS1-465 quar-
ters Of chilled beef The profits OF the
meat companies operating in Argentina,
according to the department reports
range from TO 80 per cent. It is stated
that the Chicago companies have no
intention Of shipping any OF the beef,
mutton or lamb TO the United States
dicates that the Chicago pa ckers have
nDToroT fufn 4 hfuarior with