Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1902-04-22
HIGH CORN AND FEW BEEvEs.

Not long since in an editorial article
few of the natural causes for the pres
ent high price of beef. In another arti-
Gle on the same page 1t expressed an
opinion that a reduction of sugar tar
ifs. which would cut the profits of the
sugar trust, would meet little OPPOSE
ton from the public buying cheaper sd
gar. Reading the two in a single issue
u contemporary was inspired to accuse
this paper of Inconsistency defending
a beef combine while attacking the su-
gar trust.
All trusts look alike to the T.-R., but
] often results have different causes in
commercial science. and if the T.-R
was right as to its facts there could
have been no Inconsistency in its con-
/ clusions. Said critics should have
given the subject honest discussion, for
there is much blind discussion of trusts
prevalent these days. Every baneful
condition is laid at the door of some
trust without knowledge or reason.
! A combination of beef packers in re-
! straint of trade with the purpose of
forcing high prices is Ubiquitous and
Illegal. but is the present high prices of
beef to the consumer the evil machina-
ton of such an extortionist? Primari-
lly the price of live cattle governs the
price of beef and the laws of supply
and demand govern the price of live
cattle. A combination of buyers such
rs the beef trust is alleged to be can
cheaper the price of live cattle only
when the supply is equal to or in ex-
cess of the demand.
What are the facts? While there is
nc, decrease in the cattle census there
is marked scarcity In the supply Of
marketable cattle. Fat cattle are very
scarce. A partial failure of the corn
crop and resultant high cost of feed.
with only speculation as to the price
fat cattle would bring, discouraged the
cattle feeder. The farmer who usually
puts from fifty to 100 steers on feed
sold his corn at a high price and kept
his cattle on rough feed until this sum-
mer's grasses should make the flesh.
Feeders who usually manufacture from
100 to 500 beeves realized that the local
price on corn would rise still higher
should they attempt to feed many cat
tie, which decided them against the
purchase of feeders. Those who fed
shipped long before the cattle were
finished, compelled to do so by the
price and scarcity of corn. Thru the
entire winter there has been no demand
in the Chicago markets for stockers
and feeders ana the prices on these
classes of cattle have not been quota
bly, disturbed, nor will they be until
the growth of grass settles the ques-
ton of feeding them at profit.
Butcher stock in the country today
is almost unobtainable and If Iowa
butchers are to be taken as authority
cattle of this kind are held at prices
that drive the retailer to the big pack
ers for his meats. The editor of the
T.-R. in discussing rise of three cents
per pound on beef steak asked his To-
cal butcher why he didn't kill and dress
his beef himself and the reply was that
his men couldn't find suitable butcher
stuff in the country for less than five
cents pound on the hoof
Butter has raised cents per
pound in price on the New
8 cents per pound in price on the New
York markets. milk has been sold at |
81 cents per quart turnout the state
during the winter months, but this can
scarcely be charged to any combination
or trust. 1t is simply the natural effect |
of high feed, and the same is true of |
the high wholesale and retail cost of
beeves and beef products.
The end of the reign of high priced
beef will come with the advent of
grass fed beef. Farmers who held over
their feeding cattle will hurry to the