The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-08-05
PUTTING UP
MEAT PRICES.
Packers Preparing to Levy a Little
Higher Tribute When Cold
Weather Comes.
An Cutlery From Kansas City Shows
That the Screws Are Being
Applied.

Kansas City, Aug. 5.--That beef and
pork prices will soon begin to soar up
wards there is scarcely any doubt. The
advance may be announced almost any
day, and, according to the admissions OF
the packers themselves, it is sure to come
before cold weather. That beef should be
high this winter in keeping with coal and
other luxuries perhaps would be only nat
ural. Just how much the packers contem-
plate putting on the present market price
Is not known.
According to reports sent out from Chi
cago, where the Kansas City packers get
their orders, rise Of 21s cents a pound is
predicted. The same advices state that
the retailers have boosted prices on GER
tain classes of beef and have, as usual.
placed the blame for it on the packers.
Kansas City retailers say they have not
advanced prices, but will be forced to do
so If the packers begin boosting prices.
At the offices of one packing company In
Kansas City the manager stated that beef
was bound to advance, giving his reasons
for it, and added that it had already gone
up within the past ten days. Said the
manager: .
Conditions are such that the price of
good beef to the consumer next fall Will
be considerably in advance Of what 1t has
been during the summer. The advance in
market price Is based on a corresponding
advance in the cost of buying, killing and
marketing the beef. Good prime cornfed
beef Is worth $500 and $3.50 on the hoof
now. This Is an advance OF 81 q head
over what was asked the packers two
weeks ago. The scarcity Of good cattle
and feed prices have been largely respon-
sible for this advance.
by the pound the price Of beef ranges
from to tx cents. Seven and or1e-half
cents, the top price, buys the choicest cuts
on the market. The decrease in the
amount realized from the offal, hides and
tallow in poor grades of cattle would nat
urally force beef prices UP. Oh Is very
low now, and tallow has also suffered a
slump. These things have their effect on
| the cost of beef on mans dinner table
"The report that a ~ cent advance has
| already been made in some places may be
| true. It Is more than likely that an in
| crease will come here. In fact, you are
| safe in saying that beef costs more money
| now than it did two weeks ago. OF
course the public will have to stand the
raise
A leading retail dealer is ready to swear
| that the packers have another combine
| He expressed the belief that they have
been fixing up their fences preparatory to
advancing prices. He thought 1t would be
hard for Attorney General Crow to prove
the existence Of combine or pool II forced
to file quo warranto proceedings against
the packers again.
II haven't bought any beef to- day." said
the retailer, because filed my coolers
last week. But believe they would ask
me at least cents a pound for It, The
price seems to be jumping up at the rate
Of one-fourth cent every few days. The
packers say good beef costs more money
That is all there is to it. The public will
have to pay the freight, Of course, and II
doesn't do any good for the retailer tt
fight back The attorney, general Of the
state is the only man who has remedy
and he may have to apply 1t next winter u