The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1898-11-01
GERMANYS MEAT SUPPLY.

Inability OF that Country 10 meet Dc.
mandi OF the Peopis-1nscts OF AErar'-
an Observation-Disclosures WithGoV-
erumenpa Policy.
A Berlin correspondent of the New
York Journal of Commerce writes as fol-
lows: From all parts Of the empire
there come daily reports as to the grow
ing scarcity Of meat Prices have ris-
en- and there ls abundant evidence to
chow that the poorer classes of the peo-
pln have put themselves upon short al
inwances. Reports which have recently
been collected from many of the munich
nal slaughter houses of the empire SHOW
q marked falling of in the number OF
animals, particularly hogs, brought in
10 be butchered. Thus, at the Berlin
stock yards In the month OF September
the deliveries Of cattle, sheep and hogs
were 1914 head behind those OF two
years ago. although the city with us SUI
,burbs has increased by over 1OO,OOQ souls
during that time. OF hogs alone the de-
jIveries were over 2l,0OO fewer than two
years ago. aond nearly 1900 behind
those of 1897. The figures for Septem-
Der. 1896, were S3.456; for last month
they were 62.OO7-the falling on being
thus over "a per cent.
From other parts OF Germany the re-
ports are OF the same character. Al
Nuremberg the falling of amounts 10
over 100 head of hogs month, and at
Carlsruhe the number OF hogs Killed At
the city slaughter house during the first
six months OF the year was only 1857
head against sos during the first half
OF 1897. at Hamburg the decline Is stu
more striking, amounting to 1000 to -
OOO per week. At Spanau the falling of
reaches 20 per cent IN population OF
which nine-tenths are working people
As cattle may still be imported without
hindranca from Austria the falling on OF
the number brought to market has not
been so great as that Of hogs. Stetun,
however, reports 20 per cent less than
last year. Besides the falling off In
numbers here shown, It is claimed that
the animals of all kinds brought TO
market ate lighter and OF Inferior quali-
IS as compared with previous years.
Prices for pork have Increased - TO
% per cent since two years ago. Pork
IL sold now at retail at from TIC To lSc
a pound. and even at these prices II IS
said that the butchers are making no
money, as they must buy ut prices that
are correspondlngly higher so there IS
but slight margin for profit The high
prices are causing no little discomfort
among the working people, and they are
making use OF the DEAFNESS or meat as
an argument to strengthen their de-
mands for higher wages They are
able to point out that hogs cost In Hol-
land only about &c pound I've weight
and In France loo TO 12c. There Is
therefore a strong and growing demand
that the existing decfee excluding for
cign hogs from Germany be abolished.
Many chambers OF commerce have tax
en- up the subject. and some have APP
pealed to the government to raise the
prohibition. The government, howevcr
has thus far refused to act, and 1t is
considered certain that 1t win do moth.
Ing. on the contrary, semi-oniCinl
newspapers are trying to deny that
there Is any meat famine, They defend
the action OF the government by point
ing out that the import OF meat Is Just
az little INSTRUCTED now az II was up 10
1895. But this is only like giving
stone for bread, since the duty on peFk
Is 500 per 100 pounds. whereas the live
hog could have been brought in for SOC
per 100 pounds.
Tho situation Is calling forth In the
opposition press much sharp and frank
criticism Of the government: the sub
lection OF the government to agrarIan
interests Is pointed out very plainly,
and the popycock absut the sanitary
purpose or the prohibition OF imports
finds little credence outside government
circles and the benciiclarie5 or lite poll
Ciea. The opposition papers show With
great cffcct the folly OF giving the
asrarlans full possession OF the home
market when they nrc showing their In
ability to supply its demands, The
number Of cattle, sheep and hogs has
not Kept pace with the growth OF popu-
latIon. Tho number Of cattle and hogs
has Increased since 1873; but the num-
her NJ sheen hEE fallen OH so heavily
that thc totni number of nnimaia IS now
actually less than II wns In that year,
whereas the population has Increased
from 4lis 10 53h millions since that time.
The rise In the price Of pork is directly
attributable TO the prohibition OF Inn
ports Of live animals and the difficulties
placed IN the way OF imports OF meats
from the United Statea. The yearly
Imports of live hogs at the beginning
Of this decade ran nbovc 100000 head.
md IN 1894 amounted still to 10000
head; but last year imports sank to 3d.
S2G Imports OF young pigs fol from
126.46O head In 1892 10 2,050 last year.
Cattle imports Ia 1894 amounted to A2,-
l27 head. last year to only 1862 head.
or the hogs imported last year 7O.ON
went directly into tho slaughter houses
Of Upper SllcRia, this specinl exemption
being mnde by law In favor Of that cor