The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-01-20
farewell TO LAME CHOPS.

The recent advance IN the price of lamb
and mutton is embitteriug tempers which
were already sore over the price of coal
Spring lamb is selling at - cents by the
carcass, and mutton has advanced in pro-
portion. These figures are beyond the reach
Of small purses. and the accustomed leg
f mutton and dish OF chops are disap-
pearlng from the roor mans table. 1t can
hardly be said that anything like a famine
exists, for beef is ~till selling at > cents by
tie carcass and there is plenty Of it. But
Young mutton and spring lamb are becom-
ing expensive Injuries.
The situation Is not peculiar TO this Coast.
Il extends throughout the East as well. For
four or five years mutton and lamb have
been growing dearer in American markets,
and the consumption of both has been on
the decline. The cause is easily asccr-
tanned IN almost all the States, excep.
Texas, and on this Coast especially, the
agrlculturist has been encrOaching on the
sheep-pastures. ana Sheep-owuers have been
reducing their lccks from the difficulty of
feeding them. The event is not an uu-
mixed misfortune. In this Stale for iu-
stance. the custom Of sheep breeders has
been to pasture their sheep for few months
on the slopes Of the Coast range. then to
drive them across the river valleys to the
Sierra, and to pasture them there until thev
are sheared and the carcasses sent to mar
ket. 1t seldom happens that the sheep
breeder owns his pasture. He feeds his
locks On Government land. As that is
gradually taken up, his sheep walks are cur
| tailed. Furthermore, IN driving his flock
| across the valleys, he damages the crops.
! makes the pasture lots useless for horses,
] do
cause Of forest fires which he kindles to
cook his food. Hence, between him and the
ranchrr and catjle-grower there is never
dying enmily. The old farmer expressed
his side of the controversy when he said
that the sheep is the natural foe Of man.
These causes, coupled with tie low price
which our wool commands in the grease and
the DIRT have led TO Il reduction in the num-
Der of sheep raised in this State and of the
mutton supply in the San Francisco markets,
which amounts perhaps TO fifty per cent in
the past six or seven years There is no
reason why the reduction should not con-
time. Land in California is too valuable to
be used for sheep pasture. In Arizona and
Nevada there are valleys where sheep can
be raised without interfering with the
farmer, and if water can be procured the
business might be conducted with profit
But IN both those sections water is scarce,
and an artificial supply would cost more
than the industry can afford. New pastures
may perhars be found in Oregon and Wash
ingtOn but there the sheep will have to
contend against rigorous winter.
1t may be as well to make up our minds
that sheep are never going to be as plentiful
| on this Coast, nor mutton nor lamb as cheap
| as they have been. Consolation may be
| found in the reflection that there is no pros.
! Dect for some years to come OF any scarcity
Of beef This is a very large State, and fol
a long time the farmers will find all tht
elbow-room they want without crowding the
| cattle pastures. Such counties as Fresno
Kern, Tulare, San Luis Obispo and Mon
terey can grow more beef than California
can consume; and besides these there art
| fine pastures which are pretty well stock ed
! IN Nevada. Arizona. Utah and Oregon. East
| OF Utah the cattle business has fallen into
the hands of a monopoly, which makes the
| price TO suit itself. Thus far the Coast has
escaped the clutches of the beef barons OF
Chicago; 80 long as it can do so no fears
| need be entertained of a scarcity of anima al
| food.
That beef will ultimately rise in price is
likely enough. Sooner or later San Fran
cisco will probably adjust Itself to the parity
| OF New York. But an advance in the cost
OF roasting pieces and steaks will be likely
to teach housekeepers the lesson that paris
OF the steer which are now disdained and
sell at nominal prices are just as good eating
and as nutritious food, if properly cooke d,
as chateaubriand Itself. AS matters stand
| the retail butcher must make his profit of
| the ribs, srloin and sirloin steaks, and a
| housekeeper who sets any cuts but these
on her table is scorned. A French cook viii
buy portions Of the carcass which butchers
are glad to sell for cents pound and
with some knowledge of cookery, few
vegetables and a dash of spices will com.
pound dish that is fit for Luculus