New-York tribune., 1910-01-27
MEAT SITUATION
EACH ACCUSES OTHER
EUery One Wants Finest Cuts,
Walls Retailer.

Too much prosperity. The tastes OF the
people have changed with changed financial
conditions, and where a year or two or
three years ago they would be content with
ordinary and medium cuts of beef and take
mutton instead OF the finest lamb, now they
want and insist on having the best. l lose
on the rest. and have to get even some
how" That is the explanation for the high
prices of meats given by a retailer who
does large business among comparatively
well-to-do people.
1t is difficult to get any two authorities
to agree on the cause for the increased
cost OF meat and other foodstuffs although
all agree that present prices are too high
and point to the reductions already brought
about by the boycott of meat as evil
dence that the high figures current are sus-
ceptible CT reduction If the packers and
dealers car be forced to that point.
Attempts to find out just why meat at
retail in this city should be so much higher
than it was year ago bring out ring OF
accusing fingers, each pointing to the other
person. retailer will say it is the jobber;
tobber will say 1t is the trust: the
packers declare that the farmer is holding
up the supply in the hope of higher prices.
and the farmer IS quoted as saying that it
costs more to feed cattle and he must have
a larger return.
He. in turn, points to the cold storage
man. who buys beef when it is cheap and
holds it until an extraordinary demand
arises or prices may be raised artiicially:
the storage man. in turn. points back to
the retailer, with the assertion that he
wants too much in the way Of profits, and
so prevents the stored meat from finding
an outlet. All the statements seem open TO
contradiction.
In the matter of cattle on the hoof. Chi
cago. in the first week of 1909. received
51.31o beef cattle: cows sold at Sc hundred
pounds. Texas steers at Sc so and natives at
81 50. For the corresponding week this year
the receipts at Chicago were 60.533 head,
and the prices Sc Is. 81 and s. 80 respectively
In this city similar conditions prevailed
COMPARISONS HERE
For the week ended January Is. 1909. there
were received 11.734 beef cattle, and prime
to choice native steers sold on the hoof at
S. 40 to s6 SO hundred pounds, this being
an advance of from Is cents to 80 cents over
the previous years figures. For the week
ended January "a, 1910, New York received
1909 beef cattle, and the same grades Of
steers sold at $50 to s6 80 a hundred
pounds.
But there the comparison ends for
year ago dressed beef. common to good
native sides, was selling here at 81a @1O
cents wholesale, and last week II cents
was a high figure for the same quality OF
beef, the advance in live cattle being
about four-tenths of a cent pound, while
the advance in the dressed sides was
about cent a pound, or an increase OF
$50 per cent over the live weight advance.
This is pointed to by the wholesalers
tortion, as they say that their advance.
while large as a matter of percentage, is
small as a matter of real increase of cost
to the consumer. and the retailer is called
on to account for a Jump of anywhere
from cents a pound on chuck steak
to 10. u and even Is cents on the finer
and choicer cuts. This he explains in
any way he thinks the inquirer will be-
lieve, but nearly all agree that much of
It is due to the demand on the part of the
consumer for nothing but the best cuts
One retailer who supplies a large number
or big apartment houses on the upper
West Side. in answer to inquiries, said:
'I6 I could get people to take anything
except the very finest cuts I might be
able TO shade prices some, but they won't
do it. They want bone sirloin or porter
house, and trying to sell them round steak
LEGS I have to buy the whole quarter
and I must make enough on the fine cuts
to make up for my loss on the inferior
grades The boycott is hurting me. for I
cannot make my people see that a little
cheaper grade of meat, which is just as
good for ordinary cooking purposes. is
more economical than no meat at all
Sure the packers have boosted prices"
he continued 'and I have had to boost
mine, and more than the packer has, for
he keeps on selling the whole side, while
I have to account for lot of waste and
loss. a year and a half ago beef was So
a hundred cheaper than it is now, and
then I was selling steak at 8 cents that
I get is for now There's a good deal OF
difference between an advance of cents
a pound and one of cents. but I have
had to make the difference to protect my
self"
STUDY IN VEAL PRICES.
In veals the. same thing holds good 4
year ago city dressed veals were quoted
at 6@l0 cents. Now they are 10616
cents, an advance on the top OF cents a
pound; yet the retailer is charging anv-
where from IL to Is cents a pound more
and making the same excuse for the dis
proportionate increase.
4HCioentdIiy tEe reporting board of the
Department of Agriculture makes public
some interesting figures, showing that in
the last year the value of mich cows has
increased s. 43 a head. with an increase in
numbers of $1,000, while other cattle in
creased in value only 81 90 head with
decrease in numbers of 100000 Sheep on
an increase II numbers of l, ,1S2. 600, increased
in value only 65 cents head, while swine
on a decrease in numbers of 6,365, 200, in
creased in value 81 80 a head
These figures will show that the farmers
have not made such heavy gains in the
value of their livestock. The reports of the
big packing companies, known as the Beef
Trust, show that enormous profits have
been made. large part of which is due to
utilization of what was for Tong time con-
sidered waste. and the retailer makes a
plausible II not convincing argument out
of the fact that the average buyer wants
the best there is IN the market. but objects
to paying enough for the best to make UP
for the waste on meat OF less attractive
quality.
Receipts at the principal packing points as
well as In this city show a steady Increase
prices keeping step with the increase in
supplies; but, in view OF the figures quoted
there is a grave question-that of a con-
current. In the mean time the movement
against the use of meat for food is being
severely felt in many quarters and retail