Marshall County independent. (Plymouth, Marshall County, Ind.) 1894-1895, 1895-04-19
BIG DEARTH OF BEEF.
RISE IN PRICE OF MEAT DUE TO
NATURAL CAUSES.
Packers Deny that a Combination Has
Reen Formed to Corner the Product
Long Drought Has Proved De-
structiNe OF Ranges in the West.

Eighteen months from the present time,
when the frisky calf of to-day is ready for
the slaughter house and the packing in
duStry or an exhibit on a butchers mar
bic slab there will be 4 fall in the present
high price of beef. whether purchased Oh
tbs hoof or at retail. This assertion is
borne out not only by the assertions Of the
interested packers of Chicago. Omaha. st.
Louis and Kansas City, but 10y the sta
tistics prepared quarterly 10y the Govern
ment concerning the shipping. receiving
and killing Of cattle in the four American
cities which control the delivery of beef
dressed or on the hoof to the remainder of
the country and Europe. The statement
that combine among the four principal
packers of the West has caused the in
creased prices is Indignantly denied by
them.
Clay Robinson * Co, from the Union
Stock Yards Of Chicago have issued
circular referring To the cattle scarcity.
In which they estimate the shortage al 10
per cent. for the whole country in com
parison with 1891. The same estimate is
made by Cal Favorite. Of Armour * Co,
and is partially sustained 10y the figures
of the Government given out in January
of this year. These figures show the num-
Der of cattle in the United States. being
a comparison of January. 1870. with Jan
uary. 1894. In beef cattle the decrease
in the whole number in the country was
2,243,9 33, or & per cent.
Large Decrease Shown.
The Government cattle report includes
all classes and grades. while the esti-
mate of the Chica go packers as to the de-
crease is in reference only to cattle lit
for immediate sale. By the Government
report it is shown that the decrease in
cattle in Nebraska has been Il per cent.
since 1894. Ii per cent. since 1898. and
Is per cent. since 1892. In Wyoming the
decrease is . per cent. since 1884 and %
per cent. rs compared with 1892. In Tcf
as decrease Of 4 per cent. since 1894.
per cent since 1885. and II per cent
since 1892. Montana has lost / per cent.
since 1888. ) per cent. since 1892. The
State gained > per cent. in comparison
with 1924. Iowa's loss is d per cent
since 1894, = per cent. since 1893 and q
per cent since 1892 Colorado has lost 6
per cent in comparison with 1894 and
gained II as compared with 1873.
been foreshadowed by the January Gov
eminent report data of Il similar nature
! would not be lacking now. For the week
ending March 30 the decrease in the re-
cepts of cattle AT the Chicago stock yards
! in comparison with the same week in 1871
was S,,jS3 head. Since Jan. l there have
| been received al the stock Yards oI2. NJ
! head. Il decrease of 1l9.o6S for the same
! period in 1894 Shipments during The
/ same period OF time deere: srd II $50 head
! and the actual slaughter 66.91o head. The
! figures are official. On April II the esti-
mated shortage in the receipts of cattle
at the MON Stock Yards since Jan. IN
/ comparison with the receipts for the same
period in 1891 was 2100n head. The
/ shortage in pounds of dressed beef for The
! same period was estimated 10 hc liJ.oo0.
coo pounds, or an average Of 2.Hn.o0o
! pounds decrease Il day. On the same day
/ the receipts oil cattle ~ the yards were
! $500 head less than on the sam" day IN
/ 1884.
No Combine Among Packers.
! Cal Favorite, speaking for Armour &
! Co. said: The Big -Four i mythical or
! ganiZation | do not know that il cx-
lists. If yoI view the situation in the light
, OF an actual shortage of marketable cat
! tie existing l.'r cent. less than year
! ago in the whole country ii Il not dliil-
| cult TO explain why there il; Il scarcity in
! beef and higher prices. 1t j. simply inn
/ possible for liz To get choice cattle in any
! quantity
Z. u. Armour said: "rhc Western
ranges have been denuded az cattle. and
| | believe it will take four or fave years 10
have reduction IN the prevailing beef
! prices The scarcity of cattle. in my
! opinion. VIII continue for thar length Of
! tiale | do not see how il is To be avoided.
Months and years VIII be required To re-
store To the barren ranges the cattle
which once kept the supply ahead of the
! demand. The situation is ihe logical end
Of series of disasters on Inc cattle
ranges and destruction 81 crops needed
for feeding purposes"
Comparative tables were secured show
ing the figures of the receipts. shipments
and killings in the Chica GO South Omaha.
Kansas City and East 81. Louis markets
for the three months ending March 81.
1890, with I'll" same periods III 1881.
These are the tables:
CHICAGO.
1870. 1871 1898.
Receipts .5Il.052 CO.,. 70 7tIl.33S
Shipments 49,. 1SN4:1o 241.oSi 2lo.419