Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1877-07-27


meet the demand Therefore it becomes
matter of necessity to import into Grea
treat Britain large number of live stock
And We find in the report recently made b.
his grace, the duke of Richmond, that NJ
less than 300, ,OOG foreign animals We're I'M
ported last year, 25O, 900 of which were cattle
l,0O0 900 sheep and $4,000 swine ito SAY
nothing of the thousands of quarters of deaC
meat from America). What has been resu
of this vast import? Why, it has kept dowr
the price of home-bred animals and meat OF
the one hand, while on the other 1t has
brought various contagious diseases into the
English tiocks and herds and numerical
decline in the home stock has resulted-and
from two causes: list. direct losses from I'M
ported diseases, and dread and caution caused
by such losses; ID, the English agriculturist,
finding himself unable to compete with his
foreign rivals owing to his enormous ex-
| pense. is raising fewer cattle and more OF
| something else. Thus the veAed question
| has arisen: How shall the millions of this
country be supplied with that article of diet
| which is the stamina of the Englishman s
| constitution, viz, meat? Some economists
have urged the closing OF the ports of Great
Britain to foreign live stock; but then from
| whence shall come the substitute for the !,
| 100000, foreigners excluded? Either Eng
land must provide for more extensive produc-
ton, or II supply of dead meat from abroad
must be ensured.
Now, from what has been said. ii must be
obvious that England is not in position to
increase her live stock i'll degree commen-
surate with the necessity that would arise in
the event OF her closing her ports to foreign
animals, simply because all available land Is
utilized, and there are more farmers than
a mfg ora .Ns "a "a tuI llr
again provender from similar reasons is very
DEAR and stock is at II terrible figure; fur
ther. the amount OF artificial feeding of ami
mails (from birth) here, is an item undreamed
of by American breeders. Add TO these facts
a high rate of competition, and it will Ice ap
parent that the operations of the farmer are,
to a great extent, circumscrlbed. Then, to
increase the home stock, would necessitate
the drafting out OF an immense number of
animals for breeding purposes, from the
available food supply OF this country. And
not only so, but twoyears at least must elapse
ere the increase could be utilized rs food.
Thus the argument IN favor of closing the
ports to foreign beasts on the ground that
England can increase her stock 10 meet the
emergency, is IN vain.
One more avenue alone is open, viz, I'M
portation of dead meat. And can this be
-
tion of vital Importance to America a coun-
try with unlimited resources for the produc-
ton Of cattle, sheep and pigs. But the dis
tance between the United States produ
Ger, and England as n consumer, renders IT
difficult 10 establish an enterprise between
the two countries such ns the 'dead meat
trade" Nevertheless this barrier has been
broken down. But the experiment is not
yet complete success, for, IN the nrst place,
American meat is inferior to English; still
this is easily remedied. Second-Can the
quality be produced at price which Will al
low OF the addition of transportation rates.
without bringing its value too high ior iavor-
able competition abroad? This beng an
swered in the affirmative, then the greatest
obstacles yet remain in the difficulties to be
surmounted in ensuring the transit of the
meat from the ports of slaughter TO the places
of consumption. And it has been practical
ly demonstrated during the past year that
meat can be landed at tie ports iii Great
Britain in such an excellent condition that it
defies the inspectors; and have seen quan-
titles of American killed beef in the large
towns in England, such as Liverpool, Man
chester, Nottingham, Derby and London, in
first class order In fact SO successful have
been the experiments for its transportation,
that meats can be landed in English ports IN
the hottest weather.
But it still remains to be demonstrated
whether science will be so propitious and en-
terprise so daring. as to provide the means
whereby these conditions may be attained,
during the period which must be allowed for
transit TO distant markets and retail purposes.
We know the effect of heat and blow flies on
our home made meat, and tie unsavory con-
dition to which they render 1t in aiew hours.
l.. 4 Al
OF putrefactlon Will operate on meat over ten
days old remains to be seen. (Proi. Axe. NJ
Il. o. V. y, +. c. 81
The whole matter now hinges on the treat
ment of the meat on this side of the Allan
tic, and a system for its preservation here be-
ing ensured. England is prepared for vast
import, which must inevitably increase year
by year, unless checked by some national
crisis of which We DO not now dream. Then
the fact must not be lost sight of, that not
only is the demand great, but the money is
ready Thus, when the market of the rich
est nation on the globe is thrown open, with
such grand inducements for speculation, will
Americans he satisfied to land their meat on
the opposite shore ahld there allow it to spoil.
simply because facilities do not exist at that
point for its preservation, Or will the far
famed and ever ingenious Yankee raise for
himself still greater monument abroad, 10y
providing scheme whereby the integrity of
his export may be maintained. These condi-
tions being guaranteed. England may safely |
close her ports to foreign live stock and pre-
pare to eradicate the contagious diseases now |
injecting her cattle. At the same time CONT |
mental countries will lose prestige and trade |
Of which they justly become proud. And
would ask if II is not reasonable To- imagine |
that the establishment of IL dead meat |
trade" between America and England would |
largely tend to strengthen the ties of friend |
ship already existing. and bind still closer |
together the two greatest English speaking |
nations On the earth: