The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-03-03

ing total population Of about 10000:
900 persons, was 1921 per hundred
weight for January to June, 1902; $3.50
for July to December, 1902; $2.14 for
January to June, 1908; $2.41 for the
second half Of 1908, and 1888 for the
first half Of 1904.
Abnormal in 1902.
That conditions in 1902 were abnor-
NAL and that cattle prices for 1903 and
1904 cannot fairly be compared with
that year: The great prosperity of the
country from 1899 to 1902 apparently
led to a considerable increase in the
per capita consumption Of beef. The
practical failure Of the corn crop of
1901 induced many cattle feeders to
send their stock to market in poor con-
dition, thus reducing the average
wei ght per head and the average per-
centage of dressed beef to live weight:
AS a result, while the total number Of
cattle slaughtered at five leading west
ern packing centers during the first
half of 1902 decreased only about l
per cent as compared with the first half
of 1901, the total live weight of tho
cattle slaughtered is computed to have
decreased 4.3 per cent, and the COM
puted dressed weight decreased consid-
cradle more. In this connection the re-
port says:
"In the face of the strong demand,
the price Of cattle was forced to the
highest level ever known. The high
prices of peef, which caused so much
complaint among consumers at this
time, were attributable wholly to these
abnormal cattle prices.'
Price Of Cattle Fell.
That in 1903 the price of cattle fell
very sharply chiefly because Of large
increase in the supply. The number Of
cattle killed in five leading western
markets during the first half of 1908
was more than Is per cent greater than
during the first half Of 1902, and on
account of the increased size of cattle
the quantity of beef produced increased
20 per cent. e.. Z
In the second half Of 1908 the quaint.
ity of beef derived from cattle killed
at the same markets was about 10 per
cent greater than in the corresponding
period of 1902. Under these conditions
the price of beef, instead of remaining
1908 by larger absolute amount and
by about the same percentage as the
price of cattle.
| Not, Overcapitalized.
That the six leading packing com
panies especially discussed are appar
emily not overcapitalized.
That the percentage Of profit on the
gross volume of business, including hos
and sheep products and other minol
commodities, is comparatively small. II
the case Of Swift & Co., during tn,
three years, 1902, 1903 and 1904, thu
profits have in no case exceeded 8 pc,
cent of the total sales. In the case o:
the Cudahy Packing company for 1904
the net profit was 1.8 per cent of tn,
total sales; in 1902 it was 2.3 per cent
Private Car Lines.
That the profit Of private car line
in the packing industry on mileage i
a very liberal one, approximate compu
tations indicating net return Of from
IA per cent to about IL per cent. Reck
oning on the basis Of dressed bee
transported, however, this profit woul,
add but little to the cost Of such bee
to the consumer, the net profit from
the mileage Of private cars being com
puted at not more than 4 cents pc
100 pounds of beef, or, say rs cents pc
y head of cattle.
) Competition Active.
The statement already made that IN