Devils Lake inter-ocean. (Devils Lake, Ramsey Co., Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1905, 1888-02-18
The Meat Question.

Editor. Inter- Ocean:-In your issue of
February 4, under "a question for stock
raisers," you ask if there is any economy
to farmers in compelling butchers to
ship dressed meats from st. Paul. I
answer enphatically, no. Nor do I be-
lieve the responsibility for this state Of
affairs rests with the farmers. That the
COMPLAINT Of the farmers with regard to
the price offered by the butchers III 1t
can be called an onsr) lisa just one, the
following will show:
Farlnsr-"What are you paying for
beeff"
Butcher-"well, I dunno, have you
got a beef hsrei"
F.-"No, but I have n that will be
ready to turn OF in q few days and just
called to see If there il a market"
Bob, we'll, I guess we "a pay you
three cents, maybe three and a half"
F.-"Why, that's low, am not Offering
you an old OK. I have o three year old
steer in prime condition"
B.-"Weli, bring him i'll and let us see
him. Perhaps we can give you three
and a half"
This ia almost word for word, u CON
versation I had with ono of you butchers
last June. Of course, as I live only fif-
teen miles ou of your city, I ran in be-
fore break fast next morning, with a fat
steer, for him to look ut. He was not
asked to buy "unseen,'' but simply to
quote the market price, and you can see
what satisfaction I got.
The best offer I ever got was five and
a half or six cents (conditionally) for
dressed beef, and that was Withdrawn
before the time was up. A good scrub
steer will dress 90 pounds of beef to 100
pounds live weight. A good grade or
thoroughbred, will go several pounds
better. Suppose your butcher pays 81
cents for a 1900 pound steer. (Which he
will not often do) IL will cost him ~.
At q low average he has 720 pounds Of
beef, which he sells at an average of Is
cents per pound or sos and the hide is
worth $3.50, making Sllo.6o, OR a profit Of
$3.50.
AS to the quality of beef offered by the
farmer, I will admit that in our earlier
settlement many old oxen were offered
and your butchers bought and sold them
out in your CITY, but during the past
seasons many young steers haye vainly
sought q market at Devils Lake. I am
speaking in the light OF the experience
of myself and neighbors, and assume
that the case 10 the same all over tho
county. The charge that W. ''make no
preparation" for market Is simply ali.
surd. If Ramsey county had a market
for fat stock I will guarantee that inside
of a year the farmers would supply that
market to the satisfaction of the con.
suners. Many Of w who had depended
upon our fat sleers to help pay for our
expensive machinery, taxes, etc., have
been obliged to sell at q sacrifice, eat
them ourselves. or kill aud sell them
by the pound from door to door, but we
never charge more than a shilling for
choicest cuts. I was told repeatedly this
fall by neighbors that the best offer they
could get in Devils Lake tor fat steers
was q cents, and In some cases they were
coolly informed that two do not want to
buy" Yes, evidently there is ''sone-
thing wrong" and if it 10 simply o miss
understanding, let's have it set right by
a fair understanding ut once, for it is an
expensive blunder to all concerned. The
1NrER-ocEAN has repeatedly boosted Of
our nutritious native grasses, and our
cattle have constantly hacked it up, ano
will continue to do so. but il our beef
like Il flour, has to pay double freighti
let 1t be so; we can stand 1t if the con
sumers eau. A FARMER.