The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-10-26

English markets that a. rise in price in any
commodity means an almost instantaneous
response from everywhere. OF course, this
could not keep up for long, but as rule
there is always a little extra of the prod
uct needed somewhere within easy reach
of England and these extra shipments serve
as a balance to trade and prevent squeezes
of any duration.
England. in a normal year, buys about
forty million dollars worth OF fresh beef
from foreign countries. or over two-thirds
Of the total consumption. When the price
goes too high. however. for the wage
earners to buy, they: fall back on frozen
mutton and frozen beef from Argentina
and Australia and, If needs be- do without.
In ordinary times the United States fur
nishes about as per cent. OF the fresh beef
imported, a trade which AMOUNTS TO about
thirty million dollars a year. There has
been great shaking up during the era of
high prices which has; prevailed for months
past and the figures for the current year
are awaited with great interest. They will
show just how far, I'm a pinch, the English
people can do without meat and will demon
strate through importations, other than
American. Just how the meat dealers Of
the United States have secured this trade
by underselling the people who can only
come in now when there is shortage.
During the past fiscal year the United
States exported about $4,000 head of live
cattle. against about 100000 head the
year before difference of 10000 head. Dur
Ing the past fiscal year about 800. 900
pounds OF fresh beef we're exported, or over
5o,0o0,0oo pounds less than the year preced-
ing. The past fiscal year. however, covers
more than the period of real shortage. for it
1t is only in the past six months it has
been keenly felt in the many markets of the
world which supplied with American
beef
In June. 1901. for instance, the United
States sent about 5000 head of live cattle
to England. while in June. 1902, the receipts
here from the same source were less than
10000 head In June, 1901, the United States
sent about 100000 pounds OF fresh beef
TO England and in June. 1902, the receipts
here from the same source were only about
100000 pounds. AS England normally de-
ponds upon the United States for 70 per
cent. Of her beef it can readily be imagined
that such a decrease not only resulted in
high prices. but in almost a famine among
the poorer classes. 1t might also be added
that this condition is one Of the influences
instrumental in bringing about a boom In
the British colonial trade idea, for the
politicians were forced to take notice. 1t
has also intensified the British dislike of the
so-called American trust of all descriptions,
bogy man which is a useful stage
property for the sensational section Of the
English press.
CLOSEST OF MARGINS.
The beef sold in England this summer
has ranged in price by the carcass, whole
sale, from 1O1s to 1919 cents per pound The
beef sent from the United States in 1901
was valued In New York at 1-3 cents per
pound and in 1902 at over IL cents per
pound. IL the transportation and selling
charges are added there is little profit
shown at any time and a considerable loss
during the months of the past summer
Contracts for steamers made in five
year terms, and contracts for cattle and
meat are made months in advance, hence
any remarkable rise in price cannot be
provided against. except in the general
averaging OF the trade of a year or of
several years.
American beef has been kept coming to
London at the expense of other English
ports and other foreign markets, for 1t is
here that the American packers and ship
pers have spent the most money in build
ing ND trade and invested the largest sums
in executive and handling facilities. 1t is
to the foreign cattle market at Deptford-
on-the-Thames, just below London, that
the American live cattle are sent to supply
the city.
In March the shortage was first seriously
felt. 1t amounted to about 1000 head or 10
per cent. of the receipts in March of the
In ha
again 1000 head. In May over 1000 head
In June over 1000 head. In July nearly
1900 head and in August the same, and so
on I'D to the present time. The loss in
fresh beef receipts at the great Smithfield
dead meat market was about 1000 tons.
What these things mean to a city of nearly
100000 people, a vast majority of whom
earn less than $40 per week to the family.
and who live from hand to mouth, day by
day, can be more readily imagined than
described
From no other source can England sum-
ply this deficiency except in very small
degree. The United States and Canada
are the only countries in the world send
Ing live cattle to England, as others are
oeoarred from sanitary reasons or by lack
or transportation facilities Argentina
would send some live cattle to England
but that she is prohibited owing to alleged
cattle disease at home. Argentina has
however, sent more frozen beef to England
this year than she ever has before. live
or dead weight
Since the high prices prevailed there has
been great pressure brought to bear upon
the English government to admit live cat
tie from Argentina and ii is expected the
embargo will be removed early next wear.
The belief Is general in England that there
are vas. herds OF cattle in Argentina ready
to be shipped as soon as restrictions are
removed and that when this happens there
will be slump in the retail price OF beef.
The market experts who have agents the
world over say that this is a wild exaggera-
ton and that while there would be quite
a number OF cattle come from South
America in time there would be no such
relief to the market as the people seem to
expect.
In the meantime the British public IS
Illuminating against the alleged American
meat trust" and American chilled beef
from Chicago. st. Louis and Kansas CITY
is sold as home killed" by the local Eng
lish butchers. A weli-known advertiser of
one OF the big American firms recently
said that the high prices had been a good
thing for the American trade I'm one WAY