New-York tribune., 1907-06-06
MEAT PRICES RISING.
BEEF And MUTTON SOAR
Government Inspection and IncreaS-
ing Scarcity Blamed.

All those who depend upon steak and mutton to
supply them with strength and energy for their
daily tasks obliged pay dear for their
accustomed food. Within the last ten days the
prices Of ali grades Of beef have gone up from Is
to % per cent. and lamb chops and mutton are
keeping in line with the advance Dressed mutton by
the carload yesterday brought the highest price
paid for il in fifteen years
According some OF the retail dealers these high
prices are due 70 the wholesale limiting Tho
supply Of meat from the West. But the wholesale
dealers attribute the increase 10 the decision Of the
Chicago packers about ten days ago force the
stock 10 bear the loss Of all cattle condemned
by the post-rnortem inspection Of the government.
F Sulzberger president Of the firm Of Schwarz-
schild e. Sulzberger. told a Tribune reporter yes
ter6ay that Chicago commission men had advised
The farmers not 10 ship any cattle TO that city
until TIE packers agreed to bear the inspection
loss, and that consequently the supply of meat for
the market was decreasing every day.
Since the last session Of Congress the govern
ment inspection Of the cattle slaughtered IN Chi
cago has been more severe and rigid than ever
before" said Mr.. SuIzberger. The loss has been
borne up TO this time by the packers. but they
have now determined to put 1t off on the commits
sion men. The commission say they no
more able 20 bear 1t than the packers. and the
farmers and stockrnen not willing TO sell their
stock on condition that they will refund all money
lost by the government inspection. Consequently
the commission men have advised them not to ship
any more cattle until the packers withdraw their
demands
This is partly the of the present high
prices but there is anyway a general scarcity in
the market A great many Of the grazing lands
IN the Western states have been cut up into farms
and there IS longer the incentive for cattle
raising as there was
Lambs and sheep have been scarce all winter.
They come from the West too and It seems as if
prices for them would continue high Lambs at
wholesale bring II cents a pound and sheep
brought to-day Is cents a pound, even when sold
by the carload This IS easily the highest price
paid for them in the last fifteen years"
A large retail butcher declared yesterday that
the supply Of fresh meat Just as large il
had ever been. The reason such high prices had
to be paid for it here. he said. was because the
wholesale houses had only limited supply shipped
here and wouldn't let the retail have any
more than was enough for their immediate needs
He said that formerly he could lay in a supply on
ice large enough to last his trade for ten days
more.
Porterhouse steaks cost yesterday from 2S to 30
cents pound at retail STlon steaks cost from
z TO q cents; round steaks, IS cents: rib roast,
from is 10 is cents pound
Lamb chops now bring from q to 81 cents a
be was losing money on them that price
Legs OF mutton also cost much more now than
ordinarily, bringing from 2e TO Is cents pound.
Ihe price OF the coarser grades OF meat, which
as II has always been, according Mr.. SulZberger
he said that butchers were unable to advance
quently the least falling in the supply Of cattle
and increase in their cost had 10 be made up by
the dealers in the prime cuts and steaks. An in
crease OF one cent pound In the cost or live
bullock he said. would cause increase Of two
cents pound in IL dressed. and OF four a
pound in all prime beef.