The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-11-18
Wholesalers Say There Will Be No Notable Decline As
 Reports Indicate
PORK WILL BE LOWER
 BUT BEEF IS STABLE
Meet Gradual Reduction Was Cause of Apparent Heavy Break
 in the North

There will be no unusual reduction in
 the price of meats in the local markets
 following the recent reports of a sharp
 decline in pork and beef from Chicago,
 Kansas City and other places according
 to statements made yesterday by some
 of the principal wholesale dealers
 The circulated reports of fall in the
 prices of meats Is generally regarded by
 the local packing house men as a po- litical scheme. They think that they have reason to feel indignant at having
 been placed in a false position as regards
 the public.
 Manager c. T. White of Swift & Go. | said: Indications do not point to any sharp reaction in prices within the next | few days, further than the gradual de- cline which has been going on for the | past weeks All along the Birmingham
 dealers have been selling under the prices | of Chicago and other cities because of | the sharp competition which restraints ou- prices. There are In Birmingham abou. | Il dealers with refrigerating facilities,
 and over 20 commission dealers, who, of
 course, bring about the most lively com petition. Birmingham dealers sell from 1
 to cents under those of most other
 cities.
 "If you consult your quotations for live
 stock for several weeks past you will note
 gradual decline in the prices of pigs
 and hogs, which means a. gradual reduc-
 tion should have taken place proportion
 ately in quotations of the wholesale and
 retail sdealers.
 Such reduction has been made by Bir-
 mingham dealers, but the retail dealers in
 those cities where there was a radical
 fall in prices have been failing to make
 the changes in their quotations along with the wholesale dealers as promptly | as have the retail dealers of Birming-
 ham. Consequently their margins had
 they were curtailed showed a more un- usual change'
 "I do not see how we can expect any | great reduction in present prices for
 meat, especially pork,'' said w. $. | Moughon, manager for the Southern Beef and Produce company, "so long as sup plies are as scarce as they are at pres | ent We are unabel to fill a large mum. | ber of our orders and this condition does
 not indicate that there will be any great | fall within the next few days" | l.. B. Well, manager for the Evansvill,
 Packing company, said: The Birrning ham wholesale dealers will probably noi experience any unusual reduction 1T l prices at all, though the indications arc l that the decline which has been gone | on for the past weeks will reach a much | lower level
 During the months of October and No vember there is regularly a reaction ir the prices of meats owing to the fact
 this is the time when the packers receive
 fresh supplies and have to clear out their | stocks. The sharp reductions reported ,r Chicago and other places are due to the fact that the retail dealers who naturally
 are forced to maintain their prices to 8
 certain degree of stability regardless oi ] the fluctuations of the wholesale prices have not followed the downward trend ot | the markets as have our local retail deal 1 CTS"
 Statements made by other pTninent dealers were to the effect that in face o1 the scarcity of supplies at present the | local markets would not experience any radical change In prices, and 1t was said that no information had been received from the packers relative to any sharI decline in the market other than the small daily fluctuations of prices. | The prevailing opinion Is that the large | corn crop and the great number of hogs | raised this year will force a continued decline in the market, but it Is thought l there will not be any great fall in the | price of beef