Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1912-01-18
SIZED CARS
RmEVsEsT0CK RATE.
COMMISSION MEN CHIEF SUFFER
ERs FROM INCREASED
CAPACITY.
SHIPPER SUFFERS NO LOSS
Estimated That ST. Louis Market
Alone Brings Farmers About
Two Hundred Million
Dollars a Year.


live stock commission rates to con-
form to the large size cars now used
on all roads has led to a discussion OF
the small pay commission men re-
oeive for handling the most valuable
and perishable of farm products. In
vestigation brings to notice the fact
that produce commission men receive
from five to ten per cent for handling
farm products, while live stock COM
mission men receive less than one
per cent.
Twenty years ago, when the live
stock commission rates that have pre-
vailed up to very recently, were es-
tablished, cars were % to 80 feet long
and commissions were so much per
car. Now cars are SO to 40 feet long
and under the old rate live stock men
received from 20 to rs per cent less
for their services than they did two
decades ago, when live stock was less
valuable and not SO hard to sell at a
good price. The new rates are not
as high by 5 or 10 per cent as they
were When cars were small.
Statesmen Held Responsible.
The live stock commission men
point out also that conditions have
changed, that now the most expert
men the packers a get are en-
ployed Us buyers-many of them for
merly live stock statesmen attracted
to the buying side through higher
pay; that these buyers earn all they
get-through bringing down the price
Of live stock-a product that is worth
about three billion dollars a year to
the farmers, and thus suffers a loss
Of perhaps several hundred millions
II buyers can bring down prices ven
q few points each day, and that moth
ing prevents them doing SO except the
ability of the statesmen into whose
hands the shippers commit their con-
signments holding the statesmen re-
sponsible not only for getting as good
a price as possible, and renting the
cash promptly, but also guaranteeing
title to the buyers and making good
IL mortgaged or stolen stock is sold.
Likewise that the cost of living and
doing business has increased. That to-
day the sellers Of live stock must
have an expert to handle hogs, an
other for sheep, another for native
cattle, another for quarantine cattle
and still another for butcher cattle,
together with a large staff to handle
and sort all arrivals promptly in the
best market condition.
Farmer is Benefited.
That the farmers receive the ad.
vantage of higher prices for food
stuffs and better salesmanship--that
the commission men pay this adj
vanced cost without grumbling, but
consider themselves entitled to a re-
adjustment which will bring their pay
up to nearly what it was formerly.
Several months ago the st. Louis
Live stock Exchange sent out notice
that the readjustment would go into
effect the first of the year, and held
another meeting later to consider pro-
tests from shippers, should any be
made. Only four shippers appeared
to argue against the REIMBURSEMENT,
and when the new rate went into eff
feet it seemed to have a stimulative
rather than a depressing effect on
business at the st. Louis market; the
hog receipts, for instance, during the
first two weeks of the year showing a
large gain over other corn belt mar
kets. During that period occurred the
biggest hog day in the history Of the
National Stock Yards, over $4,000
head, being received, thus indicating
that the st. Louis hog market is like
ly to enjoy rel a bigger year than
1911, when its hog receipts increased
over a million head, and it's total re-
ceipts reached 100000 head of all
animals. This increase came from "a
different states and indicates how the
live stock industry is now centering
at st. Louis, the railroads having put
in schedules by which stock loaded in
the afternoon or evening anywhere
within three hundred miles reaches
The National Stock Yards in time for
the early market next morning.
Packers have largely increased their
st. Louis plants and the National
Stock Yards Company has installed
half a million dollars worth Of new fa-
cilities that enable it to handle con-.
signments quicker and better than
competing points, one of the reasons
this market is growing faster than
any other. Another reason is the high
grade Of craftsmanship that prevails
at st. Louis.
ST. Louis Leading Market.
The st. Louis commission men
point out that they have earned easily
a hundred million dollars for the
farmers the past twenty years by get
ting from s to SO cents per hundred
weight more for the stock sold at
St. Louis than it would have brought
otherwise, and the one-fifth Of n per
sent the readiustment adds to their
pay being nothing compared to a
business that now brings farmers
about two hundred million dollars q
year from this one market.
canada's Mineral Output Grows.
Ottawa, Canada.-Canadian mineral
production last year totaled $105, 000,-
300, an increase Of IA per cent. Gold
production amounted to more than
e1O,OOO,Oo0; silver, $17,0O0,OOO; nickel,
k11.00n 600. and nip iron S11 100000.