Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1909-09-18
AMERICA FACES BEEF SHORTAGE
Big Loss in Exports Moves Secretary
Wilson to Point Out Cure.


Washington, Sept 17.-1n his forth
coming annual report James Wilson,
secretary of agriculture. will call the
attention of congress and the country
in a graphic way to some startling
conditions in the beef trade OF the
United States The fact that there has
been decrease of 2,1S7000 in the
| number of cattle in this country in the
last two years and that the exports of
cattle have dropped off nearly 100 600
in the last eight or nine months, is
giving the department of agriculture
great deal of concern.
The price of beef has gone steadily
| higher in the United States, while it
appears to have remained at a fairly
| for the first time in history, the ship
England exceeded the shipments from
that product is said TO be growing by
leaps and bounds.
| Altho the secretary of agriculture
probably will make no reference in his
report to the rumors that persons in
terested in cattle raising in Uruguay
and Argentina are preparing ITO invade
L,
he undoubtedly has been apprised of
them and may have some views to ex-
press concerning such a trade innova-
| ton later. For the present it can be
said that the department Of agricul-
| ture is we'll cognizant of the state of
affairs existing on the cattle ranges in
this country and proposes at least to
open up the subject for discussion be-
| 20 oil oP icy1,+
The decline in the beef exports, the
bureau of animal industry believes, is
due to economic conditions at home
coupled with increased supplies in the
English markets from other sources
chiefly Argentina. The fundamental
cause, it is thought, is the shortage in
our own supply of beef cattle with the
resulting high prices of beef in the
home markets
Restrictions on the range and the
high prices in the feeding districts are
assigned as the chief cause of the big
cattle shortage. The free public range
now is a limited affair, owing to the
extent of the forest reservations and
the grazing regulations imposed by
their management Hay for winter
range feeding is expensive and in the
stock raiser now is paying from Sc TO
50 cents for corn which two years ago
cost him from 80 to &c cents. The con-
sequence has been disbursement 70
cattle raising, if the figures in this con-
nection are to be believed. In 1907
the estimated number of cattle in the
United States was 51,566.oo0. In 1908
this figure dropped to 50,073,0Go and on
10 IF h n To
$4,000
S2o,c00,o0o Loss in Two Years.
The report of the secretary of agri-
culture will show a decrease Of $780,
100000 in the cattle business in the
two years of 1907 and 1908. The ex-
portation of cattle in 1906 was valued
at s3S, 273, 1872; in1907, s33,796, 425. and
in 1908. s24.o34, 193 The reports for the
nrst seven months Of 1865 shhow lie
crease of nearly 5000 in the number
OF cattle exported as compared with the
similar period of 1909.
1t has been ascertained by the de-
partment that while the price at Chi
cago rose perceptibly in 1908, the prices
OF meat produced by the smaller ami
mails, such as hogs and sheep, has
changed little.
In connection with the rtlmor thai
the South American countries soon viii
begin struggle to get into the Amer
dean markets with their beef, is a spe-
cial report received this week from
Consul Frederic w. Cooling at Monte
yideo, Uruguay, In which he says thai
} Ambericans have been collecting data
there relative to the shipment OF bee.
and mutton to New York
"The time may be rapidly approacn-
ing" says the consul. when the mea
J consumed by the people living along
the Atlantic coast Of the United Ststes
must be supplied from the River PLATE
countries"
Uruguay Beef Comparatively Cheap.
Consul Cooling expresses the belle
that Uruguay beef may be laid down IL
/ NeSR York for from FL TO 4 cAmfa