The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1903-02-15
John Bull Alarmed
Over Beef Supply

remarkable. For the five years they
are as follows: S4,673 cwt., los, 28S cwt..
1888 cwt., in 1900 the huge, jump to
412,262 cWt., and last year the figure
already quoted. By the side of the
United States total Of 3,18O,291 cwt.
the Argentines I'll, 1929 seems trif1ing:
but there is no overlooking the impor-
lance of the meaning that attaches to
a rate of progression like this. What
possibility of supply in the immediate
future from a country of vast re-
sources, whose trade has increased
nearly ten-fold in five years. Approx
mately there are 25,000,o00 head of
cattle in the Argentine, while as yet
the cattle trade is only in a stage of
rudimentary development.
1t cannot, of course, be news to
Americans to learn that the Chicago
beef magnates already control the
great market of London, Smithfield,
entirely
1t was only by doing so that any
money could be made by the ring
which regulates prices exactly here as
it does in the United States, not only
doing so in London, but also in the
principal distributing centers Of the
United Kingdom.
In regard to the profitable market
ing of her productions, the United
States has perhaps done better with
"
In corn a ring or corner has had the
occasional effect Of temporarily put
ting up prices; but the artificial eondi-
tons have always been swept away by
the overwhelming abundance of the
supply. In beef, the Chicago ring has
been Of late able here, as we'll as in
the states, to regulate prices. It has
sat itself to the task of capturing the
profits of marketing as well as the
profits Of production. In England it
has been completely successful 1t not
only owns Smithfeld, but throughout
the country it has established a per-
fectly organized system of distribu-
ton.
In a perishable article of daily con-
sumption, such as beef, regularity of
supply is the first necessity. Chicago,
since the refrlgerating system was per-
fected, has been able to ensure this
1t obtained dominance of the Smith
field market not only because it's prod
uce was good, but because it could
sate1y be depended upon day by day
Tor the necessary supply. The market
has come to rely so completely upon
the American supply of beef that there
is practically no sale for the home
grown product
You may wander through the beer
groves Of Smithfield and see hardly a
carcass of English meat.
Now, having captured the market
the chicago firms so regulate their sun
plles TO the demand as to keep up the
prices TO profitable level Before
thelr working agreement was estab-
usned prices were not always profit
able to them. They glutted the market
at times, and at times they left the
buyers to look elsewhere for the davis
supply or proportion of the davis
supply An unsteady, variable market
did not pay them. But now that thew
are able TO gauge the demand and ex-
actly to satisfy it, the business is prof
liable.
The meat trust will have to look for
It's profits over here in the control or
the markets and the machinery of mar
keung. In the future, if it is to onerata
successfully in this country, it will
nave to make profit out Of selling
Argentine beef to the English peonIe
The Atlantic shipping trust will have
TO be very complete trust If that is to
be accomplished. - -
NOW that John Bull has got genu-
me scare on him he is open to the he
HeI tnat Morgan or some other Coles
sus OF nnance can do as he likes with
any Such meat market partially uns7ar
ms control, as the market l1ndo1IhtoI5fv
Is, and 1t will only require a consfantlv
diminishing supply of carcasses ~
make MIN thoroughly believe that thera
y conspiracy Matched to deprive him
OF his birthright, sap his yitalitv and
lower MN In the scale OF the nations.