Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1902-04-21
CAUSES Of H|6H BET
Secretary Wilson Discusses Beef
Question From Standpoint
Of Stock Raiser.
Attributes High Prices to the
Short Corn Crop Of Last
Year.
Farmers Have Been Feeding
Cattle Corn Worth 50 Cents
a BusheI.

Agriculture Wilson discussed the beef
situation from the standpoint of far
mer and stock raiser. He attributes
| the present high prices to the short
| corn crop of last year He says far
mers have been feeding cattle corn
worth so cents bushel and have been
hoof. The average beef steer, he says
dresses at fifty pounds to the hundred
making the cost of the dressed animal
| IA cents per pound.
Secretary Wilson predicts fall in
the price of beef in two months. He
says:
II predict fall in the price of beef
as soon as the grass cattle are ready
for market There is nothing to hinder
| the butchers in any city from making
an agreement among themselves to put
an agent in one of the western markets
for the purpose of buying cattle, hav-
ing them shipped to their city, slaugh-
tered and sold at a profit providing
/ they can get the some transportation
rate given to every one else. Whoever
gets lower rate becomes monopo-
list, as he Is at once given a great adj
vantage over all those who are dis
eliminated against.
Il do not know whether or not there
is combination on the part of the
packers to put up the price of meats.
as have no means Of knowing. Z do
know, however, that owing to the
shortness of last years corn crop the
farmers were not able to feed cheap
corn to their cattle so as to fatten them
for market.
There is plenty of grass cattle in the
country. Corn is high and the farmers
have been giving 1t to their cattle at
double the ordinary price-namely:: so
to so cents a bushel. They sent south
for cotton seed oil so as to help to tide
over.
1.-The farmers have been getting {
cents a pound for cattle on the hoof.
The average steer going into Chicago
dresses at fifty pounds to the hundred.
1t is easily estimated that il calf costs
cents q pound on the hoof 1t will cost
IA cents when dressed.
First class beef dresses at about
sixty pounds to the hundred" contin-
ned the secretary, and the worlds
high water mark along this line Is be-
tween sixty and seventy pounds, but
the average is about fifty pounds. This
will give some idea of what meat costs
the butcher. The choice cuts are nl-
ways run up in price and this. is, why
we have to pay so much for our meats
while beef will be cheaper when the
grass fed cattle are in marketable
shape, this cause will not operate to
reduce the rrice of the products of the
hog as that animal can not fatten on
grass.
"These are some of the prime causes
for the high prices of meats. There are
others of equal Importance. Wages are
good In fact, they are higher than ever
before. This enables every one to- eat
whatever he fancies. This condition
creates heavy demand for food prob
ucts, and all Of them are unusually
high.
Another cause for the increase in
the price of beef is the drain on the
corn supply to fatten horses and mules
for our foreign markets. There is a
large demand for mules and horses for
use in South Africa. These animals
must be fattened the same as cattle In
order to bring a satisfactory price.
These are some Of the natural causes
which contribute to bringing about the
existing condition. but it Is impossible
for me to say whether, in addition to
this, the packers have arbitrarily added
anything to the price, as that is a mat
ter with which have nothing to do.
"If every one secures the same trans
portatioin rate 1t is not possible for the
packers entirely to control the selling
price. or late years the Chicago pack
ers have sent meat to nearly every city
and town in the United States, and the
old method of the butchers dressing
beef for the local markets has disap-
peared. The packer saves everything
and uses every part OF the cattle
Nothing Is wasted.
"If there should be an investigation
to determine whether there Is COM
bination of the packers for the increas-
ing of prices, those conducting 1t would
have to inquire into all of the factors
which influence the price. If such a
combination exists 1t probably would
be found in lower transportation rates.
but, of course, would not presume to
say the railroads discriminate in favor
OF the packers, for have not means Of
knowing.
Zone of the features of an investiga
ton of this kind would be to get at the
rate allowed by the transportation
companies. From the field to the
slaughter houses the rates are regular
and uniform, so far as we have been
able to learn. But what they are from
the slaughter house to the consumer is
question in which have no informa-
ton whatever.
There is evidently a large supply OF
stock-steers, sheep and hogs-but not
enough corn to fatten them. The sup
ply of cattle at Chicago shows that fat
cattle are scarce. In about two months
there should be some relief, as grass
fed cattle will begin to reach the mar
ket within that time. This depends on
the locality, however. Cattle have been
on grass since April /. Those which
were in good condition at that time will
be ready for the market early in June"
FOR COOPERATIVE COMMUNITY.