The Tipton advertiser. [volume] (Tipton, Cedar Co., Iowa) 1856-1962, 1877-06-07

n
We have recently published several
interesting articles from English pa
pers discussing the American Beef
question. English farmers are APP
parently becoming alarmed at the
sudden and continued growth Of the
meat trade from this country: and
they doubtless have reason for alarm.
The Edinburg .Scotsmda Of May ~
has the following on the subject:
Since the days when Robert Peel
removed the protective duties from
foreign meat imported into this coun-
try there has not been time Of great
or interest alike to farmers and con-
sumers than the present. when the
home trade finds in the American
grazer formidable competitor i'm the
dead-meat markets. His competition
| is no longer threatened or experiment
tal-it il an established fact, and a
| fact of rapidly increasing magnitude.
| About thousand tons of American
beef aud mutton, in perfectly sound
| condition, are now landed every week
at Liverpool and Glasgow. The inn
port of fresh beef into the United
Kingdom during the month Of March
last was go, 1872 cwt., or very nearly six
times the quantity importedin March,
1876. For the three months ending
with March the quantity was III ,2ie
cwt.. against 2l.0l in the same quar-
| ter last year. Yet the trade Is only in
its infancy, and so far as our present
knowledge extends, there seems no
reason to doubt that its growth will be
checked ultimately rather by the linz
| itation or means of transport, or by
| the absence of demand, than by de-
ficiency Of supply. Before either of
these causes can come into operation,
the import must necessarily have at
tanned such dimensions as to have a
direct and serious effect upon British
farming, and many of our agricultur
lists are no doubt by this time, serious
ly bordering the question, what VIII
that effect be? The community gem
erally may have different interest in
the subject. a reduction of twopence
or threepence pound in the price Of
beef would be an immense boon To
the consumer, and would assuredly
be followed by an increase ofconsump-
ton. But like or approximate fall
in the prices which the home grower
of stock j. able to demand for his pro-
duce, would in very many instances
enyulf his whole margin of profits.
There il no necessity 10 pause here IN
order to demonstrate what has Of late
been sufficiently illustrated in our col
umns-t that farming a a trade, is not
in as healthy condition a Is desira-
BILE. People conver-ant with the sub
iect. will he ready 10 acknowledge
that at the present time the main de-
pendence of very large number OF
Scotch farmers is on stock: and de-
probation OF from Il to - per cent in
the market value of their principal
which competent au-
thori,ies. after careful investigation Of
the subject, believe will he brought
about by the development OF the
American dead-meat trade-might be
ruinous to numbers. and a cause OF
| heavy loss to all. 1t must not be for
gotten that whether or not the public
get the full benefit of the reduction in
| value, the meat growers will feel, and
very speedily feel, the full effect Of 1t
the niddlenen will take care OF that.
If the old protectionist system hac
still been in vogue. this question
would never have arisen; or If IL had
would have been disposed of prohibi
tory duty imposed on American nca
al the instance of the landed and agri
cultural interest But our farmer
themselves would now adays be thu
last to demand that the whole nation
should he compelled to pay twice TIN
market value for meat in order tina
They might carry on their trade at
profit. Nobody has publicly expressed
, or is likely to express the least feelin:
of hostility TO the new trade. All tina
can he done is to take the facts a
they are to make the best of them, ant
to endeavor to guage their full efiec
on the future of British farming
1t is admitted on all hands thai
Scotch or English beef if 1t can meet
the American commodity in the mar
ket on equal terms, will always hold
its own: but difference Of twopence
TO threepence pound in the price in
favor of the imported meat will give
that the preference. Not, indeed. in
all cases; what is known in the trade
as prime Scotch beef will, in all
likelihood. continue, through its sheer
superiority, to retain the first place in
the public favor. and to command a
price as high, or nearly as high, as
that at which it is at present quoted.
But while there is "a certain difference
of opinion a. to the quality of the
American beef, it is generally admit
ted to he, on the whole. quite as gcoe
as the second-rate homegrown meat
and if it can be permanently supplied
at considerably lower price, will fine
q ready sale. In order therefore, tina
Scotch or English producer shout
know what he has to face, he mus
first have clear Information on two q
4 three points. Can the American farm
!. er raise beef and mutton of goodqual
: ty, carry it across the Atlantic, an
e put it in the British market, in SCUM
o condition at twopence pound belo
e the present ruling prices for HON
= grown meat If he can, what is I'll
n extent OF the present available suppl
: and what the possibilities Of its i
il creasing in accordance with the pr
!, bable demand on this side Of the W.
Il teri Without precise knowledge &
a these points, it is useless To try to for
, cast the future prospects of Briti'
n stock farming: aud such precise kno'
!. : ledge is by no means to be had for I.
v asking. Much has been already sa
IS and written about the new trrde, b'