Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-07-15
LOCAL MEAT~MARKET
ENOUGH OF MEDIUM GRADES TO
LAST A WEEK OR so.
No Fear Of sympathefc Strike Here
at Present-MeetinEAf Butchers
Last Night,

What is the real condition of the local
meat market as the result of the strike of
employees of the big western packing
houses? This question is made necessary
today by the evident nervousness of both
merchants and consumers nervousness
which, in the case of the merchant brings
about an uncommunicatiIe state of mind
as to the supply, and, in the case of the
consumer, causes a state of ignorance,
strange as it may SEEM. of the actual sell
ing prices Is
Hearing outside reports to the effect that
the advance in the price of meat is much
greater than 1t really is, and is constantly
rising the consumer ceases to be such, and
does not even take the trouble to make in
quiries at the meat stands. Lighter meat,
such as chicken, attracts his .tention and
he even begins eating fish and vegetables
altogether. The natural consequence Is
that the price of the meats that are not call
ed for stops rising, and that of chickens, for
instance, begins to go toward the clouds.
And, by the way, a reaction is but nat
ural thing to look for under the circum-
stances. All this makes it hard for the
average person to understand what is what
in the E1eat market.
Another reason for the lack Of actual in
looking out for something to help their
trade, have been, and are now, trying to
paint the condition little brighter than it
is. in order to prevent this frightening or
customers They say to reporters that
there is plenty of meat on hand; some even
assert that the supply will last for several
weeks. All are agreed, so they say that
even If the strike conditions prevail for
month longer the local men can supply the
medium grades of meat In reasonable guam
titles to Washingtonians.
Actual Prevailing Conditions.
From this mixed state of affairs a re-
porter for The Star has been able to get at
what appears to be, In measure, the &C
tual prevailing conditions.
Local wholesale dealers have on hand
enough meat of the medium grades to last
a week or So and the possibility Is that
they can get more later. The prime parts,
however especially of beef, lamb and fresh
pork are very scarce and may soon be
gone entirely. Prices for medium grades OF
all meats are about 81 hundred pounds
higher than normal. or than they were this
time last year. For this grade they are at
present not advancing, though they may be
expected to go up somewhat If the strikers
hold out a week longer but no actual
famine need be looked for in the near
future.
The prices Of fancy cuts are considerably
higher than they were yesterday, and many
any price. One restaurant keeper TINS
morning paid one-half a cent more for a
poor quality of beef than he paid yesterday
for the best ribs, of which there were none
to be had from his dealer on Louisiana ave-
nue. today. -a..
On the other hand also, all kinds of chick
ems have advanced rapidly since the de-
mand for them has increased Old fowls
are selling for cents more than they were
last week-that is for Ii and II cents
pound, when this time last year they were
bringing only and 10 gents. Spring
chickens are bringing today 10 and ~
cents pound, which is and cent ad-
vance. This time last year they were
being sold for 12c and Is cents. These prices
for chickens are at wholesale, retail prices
being higher in proportion )
1t appears to be likely that spring chick
ems will be held at Is cents a pound next
week. unless the market adjusts itself
Many fowls are being shipped out OF town
to places where higher prices can be got,
and this will doubtless have tendency TO
increase prices here. - = -
Reflected in Other Lines:of Business.
The condition of the market isTeflected in
other lines of business A number or
restaurants have raised the price of meals
8 and 10 cents each in order to cover the
greater cost of meat This movement Is by
no means general. however, and may De
only temporary, even If the price of meat is
not lowered. ,
One merchant said this morning that the
prices two weeks ago were below the nor
nal. and this had made the present al
vance seem higher than 1t should Inc
previous condition to which he referred
was, he said, but the consequence OIL the
natural market fiuctuation.
AS yet no abnormal demand for f1sh mas
been noticed in the local market. though
many think the sales will increase II the
present conditions last much longer
An interesting phase of the meat sltua-
ton is that the larger hotels In TINS cit!,
such as the Raleigh, New Willard, Ebblts
House and others, which have contracts
with Mex York firms to- supply them win
fresh meat, have, as yet, not mad y pay
higher prices than usual in spite OF the ao-
verse conditions in the other cities. Inc
New York firms probably anticipating the
strike had on hand enough meat 10 last
for while. 1t Is understood, and Will CON
tinue to furnish 1t to their customers. row
ever one hotel manager this morning re-
ceiyed a telegram from his merchant say
ing that he might soon have TO RAISE the
price.
Opinion of Local Butchers.
1t is the opinion of number of butchers
and officials OF the local union OF Amalga-
mated Meat Cutters and Butchers that the
meat strike in the middle west will not dis
turb local conditions so long as local
slaughter houses refuse to Kill for western
firms who have representatives In THIS city.
meeting of Amalgamated Meat Cutters
and Butchers of this city was held last
evening at 922 Pennsylvania avenue Mr..
NJ Hellmuth, financial and recording secre-
tary of the local union, was seen by an
Evening Star reporter last evening and had
this to say of the situation:
1.-The union butchers and meat cutters or
this city are in no sense alarmed, and do
not think there will be strike In this city
among the union men. At this meeting
resolution instructing me to wire lnterna-
tional headquarters in. New York city for
instructions to what course the union
butchers in the city shall follow pending
the present difficulties between western
packing houses and the union butchers was
adopted unanimously
When questioned as to the probability or
a strike among the union butchers here Mr..
Hellmuth replied that so long as the trou-
BILE is confined to the packing house center.
and the local slaughter houses refuse to
turn out any business for the representa-
tives of the western packing firms located
here no trouble is Anticipated
This lends roseate view to the situation