Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-07-03
EFFECT IN THIS CITY
The Strike Has Produced Scarcity
of Beef.
WHAT some LARGE DEALERS SAL
The Price Has Increased Within
the Last Two Days.
HOPE THE WORST IS PAST

lOFE 1dE WOnS1 10 ADJ
The effects of the great strike in Chicago
are being seriously felt by Westinghouse
in that most vital Of all spots. the pocket
book. During the past two or three days
the prices Of provisions have risen sub
stantially. and in the highly necessary ar
ticls of beef the figures have advanced
from 20 to 25 per cent and the prospects
are that this will be still further increased
before the trouble is over. Ever since the
large packing concerns of Chicago estab-
lished branch houses in this city the local
butchers have for the most part depended
upon these agencies for their supply of
prime beef, as there was more profit in
the larger carcasses sent from the west
than in the smaller animals slaughtered in
this vicinity, while customers were better
pleased with the more attractive cuts which
were thus made possible.
Falling OF in the Supply.
Consequently a complete stoppage of the
| receipts of western beef in the local market
means a heavy falling off in the supply and
a rise In price on account Of the more spr-
| tied demand. This is precisely what has
happened in Washington, and The man who
finds beefsteak on his bill of fare tomor-
row morning may consider himself mighty
lucky
A representative of The Star made a
tour through the Center market at noon to-
day and conversed with a number of retail
meat dealers. as well as the representa- tives
| OF the western packing houses who have
| off1ces In the market building and on q
street near by
Beef Has Risen Five Cents a Pound.
Mr.. John r. Kelly. the well-known
butcher, said that beef had risen in the last
two days about cents a pound. 'Srloin
| steak that sold for 20 cents is now selling
for 25 and rib roast is the same Tender
| loin that sold at a quarter is now 80, and
cattle that sold last week at TAI IL hun
dred are now bringing IL and IL IL. The
price of lamb and mutton has not been
affected yet, as the supply in the country
nearby Is SUFFICIENT for the demand. The
| conditions are the same In Baltimore, New
York and Philadelphia. 1 sent an order to
New York for beef yesterday to ODonnell
Co. Here's the reply got"
Mr.. Kelly showed The Star reporter a
telegram from the firm in question which
read as follows: Very sorry. Beef famine
here Could not fill your order at % cents
| pound"
Several other retail butchers were visited
and all agreed with Mr.. Kelly's statement
Among the wholesale houses dull and
| deadly quiet prevailed and there was moth
| ing being done in the way Of handling meat
| Thinks the Worst is Over.
Mr. Charles E. Lyman, the local agent
|
price of beef had advanced fully cents
II feel encouraged that the worst is over,
and that we will soon be receiving a reg
ular supply of beef We have enough on
hand to keep us in good condition for this
week, and II cars should move from Chi
| cago today we would be all right next
week. 1 don't think beef will go any
higher"
Only Three Cars This Week.
Mr.. F. NJ. Beck. the bookkeeper of ]. T.
Varnell G. Sons, who are the Washington
representatives of Philip d. Armour
Company, looked at the conditions squarely
I'VE have on hand about one-eighth of the
supply We usually carry" he remarked
We are not taking any irregular orders
| for immediate delivery, for haven't
enough on hand scarcely for regular Gus
| toners. We have received only three cars
of beef this week, when we ought to have
got nine or ten. Prime beef has considera-
| bly, advanced in price sides that sold for
Z and 1-2 cents pound last week now
being marked at 10 cents. We don't ex-
| pect to receive any more shipments this
week. Yes, you understood me correctly.
We have only about one-eighth of our reg
ular supply in the ice box at this present
moment"
| losses of the Packing Houses.
Mr.. W. II. Pullen, local manager for the
| Hammond Beef Company, said ne had re-
| ceived one car this week instead of four or
| five, and said while he had little on hand
| he expected no more to arrive until the
first or middle OF next week. The price had
advanced on his stock from 1-2 to 10 and
IL cents
Quired The Star man.
Il think not said Mr.. Pullen. 81 be-
| leve there is a feeling among all the west
ern agents here not to put the price higher
and it won't be done unless we are forced
| to. The packing houses are meeting with
| tremendous losses on account of the block
ade. OF course the railroads can't be held
| responsible for the stoppage of cars by the
strike. Maybe prime beef will go up. Pro-
visions generally have advanced in the past
| two days and maybe the cause has been the
rise in beef. Lambs are certainly higher,
because the city slaughterers are taking ad-
vantage OF the conditions in the west. /
bought lambs yesterday for some custom
ers and paid IL and II cents for them when
they were but and 8 cents a week ago."
Not Much Exercfsed.
H. Powdermaker. city manager for Nelson
Morris & Company of Chicago. said that
while the supply in his establishment was
very short today. he expected to get in all
the beef that had been shipped in Chicago
up to last Friday highland didn't appear to
be very much exercised over the future.
Inquiry at poultry stands in the market
showed that chickens had advanced slightly
in price. but the poulterers denied that the
advance in beef and other fresh meats had
anything to do with 1t.
Chickens have not come in as lively rs
| usual; that's what's the matter" said John
BruEger.
Owing to the high price of beef there was
a grea ter demand this morning than usual
at this time Of year for smoked meats and
the bacon. ham and sausage stands did
| lively business.
"Dey'n all be eatin' dem sissitch mex,
week." said burly German butcher to The
| Star man, and maybe he was right
~