SEVENTEENTH ANNUAL YEAR BOOK— PART VII ^97 



in transit, all of which would prevent them from competing success- 

 fully,' etc. Now, as a matter of fact, every car of these animals loaded 

 at their concentration points is loaded by them, and presumably there 

 is some expense attached to that service; and, furthermore, does any- 

 one think for one instant that the switching charge of a few dollars per 

 car ($3 to $9) is equivalent to the freight they are paying, which runs 

 as high as $30 per car? Or can one imagine that the animals are sub- 

 jected to more bruises in the short switch move of an hour — or a few 

 hours at most — than in the case of a road haul involving a movement 

 of say 150 miles? Maybe so, but we dobut it, and demand more con- 

 vincing proof. 



"They claim that all of the packers who have slaughter houses in 

 New York and other seaboard points, purchase, certain amounts of their 

 supplies in Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky, Virginia, and Pennsylvania, and 

 that 'this buying is by the saving in transportation and feed, in shrink- 

 age in transit, and in freedom from bruises.' This explanation sounds 

 real plausible, does it not? Let us see if their argument 'holds water.' 



"If saving transportation charge is a factor, then there would be 

 no reason for going to Iowa for their New England hogs, which could 

 easily be purchased at any open market east thereof at a decided 

 saving in transportation charges. We have in mind one town in Indi- 

 ana where a witness for Swift, before the committee handling the Bor- 

 land resolution, testified he had been selling cattle to Swift for thirty 

 years — namely. North Salem, Indiana, from which point the rate on 

 cattle to New Y'ork is 33 cents per cwt., which is higher than the rate 

 from Buffalo, Pittsburgh, Cleveland, Cincinnati, Louisville, or Indian- 

 apolis, and the same as frami Chicago — and yet they talk of saving 

 transportation charges. A similar situation exists on cattle from any 

 number of stations in Indiana, Kentucky and Virginia, and so far as the 

 saving in feed is concerned, the very best they can possibly do is to 

 put their cattle into New York with one en route; that can be done 

 from Chicago, Indianapolis, Louisville, Cincinnati and Cleveland, and 

 can not be done from nine out of ten of their country shipping stations 

 in Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky or Virginia. 



"The next factor is 'bruises,' and yet it has always been argued that 

 the main-line, direct-haul service is less hazardous in this respect than 

 the ever-shifting, short-haul, branch-line service which they use on much 

 of their country-bought stock; and, furthermore, if these 'bruises' are 

 due to rough handling in transit, W'hy should Swift & Company worry, 

 since the railroads are responsible for such loss? 



"They state that 'Country buying was not inaugurated, so far as we 

 know, with any idea of injuring the business of the commission firms 

 or getting any undue advantage over the owner of the stock.' Shakes- 

 peare said, 'Who makes the fairest show means most deceit.' Verily, one 

 must read with care or else be badly deceived. Of course, the country 

 buying was not to injure the commission firms, and we have never so 

 claimed; but if it is not for the purpose of taking "undue' advantage 

 of the stockmen, then can they deny it is to take advantage of the stock 



