The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1883-07-11
THE MEAT QUESTION.

Great Britain and Ireland, in 1881, had a
population of 80, 246, 633, or $50 persons to
the square mile. The United States, in 1880.
had population of 80, 155, 7S3, or about II
persons to the square mile. Great Britain
has to import about one-half of her food sup
plies. The United States is not only a self
feeding country but has a vast surplus for
expectation. Notwithstanding these things,
statistics show that the people of Great But-
ain consume 10 pounds of meat per capita.
while in the United States it is only 12)
pounds per capita. Such figures demonstrate
the fact that if the people of the United
States on an average have all the meat
they want-and such is the boast-the people
Of Great Britain do not suffer seriously for
lack Of meat Tie people of Great Britain,
however, do not have all the meat they want,
and the statement is equally true of the peo-
pie of the United States. The reason is that
meat is so dear that thousands Of people can
not purchase supply, and in other thous-
ands of instances they are not able to pur-
chase meat at all, unless it be of quality
barely fit for cats and dogs. During the last
century it is stated that the consumption of
meat by the people of Continental Europe
averaged twenty-five pounds per day. During
the present century the average has
gone up 10 fifty pounds per day, but
the probabilities are that a reaction
is soon to occur which will send the average
back to twenty-five pounds per capita, or
even less. Europe is overrun with popula-
ton, and has reached the utmost limit of
production in food products of every descrip-
ton. Even now it is held that Europe left
TO herself would be without food sixty days
Of the year. AS a consequence, for one
sixth of the time Europe is dependent upon
the outside world for subsistence. 1t is not
surprising therefore, that meat is scarce ia
Europe nor that the outlook for the immedi-
ate future brings into prominence prob
lens relating to food, the solution
of which is scarcely within the
reach of craftsmanship. Whatever may be
SAID of England and Continental Europe the
fact that food questions in the United States
are almost as perplexing as they are IN Eng
land, is shame and scandal of extraordi-
nary proportions. II is stated that, not long
ago, a deputstion representing 100000
EDBilSDnen protested 10 Loru OarllngIOru
against official restrictions on the importa-
ton of cattle as causing the high prices of
meat, but they we're informed that meat was
high there solely because it was high in the
United States. Various reasons are assigoed
for the high prices demanded for meat, par
ticularly for beef Those who have made the
beef question a study report that from 1876
10 1879 prices declined fully 20 per cent. as
compared with quotations Immediately pre-
ceding the first year named. But with the
general revival of business prices advanced
and are now fully 80 per cent higher than at
the close of 1879. 1t is held that the severe
winter of 1SS0-S1, which proved destructive
to Western herds, together with short corn
crops, have combined to bring about the
present condition of the market for beef II
such were the only causes which have
brought about the high price of beef, the
people would submit with becoming COM
posuTe; but such is not the case. Cattlemen
are quick TO take advantage of such circum-
stances as cold weather and short crops to
make good their losses aid Sc