The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-01-31


larger in America than in European
countries That is to say, with the
live animal bringing a higher price in
Europe than here. the meat products
sell on the average no higher, and
sometimes even cheaper.
This difference is not believed to be
entirely due to the extra profit taken
by the American packer and meat re-
taller, however generously they may
have dealt with themselves in this par
ticular. 1t is in part due to the dif-
ference in the economic conditions OF
the two countries and to a large diff
ference in the scale of living of the
American Z the European people.
Method of Handling Meats Expensive.
1--WE are dealing our meat products
cut to the consumer in a wasteful way.
After all that has been said about the
great economy of centralized packing
houses the loss entailed in shipping
cattle hundreds and often times more
than a thousand miles. at great ex-
pense for freight, shrinkage in live
weight, etc, and shipping the careasses
back by the most expensive form OF
freight, viz: the refrigerator car, to be
consumed in many instances in the
very communities where the cattle or
Iginated, more than commentaries
whatever saving there may be in the
better utilization of the waste products
in the packing centers.
= w naIoV6r may Dc the OplIliOl u oily
man with regard to whether we have
or have not a meat trust composed OF
the leading packers of the country, 1t
must be patent to anyone that these
large packing industries have Deen
profitable beyond imagination and
centers of enormous wealth. either at
the expense OF the meat producer or OF
the meat consumer or both.
Local Public AbattOirS.
IF we had in every town of reason
able size public aEattoir to which any
farmer or meat dealer might take ms
drove of stock and have them killed in
q proper manner. at a fixed and rea-
sonable scale of prices. and properly
inspected, we should be able to cur
Gown much of the expense OF long trans
portation of the live animal and of the
meat. and in this way materially re-
duce the expense of getting the carcass
ready for retail in the meat stall. We
should be able, furthermore, to have
this locally killed meat Inspected, ano
in addition to having cheaper meat we
would have more wholesome meat than
that which is now slaughtered locally.
Burdens Imposed Upon Retailer.
Eve are extravagant in our tastes
wasteful in our methods of buying, ano
impose unnecessary burdens upon the
retailer from whom we buy. The best
cuts are demanded by nearly all classes
are a constant drug on the market. In
Europe, the opposite is true, and it is
far easier to dispose of the trimmin gs
the sausage, the liver. the soup. bones
and the coarser and cheaper parts Of
the carcass than of the sirloin ano
porterhouse steaks and roasts.
1--WE insist upon having our meat de-
livered to our homes at such hours and
in such quantities and with such fire.
quency as may best suit our own con-
venience and pleasure, without regard
to extra cost this all may entail to the
retailer. In Europe. the housewife OF
the servant goes to the meat stall
makes the selection once or twice q
day, carries the meat home, and OF
more significance, pays cash on the
spot. We pay our meat bills at the end
of the month or whenever it happens to
be convenient, and a portion never pay
at all. The meat retailer buys from the
packer for cash, or when he buys the
live animal from the farmer, gives him
a check before the animal is slaugh-
tered, all of which makes it necessary
for the meat retailer to take a higher
percentage of profit than would Other