The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-04-04
ADVANCE IN MEATS.
A Scarcity Of Cattle Will Nate
rally Increase Prices.
LOCAL BUTCHERS HARMONIOUS
Last summers Drought ana C0nso-
quens Lack Of Food Has Reduced
the Number OF Cattle.

The iocmi meat market continues -
seifYen fer higher prices and frcxn pxesana
tndfrufso,S the prices win be higher than
they have been for some yearS. all due to
the scarcity OF cattle IN the East. - the
result OF tho hong and memorable droughe
of hast summer. INSIDE cf two weeks
there has been an advance Of from 90 Ia
cents on good steer beef IA tlae carcass.
and that has had n tendency 10 card the
price Of cAosce cuts kst.ng. During tAo
past fortnight there has been ar adv anco
Of about > cents ON choice outs. and from
l cent 70 Ia cents on ordinary outs Fork.
mutton and lamb have also been affected.
but not IN the same ratio.
The Wholesale butchers OF cnfs city have
evidently ceased hvscherlnx one anotaaer's
prices and propose dsyctsnS their time -
butchersng cattle and tremendously agree
lag on a general stiff list of yxsees In
touch with tho -. Paul market. wlltch
controls the meat market Of the country.
and Of course the Facsfso co<sst ircsuded.
The butchers hero have agreed that In
sssSie OF anoxher two or four weeks there
would be an additional advance of from
TO cents per pound. 50 riasss by thst tame
meat Will pose as a luxury instead or u
necessity. and II II goes no higher people
viii DO very fortunate.
The cause OF II Is tho small supply. for
which the intense and pr>ctracted drouth
pastnraxe there was was Of very poor
quality. and the conditions were ss4ch a.
10 render n impossible to store IN any
great amount OF fodder. In consequences.
farmers and others were compelled TO sell
OF their cattle. there being no rneans Of
keeping rhen economically. and this sea-
son opens with an astonishing acarsfsy OF
cattle in the Eas<. that has had fts effect
upon the market. The same may he said
with regard 10 pork. tho corn supply hay
ing failed TO an extent rendering II hn-
possible to keep hogs. Mutton and lamb.
however. have not as vet shown scare
fly I'm the same degree. although Feey Will
he affected as well. In all meats there
has been steady advance. according TO
the quality OF the cuts. and this advance
is stili In material progress.
The following interview with a ~. Paul
butcher is taken from a paper OF that city
OF recent date:
Meat IL going 10 he higher than II has
been In yeara" said a weil-known butcher
chs afternoon land higher. think. than
1t has ever been IN ST. Paul before. Tho
price Is governed by the supply. and when
the supply grows scarce the prices ara
bound 10 20 up. ono man that l KNOW
bought a herd Of eleven down here Tor
feeders. but ne was prevailed upon to sell
them for beef cattle and made $500. Three
hundred dollars on n herd Of eleven cattle
Ia pretty good. When VIII the price begin
20 go DOWN. That is hard 10 say. II Il
going up first aud II h going 10 stay up
until the middle of July or the first OF
August. so that people may expect TO ray
high prices all through the eprin4 ana
summer"
The foregoing situation I'm ST. Paul the
source OF vast supplies. is virtually the
situation In this city. and the local butch-
ers are shaping the market accordingly.