The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1909-10-16
HIDES AND BEEF.

The tariff on hides didn't work the
way the kickers claimed. When it was
removed the howlers insisted the price
would drop so quickly the farmers
who raised a calf or two each year
would be bankrupted. The New York
Journal Of Commerce has an editorial
expression on the subject. as follows:
The price Of cactle hides is going up
in spite Of the removal of the duty, but
other skins are going UP more, as those
OF cattle would have done II the duty
had not been removed. AS natural
result leather and leather goods, in
Guiding boots and shoes, threaten to
advance in cost. The reason given is a
growing shortage Of supply while the
demand for leather goods increases.
The making Of automobiles is using up
much leather and increase of popula-
ton means more shoes and other
articles OF leather.
Tt might be said that this increase of
demand should stimulate increase of
supply, but cattle are not raised for
their skins alone, and the consumption
of beef Is diminishing. The price of
meat has been going up with every
thing else, and that would tend to di-
minish consumption, but apart from
that there is doctrine preached now
adays that too much meat is eaten.
The doctrine is probably sound. Peo-
pie of sedentary habits and mental
labor do not require so much meat diet
as they are apt to take, and the general
"a ,I-g. A.. q
those who work with their hands. The
habits of Italians as well as Japanese
and Chinese tend to prove that meat is
not so necessary to rough, outdoor
manual labor as people of Northern
Europe and the United States have
been wont to believe. Even pretty
vigorous fighting has been done with
out it.
It seems likely that the proportion
Of meat in the food of the people will
continue to diminish with the advance
of sanitary science and hygiene. There
will probably also be more economy in
the use Of what is consumed. There is
much actual waste, due in part to poor
cooking or to lack of skill in the treat
ment of material Reform" in diet
and in cooking and feeding habits will
conserve the supply Of food animals,
but how about the by-products that
enter so much into various industries
and the satisfaction Of other wants
than that for food? Cattle cannot be
economically multiplied for their skins.
There may have to be greater care
and economy in the use of leather. The
cheapening of boots and shoes by the
invention of machinery for making
them and the establishment Of fac
tories and, large scale production has
undoubtedly increased their consump-
ton. They are not so thoroughly worn
out or so much repaired as they might
be. There will probably be an econo-
mic adjustment between demand and
supply of the different parts Of live
| animals II there is less consumption
of meat it ought to become cheaper
and that may offset the higher cost
of skins, though 1t will not increase
the supply. There is not likely to be
any sudden or rapid change Most
| of the people OF the world will con-
tinue to be carnivorous and their
wants will be supplied by the cattle on
thousand hills and plains and by the in
teguments of other animals One thing
Is certain. So long as this country
furnished only about 40 per cent Of the
cattle hides required for it's leather
Industries it was absurd TO put taz
upon those obtained from other lands