The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-04-07
WHAT ii OTHER PEOPLE THINK
The The ,l Ma,reIn oen M s,aA''..

To the Editor Of The Journal. 5-.,.[..f - -.-...
Inasmuch- as the retail dealer-we can
no longer call him butcher-seems to find
it necessary to rush into print in self de-
Tense, let US look att the other side of
the question. Don't for moment think
that am kicker On the prices I am
charged for meats. My demands are SO
small that I can't afford to kick on the
prices and prefer to reserve to myself
the privilege Of kicking on the duality,
when occasion requires.
The prices quoted in your issues Of
March rs and 81, as being charged the
consumer for the very best beef, are so
different from what I am charged at
perhaps as good market as there is on
Nicollet avenue, leads me to make the
following comparisons: In one case the
dealer quotes:
Sirloin roasts at 15c and in the other at 1sc,
pay 2Oc:. They quote Sporterhouse at 20ct I
pay 25c. They quote rump at 1Oc. I pay 12hc
I glance down thru the list to find what
prices they have put on beef tongue and
find that they have omitted to put it in
at all, for which pay 80 cents to 81, ac-
cording to the size, and certainly there
must be a tongue along with every car
cass. How about the trimmings which
are always taken Off after the meat Is
weighed? Surely 1t has value - =
Pork-Your correspondent quotes hams and
bacon at lie per pound, pay zoe. Leaf lard,
DC. I pay 15c. Loin, 1oc, 1 pay 15c for loin
Your correspondent may say that pay
more than is necessary, but the dealer
makes the price and assume that am
charged no more than my neighbors. My
bills are paid monthly and always before
the 10th.
Inasmuch as this subject Is brought be-
fore the public at the present time and
also considering the fact that the United
States secretary Of commerce is investi-
eating the beef trust, making It ques.
ton Of more than usual interest, have
taken the trouble to look back at the
market prices as given in the Breeders
Gazette from which I quote the following
prices on export beef steers on foot:
Nov. Il, 1900 .$515@5.9 80
NOV. =, l9ol ...................... 615@5.91
Jan. l, 1902 o ...................... 5S5ga, %
Angus MaguS % iso 1ao4 aoMs s
You viii doubtless And by referring to
your files that during the year Of 1902
when beef was at the highest point #
had been for several years, freduent arti-
cles were in print to the effect that the
| retail dealers must advance their prices
| or go out of business, all Of which was
| legitimate and apparent to one who was
posted on the live stock markets Of the
| country. Prices were advanced that sea-
| son by the retailers and I presume the
consumer took his medicine kindly; GER
tainly did, and I did not hear, of others
| complaining. Since that time beef or
foot has gone down more than 8 cents pei
pound, but I have failed to discover by
my monthly meat bill that the price
| charged by the retailers has been reduced
at all. Whether the retailers have beer
and are still paying just as high a price
| to the wholesaler today DIS when they
/ had to pay 3 cents per pound more or
| foot, I do not know.
! The point wish to make is that some.
where between the farmer and the con.
i sumner there is too great a. margin, and in
asmuch as the retailers have attempted
| to defend themselves thru your column.
at the same time that Secretary Cortel
you Of the department of commerce is in.
i vestigating the beef trust, it is well tina
i this subject have full and thoro dis
cussion. I know that the farmers ant
/ feeders are now losing money on boil
beef and mutton at the price the bee
| trust eompels them to accept for thei
fat stock. and am just as confident tina
there is too much profit being made some
where between the farmer and the con
sumner at the present time.
Subscriber.