St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1889-07-26
DRESSED BEEF.
A Writer in the Cincinnati Com
merciaI Discusses the Ohio Stu

A Writer IN the CInclnnaGl COm-
merciaI Discusses the Ohio Stu
alton.
There is among farmers feeling of
oppression from the low price of cattle.
Thousands of calves in Ohio have gone
to the butcher since February because
of the failure of the StaHahan bill to
forbid Emaking oleomargarine in imita-
ton of butter. and of the Braman bill.
forbidding the sale of beef from other
than cattle inspected on foot before
slaughter. Both bills passed the house
by good strong maioritieS, but were
killed in the senate.
There are many conservative men
who would be glad to lend their infiu-
ence to any fair and adequate measure
that would secure to the producer his
fair share of the beef industry.
While it is true that cattle are so low,
in Ohio, that farmers and dairymen
prefer to veal the calves, and while
good, firSt-elasS steers are selling from
our farms at three cents, or even two,
the consumer is not enjoying a
30 per cent reduction, or even 25 per
cent reduction in the price of roasts
and steaks.
Butchers are gradually changing
their manner of conducting their buSi-
ness. Instead Of buying up the surplus
cattle from the nelghborlng farmers.
they are buying dressed careasses from
the refrigeratorS Of the dressed beef
companies, which are found in all our
first and second-rate cities.
The butchers are not able to get as
good prices for tallow and hides as of
old. and the dealers in these articles find
their occupation gone-into the hands
of the dressed beef combine.
The farmer, the butcher and the
dealer in hides and tallow, together
with the manufacturer and dealer in
butchers supplies. are all on the verge
of bankruptcy. There is a revolution
in the cattle business.
We can not better our condition by
looking at o II miseries merely. 1t does
no good to whine. 1t is we'll to look at
the business from both sides, and when
we understand the situation we may
find occasion to do some vigorous swear
ing. That effects more than whining.
Let us glance at the dressed beef bust
ness. to get as comprehensive view of if
as we can in short newspaper article.
We want to understand its strength. as
we'll as our own weakness, if we are
going to resist by legislation.
As to the general cattle business. we
find that, in 1850. we had but 1900. 600
cattle. In 1880, notwithstanding the
war and the resulting stagnation. the
census shows 35,000,000. In 1890 it will
show $4,000. 900. This increase will be
mostly in the states and territories west
of the Mississippi. The states east of
the Mississippi only increased about
100000 in thirty years We have only
about 20.000.000 now, whereas we had
100000 in 1850. The West has in
creased from 100000 to 30,000,0 600 since
1850. The increase in the East has not
kept pace with our increase of popula-
ton.
We have improved vastly the quality
of our cattle. The chemist has come to
our aid and shown US abe values of our
folders and products, and if the cat
tie business should ever again become
fairly profitable we can produce a far
greater number of fine shipping cattle
than ever before. In fact, our perman-
ent success in the central states seems
to demand that we shall increase the
number of our dairy and beef cattle to
consume our grass and fodder. We can
not long keep upOur soils without cat
tie.
The decline of cattle is fair index of
the condition of the general farm in
dustry. Well informed men recognize
that while we are growing cattle now
at a loss, or at least without profit, a
eounteTaetiOn must come. and we shall :,
in the near future. be ablessto grow cattle.