Evening journal., 1907-06-05
MEAT PRICES
AGAIN TO SOAR
Backward Spring and InSpeC.
tiOn Laws Given as a
Cause

Another raise in the retail price of
meat threatens to hit the purses oil
Wilmington housekeepers. 1t is all
because of a boost in wholesale prices
ranging from 10 to Is per cent. Just
how much Of raise win be made at
the retail stalls remains to be seen.
A heavy dealer yesterday explained
the high prices of meats in this way:
High prices now are due to the re-
cord-brealSing scarcity of cattle and
other food animals. The scarcity is
caused in large measure by the back
ward spring. Cheap fodder in the form
Of grass has been unobtainable on the
ranges, and the consequence is that
the cattle dealers have been compelled
TO advance prices for the continuance
of high-priced stall feeding or to keep
lean animals out Of the market until
they can be fed on grass.
Another reason for the scarcity is
the close inspection of the Federal au-
thorities both of live animals and car
casses. The losses by condemnations
of unfit cattle are especially heavy
among the herds on western ranges.
These Losses. of course bring up the
value of healthy animals. In other
words, the people win he asked to pay
a little extra for the assurance that
the meat served to them is absolutely
healthful
Il have absolutely no sympathy with
any proposition to advance retail
prices unreasonably. II they must be
raised, the increase snould be only
enough TO cover the advance in the
Ia 4.
should be taken off when grass cat
tie shall come into the market in
about a month or six weeks"
1t is assorted that the prices have
been put up everywhere that the trust
has control of the market. and that
they viii remain up until the trust is
able to settle affairs IN its own way
Then, it is thought, they viii so lit
tie higher
Prices which were quoted today by a
King street butcher are illustrative.
They are for the pound;
Beef-First-class cuts which six
months ago sold for is and 20 cents
are now selling for 20 and 25 cents; |
steaks which sold for 16 and 20 cents
now sell for 20 and 25 cents; soup meat
which sold for and cents now
brings ana s cents.
Lamb-Legs which sold for 16 and
IS cents now bring 20 and % cents;
chops which sold for IS and 20 cents
now bring 25 cents These prices are
the highest IN twenty years.
Veal-Cutlets which sold for 20 and
% cents now bring % cents: chops
which sold for 16 and IS cents now sell
for 20 cents; roasts which sold for 10
and 12 cents now sell for IA and Is
cents.
Chickens-S4 and 40 cents. This price
is almost prohibitive.
There has been no concealment of
the case by the packers. Their new
prices have been sent broadcast
through their AGENTS 70 their pur-
chasers, who have been compelled tol
put uD the prices to their patrons. Ia
certain localities the limit of purchas'
ing ability had been reached before
the latest raise. and the tradesmen
are in a nerve-trying position. They
cannot buy. and they cannot sell II
the old prices without becoming bank.
rupt.
After the revelations Of the methods
of the trust, government inspection at
the abattoirs became rigid. The pack
ers saw animal after animal which
they had purchased condemned and
cast aside They we're in a quandarv
Then they announced to the live stock
commission men, from whom they buv
and who receive their percentage on
every sale. that they would make their
purchases only on condition that tho
animals passed the Federal inspection.
II the animal o. the carcass should be
thrown out the sale would be void.
The commission men declined to 10
business that way and sales were prao-
ticamy suspended in Chicago. Omabt
and Kansas City. That led to the raise
of prices in New York city
I It was reported from Omaha, yes
terday that the packers were endeav-
oring to circumvent tho middlemen by
dealing directly with the cattle raisers.
one sale was reported to Armour <
Company of $50 cattle direct by a
raiser al a "fair price" This was the
first break The fight, il was said,
might last for weeks or months Mean
time prices here viii continue TO soar.