Report on the American and Canadian Meat Trade. 321 
lopment of the vast, the unlimited wealth of the West has 
really only just fairly started. Mr. Coleman, of Riccall Hall, 
York, who visited the Centennial Exhibition at Philadelphia as 
British Juror, thus speaks of the Chicago cattle-market : — 
" The Union Stock- yard, i.e., the market for live cattle of all kinds, is admir- 
ably managed, and, as far as regards the comfort of the animals and the facili- 
ties for the despatch of business, is quite a model. The different lines of 
railway bring the stock right into the market. There is no barbarous driving 
through the streets ; each animal or truck of animals, as unloaded, is placed 
upon a weigh-bridge, and the figures are made use of for sale. The animals 
are driven into comfortable lairs, where they are supplied with hay and 
water, and where they can be inspected by the purchaser. I believe graziers 
can attend the market and sell their own cattle, paying certain fees to the 
Union Company ; but, as a rule, the business is delegated to salesmen, who 
occupy offices on the premises. The railways are under Government inspec- 
tion, and are compelled to untruck and feed the animals after certain distances 
have been travelled. America boasts a Humane Society, whose officers, located 
on the spot, are on the look-out for miscreants. One of the most interest- 
ing exhibits at Philadelphia was a large collection of instruments of torture 
taken from drovers. Buyers in the Chicago market are either exporters or 
slaughter-men ; the latter take the offal and dispose of the carcass to the re- 
tailers. At the time of my visit, in June, beef was selling at from $4 - 60 
to $4'75 per 100 lb. live weight, equal to id. per lb. dead weight. Butchers 
were charging from 12 to 15 and even 18 cents per lb. for the best joints, so 
there are big profits made between the wholesaler and retailer. The weekly 
and monthly sales are recorded on a black board in the hall of the Company. 
The weekly sales for week ending June 18 were cattle, 24,200 ; sheep, 4,414; 
hogs, 76,358. The total for May was cattle, 115,140; sheep, 171,745; hogs, 
307,250. During the winter months the trade in pigs is quadrupled. A 
comparison of the figures for 1857 and 1875 will give an idea of the increase 
in production : — 
Cattle received. Cattle shipped. 
1857 .. .. 48,524 .. .. 25,502 
1875 .. .. 920,843 .. .. 696,534 
Hogs received. Hogs shipped. 
1857 .. .. 244,345 .. .. 123,568 
1875 .. .. 4,085,122 .. .. 1,736,166 
The receipts of cattle in the Chicago market increase so 
rapidly, that the Stock-yards Company has found it difficult at 
times to supply facilities for their immense consignments, not- 
withstanding the additions, alterations, and improvements, that 
were made last year in the yards at a cost of some 60,000/. 
The receipts of cattle for 1876 compare with the previous year 
as follows : — 
Cattle received. Cattle shipped. 
1875 .. .. 920,843 .. .. 696,534 
1876 .. .. 1,098,206 .. .. 753,698 
Lean and fat stock alike are sold, and the market-prices for all 
grades of cattle are quoted at so much per estimated or ascer- 
tained 100 lbs. of the live weight of the animal, and the dressed- 
