Crawford avalanche., 1895-04-25
BIG DEARTH OF BEEF.
RISE IN PRICE OF MEAT DUE TO
NATURAL CAUSES.
Packers Deny that a Combination Has
Been Formed to Corner the Product
Long Drought Has Proved De.
structive on 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 butchers mar
bic slab, there will be fall in the present
high price of beef, whether purchased OH
the hoof or ut retail. This assertion is
borne out not only by the assertions of the
interested packers of Chicago, Omaha, st.
Louis and Kansas City, but by the sta
tistics prepared quarterly by 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 a 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 a
circular referring to the cattle scarcity,
in which they estimate the shortage at 40
per cent. for the whole country in COM
parison with 1894. The same estimate is
made by Cal Favorite, of Armour & Co.,
and is partially sustained by the figures
of the Government given out in January
of this year. These figures show the num-
ber of cattle in the United States, being
comparison of January, 1895, with Jan
uary, 1894. In beef cattle the decrease
in the whole number in the country was
2,243,0 ,053, or q per cent.
Large Decrease Shown.
The Government cattle report includes
all classes and grades, while the esti-
mate of the Chicago packers as to the de-
crease Is in reference only to cattle fit
for immediate sale. BY the Government
report it is shown that the decrease in
cattle in Nebraska has been IS per cent.
since 1894, 16 per cent. since 1893, and
IS per cent. since 1892 In Wyoming the
decrease is 8 per cent since 1894 and 20
per cent. as compared with 1892. In Tel.
as a decrease of Z per cent. since 1894,
3 per cent since 1893, and IL per cent
since 1892 Montana has lost per cent.
since 1893. 8 per cent. since 1892. The
State gained 2 per cent. in comparison
| with 1894. Iowa's loss is 6 per cent.
since 1894. 8 per cent. since 1893 and q
per cent since 1892. Colorado has lost
per cent. in comparison with 1894 and
gained II as compared with 1893.
/. the coming scarcity of cattle had not
been foreshadowed by the January Gov
ernment report data of a similar nature
would not be lacking now. For the week
ending March 30 the decrease in the re-
ceipts of cattle at the Chicago stock yards
in comparison with the same week in 1894
was 1858 head. Since Jan. 1 there have
been received at the stock yards 512, ,S51
head, a decrease of ll0,06S for the same
period in 1894. Shipments during the
aa ma poriad of fi,pa ia.rao ex.l II 020 bn Il
and the actual slaughter 66,970 head. The
figures are official. On April IL the esti-
mated shortage in the receipts of cattle
at the Union Stock Yards since Jan. 1 in
comparison with the receipts for the same
period in 1894 WAS 270,000 head. The
shortage In pounds of dressed beef for the
same period was estimated to be liz, ,000,-
600 pounds. or an average of 100000
pounds decrease n day. On the same day
the receipts of cattle at the yards were
$500 head less than on the same day in
1894
No Combine Among Packers.
Cal Favorite. speaking for Armour &
Co., said: 1.-The Big Four is mythical or
ganization. / do not know that it ex-
lists. II you view the situation in the light
of an actual shortage of marketable cat
tie existing-4O per cent. less than year
ago in the whole country-it is not diff
cult to explain why there is scarcity in
beef and higher prices. 1t is simply i'm
possible for us to get choice cattle in any
quantity"
Il. ID. Armour said: 1.-THE Western
ranges have been denuded of cattle, and
believe it will take four or five years to
have a reduction in the prevailing beef
prices. The scarcity of cattle, i'm my
opinion, will continue for that length of
time. do not see how it is to be avoided.
Months and years will be required to re-
store to the barren ranges the cattle
which once kept the supply ahead of the
demand. The situation is the logical end
of series of disasters on the cattle
ranges and destruction of crops needed
for feeding purposes"
Comparative tables were secured show
ing the figures of the receipts, shipments
and killings in the Chicago, South Omaha,
Kansas City and East st. Louis markets
for the three months ending March 30,
1895, with the same periods i'm 1894.
These are the tables:
CHICAGO.
1895. 1894. 1893.
Receipts -. .574,O52 692, 125 7e3, 1873
0b...,u-x. 100 400 Oar nOs ntA 40