The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-10-26
In Order to Hold Trade They Have
Kept Meats I'm the London Market
I'm the Past Year.
THE BEEF TRUST" BoGY MAN
HIGH PRICES AT HOME HAVE DIS
Outraged EXPORTS.
England Resents American Success
and Looks Hopefully to Other
Quarters for Mea. supply.

Correspondence OF the Indianapolis Journal
LONDON. Oct. 1S.-English people have
heard much about the so-cailed beef
trust" during the past few months did
the people of the United States in the
earlier part of the year. In the meantime
the London importers OF American beef
have smiled grimly at the sensational
stories of their "extortions" and have done
their best to reduce the margins of their
losses.
Ii is true that American beef has been
sold in London at lower prices than the
same beef would have brought In the Chi
cago market on the day OF the sale II is
also true that prices have fiuctuated vio-
lently, these fluctuations being due, how
ever. to conditions peculiar 10 the English
trade and not to any mandate of those do
ing the selling. A break or rise OF cents
a pound within an hour is not uncommon
In the great Smithfield beef market OF Lon
don. A rise or fall of one cent a pound In
a week is regarded as more or less sensa-
tional in New York
There are several reasons for this uncer-
tainty in the English trade. The British
butcher expects to sell out his stock each
day. as he seldom has conveniences OF
butcher has his ice box. and IL the meat is
not sold to-day IL can be sold tomorrow
or the succeeding day or within any rea-
sonable time. If the English market is
overstocked down comes the price. and IL
there is any scarcity up it goes, as the bust
ness is done on the hand-to-mouth prin-
ciple.
For years the great American packing
h,xv ln1 and
successfully for the British meat trade.
In certain lines they have obtained almost
a monopoly at reasonable prices When
beef goes up. however. the Englishman
takes kindly TO the frozen beef or mutton
of Argentina and Australia. and the de-
mand for the more expensive meat is vastly
reduced.
In addition to this competition from afar
there is always meat to be obtained from
Scotland, Denmark, Holland and other
nearby places. AS one of the big dealers
recently expressed it. when the price of
beef goes up the telegraph Offices near
Smithheld are crowded with men tele-
graphing to all nearby sources of supply
to send on all the meat obtainable. This
meat arrives from here, there and every
where, and down goes the price. 1t Is a
regular seesaw."
The big packing concerns OF the United
States have, secured their English trade by
the hardest kind of fighting They have
chartered whole trains and entire space in
scores of vessels to bring down the cost OF
freight They have sold on close margins
and have paid big bonuses for meat shops
and market stalls which carried good vol
ume of trade with them. They have ar
ranged many sales to English butchers SO
that the latter could sell the American
meat as native English and not realize the
difference except that IL was better than
usual. To educate the British buyer into
boldly calling for American meat instead
Of preferring to eat il under a misleading
name has exhausted the ingenuity OF pack
ing house experts without success.
WHY 1T WAS DONE
The great rise in the price of meat In the
United States. a rise due largely to a world
wide shortage and a poor corn crop. rem
dered useless, for all temporary purpose
at least, this great effort TO capture for
eign market. Every pound Of meat sold IL
England this summer by Americans coull
have been sold at home with less trouble
and generally at better profit. The ques-
| done.
Faced with a fine demand at big prices
at home the packers had the choice be-
tween supplying that market, sending their
chartered ships to Europe empty. main
| tanning their English offices and plants idle
and seeing their hardly won trade drift
| away to others. or of sending enough meat
and cattle to England to hold their trade
and keep their people occupied even IL the
product was sold at times at a loss.
OF course, there was no choice for keen
| business men who were looking TO the flu
ture when beef would again be cheaper in
the United States and foreign trade would
again become profitable. They have kept
enough live cattle going TO England this
summer to occupy say one-half the avail
/ able space in their chartered ships. They
have sent enough meat to keep their Lon
don Offices employed and to hold the best
OF their trade. There has been no profit
/ in this other than what IL may mean for the
future. The many sensational statements
made in London as to the operations or the
alleged beef trust" taking advantage OF
the British meat consumer are on a par
with those made by people in the United
States who refuse to admit the great short
age In the meat supply OF the world winch
has threatened for several years past and
which is the result OF natural and we'll
recognized causes.
The great American packing houses are
accustomed TO doing business on a small
margin. The rtcently-published financial
statement OF one OF the largest concerns in
| Chicago shows a net profit OF less than
three-quarters OF l per cent. In the hand
ling OF $500 600 worth OF what Is really
| perishable product. This is why Amer
/ leans have secured the English trade. They
furnish better meat at lower prices. guar
antee regular supply. handle IL more
scientifically and take greater pains 10 give
the buyer what he wants than any other
/ purveyors in the business. They have made
| no money here this year In this DEPART
ment Of their trade. They expect lower
prices in the United States next year. ow-
ing TO the development OF the supply OF
feeding cattle and the more plentiful corn
crop. Then they will again trade in Eng
| land with a profit. they will not have
lost their hold upon a market through I'M
willingness 10 continue temporarily I'M
| profitab BILE trade.
Dead meat is admitted 10 England free
t~f~