The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1910-01-31
THREE BILLIONS IN
FOOD IS HELD IN
COLD STORAGE
Amazing Figures From Chicago
show That Packers Have Noun
ms Of Meat and Other Neces-
sites in Warehouses.
This Supply Would Fill Market Bias
ksts Of 100000 Families
For Months.

CHICAGO. III. Jan. 2s.-while the
American people are engaged In a
mighty meat strike 70 force down the
increased cost of living. there Is
locked up IN the beef trusts cold stor-
age plants enough food to feed every
man. woman and child in the United
States for months.
This tremendous food hoard is val
Jed at $4,000, 100000 Tons of meat
and other necessarIes have been ac-
STIMULATING In the stronghoids here
for two and maybe three years.
The Chicago packing trust and its
affiliated trusts in every corner of the
country have amassed this frozen
mountain OF food.
The facts In the cold storage situa-
lion today are amazing. The figures
that follow are not guesscs, but the
themselves. which have been obtained
from inside sources. The surprising
thing is that they have leaked out at
this time. when the federal grand
Jury In this city is investigating the
meat situation.
These figures from the books Of the
food trust. showing the amount OF
f0odstuffs now in cold storage, consti-
\ tnte proof to snow the cause OF the
higher cost of living. Under lock and
key the food hoard is being held until
+ the day comes when prices are raised
still higher. But here are the astonud-
ing figures: There are $4,000, 900 cat
tie carcasses In cold storage. Other
stored meat in these great cold ware
houses the country over, include
4 100000 calves, 25.000.000 sheep and
lambs. and $4,000. 900 hogs.
In rs fish freezing plants there are
flsh valued at $25.0O0.000. They will
be liberated on the market at LEM.
IN other cold storage plants con-
frolled by the beef trust there are
held 1900. 100000 eggs. 13O,000OO0
hounds OF poultry and fruits, and mis-
cellaneous articles Of perishable food
worth $50,O00.000.
There are millions OF pounds of po-
tatoes, turtles, cells. cases OF canned
goods and milk, butter and cheese.
This last item alone is being boarded
to the extent OF $100,000,00O.
There are 100000 people in the
United States, counting in the farm
ers who will never demand any of this
frozen food This makes 20.0O0,00h
families or less whose market baskets
must be filed every day or two with
food to replenish the larder. The cost
of this food that the market baskets
carry has risen and risen.
sScarcity OF food" the packers here
have cried at the complaining women
with the market baskets. But accord
Ing 10 the trusts own cold storage
fIcures as given above. these quanu-
tics of food per family are held up:
Beef, 40 pounds.
Eggs. IL dozen.
Veal. As pounds.
Poultry, s IL pounds.
Pork. 400 pounds.
Mutton. IS "a pounds.
Fruits. $3.50 worth.
Lamb. IL IL pounds.
Fish. SIPS worth.
Miscellaneous, IS worth.
The two principal items in the aver
ago market basket and food bill are
# heef and pork. so the beef trust
atores enormous quantities of beef
and pork to control and maintain tho
K high price now charged for these
market basket necessaries.
Things like mutton, lamb. fish and
noultry are not stored 10 this tremen-
& dous extent The people don't want
s Them like they want the main neces-
saries. But enough are stored to pro
. vide each family in the united States
+. with a plump chicken, enough miscel-
b laneous food to stock pantry, enough
b fruits for a fortnight.
'I There Is enough fresh meat stored
Ffo provide every family in the United
I. states with two and a half pounds OF
g. IL every day for year. This is moro
u Than the average family consumes.
| Tho value OF the entire hoard of food
& per family is $3.50, and for each per
son Is nearly as great as the average
< wealth OF the country per capita,
M which is S3S.
. And the figures used in division are
"a (oa all the families in the country.
|| Mary families raise all their own
t meat and vegetables. So. it is the
Nh dweIler In the cities. the wage Garner
4 who Is going to pay the price that the
BIZ dealers want before they will I'M
N lock the doors of these storage ware