The Detroit times., 1914-11-13
PACKERS ARE
LURINC LITTLE
STOCK TO PLANTS
Shippers Shy at Plan Because
There's No Chance For Profit
4 Making Flip
DISINFECTION OF M. C.
YARDS BEING RUSHED
Can't Be Reopened, Though, For
More Than Week-Quaran-
tine Of Wayne Unlikely
BY III. III. MACK.

The advertisements, appearing In
local papers, advising drovers and
live stock dealers that Detroit pack
ers will accept live stock shipped d.
rect. have not as yet yielded large
results, but packers believe that later
In the week arrivals will be larger.
Detroit hog buyers are paying S7.25
per cwt. for mixed loads OF hogs, the
dockage enforced being the same as
that which rules at the yards. All
heavy sows and stays viii be given
the usual shrinkage In weight, and
whore consignments contain a large
number of light pigs some shrinkage
VIII be made for these. Market quo
tations on live hogs, received from
other points, look higher than those
In Detroit, II is true, but shippers
should remember that Detroit quota
tons are based on offerings of mixed
hogs while those of other points are
for choice, sorted stock. A bunch Of
extra fine sorted mediums or fat york
ers shipped, Thursday, to a Detroit
packing house, would probably be
settled for at the rate OF $7.35 per
cwt. There is no market, whatever,
for pigs when sent In separately from
other hogs. Fat lambs are selling for
$7.75 to So per cwt. and top veal
calves are worth $3.50 to SO per cwt.
It Is not hard to understand why
the drovers OF the state do not wish
to send in stock direct to the pack
ing houses. IL Is not because of a
lack OF confidence that they will be
treated right In the matter of weights,
shrinkage and settlements, for they
! nave proven many times In the past
the absolute fairness and honesty OF
every packing Arm doing business In
Detroit stock yards. II Is. however, a
question OF "fill or no ILL.," and 1t may
be safely predicted that very few live
hogs will arrive In Detroit until the
Michigan Central stock yards are
open to receive them.
Country shippers realize that the
stock that they ship direct will be
weighed as II arrives, without receiv-
ing the feed and water given at the
stock yards before weighing, and the
resultant shrinkage In Detroit weights
from those that they have to pay for
at home, Is the thing of which they
are most afraid. A few local buyers
are buying hogs and other stock by
telephone, taking country weights
where they have confidence in the
shipper.
The work of disinfecting the Michi-
gan Central stock yards Is proceeding
as rapidly as possible. but the belief
Is quite general, among those most
familiar with the difficulties OF the
undertaking, that II will be the last
of next week or the early part OF the
week after before the work can be
completed and the gates opened for
the reception of carload shipments CT
live stock. While another new foci
OF infection was discovered In Wayne
county. Wednesday, the authorities
feel that they have the foot and
mouth plague well In hand, and no
quarantine of this county is antict
pated.
James Craig. Jr.. of Parker, Webb
& Co, said, Thursday, that II ship
ments do not increase by Friday or
Saturday, there will be temporary
increase In the price OF meat early
next week. However. he added that
Il Ia not likely that prices will ad-
vance materially on this account, be-
cause, he claims, cattle raisers are
anxious to ship, the railroads being
responsible for the delays.
I'VE had two complaints this morn
ing from shippers saying that the Ann
Arbor railroad local agents had re-
fused to accept cattle shipments"
said Mr.. Craig. This refusal Is
caused by a misunderstanding OF or
ders, and as soon as the railroads
can get this matter Strengthened out,
everything will be all right. Word
has been sent to the Chicago Office
OF the Ann Arbor railroad, and IL Is
likely that local agents are receiving
proper instructions by this time. We
received 500 sheep yesterday. and
about 100 hogs today. We should
have received 1000 hogs and are hop
ing for several big shipments before
the end OF the week.
Everybody is anxious for the stock
yards to be reopened. The Chicago
and st. Louis yards will reopen Mon
day, and Il is hoped that the Detroit
IN ri will oman aoan after"