Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1911-05-12

United StateS currency. 1t was eStl-
mated that the available beef on the
five steers that brought top prices cost
the company about five dollars
rornd. Last year these two COM
panies produced third of Argentina's
to.at output OF cold-storagc beef and
almost as large u proportion of the
mutton and lamb. They have just
chartered all the space in nineteen
new steamships ordered by the Nelson
line for the River Plate fresh meat
trade.
Chilled SuppIantine Frozen Beef.
The most important influence of the
American companies has been shown
in the introduction Of progressive
methods, particularly in the develop
ment of chilled beef-the kind to
which United States consumers are
accustomed. This has been brought
into commercial Importance within
the last year or more by the North
American companies and seems des-
tined to supersede the frozen product.
In 1909 the La Plata Cold Storage
Company produced more than twice
as much chilled meat as any other
company, and. with the La Blanca
Company, marketed more than fifty
per cent. of the entire output of that
article.
The importance of the position of
the Chicago companies in the Argen-
tine is that, apparently, it puts the
meat industry of the two principal
producing companies in the same
hands. Argentina is the largest o.
porter of beef in the world, and. next
to New England, the largest snIpp1r
of mutton. Argentina now occupies
a place formerly held by the United
States S a purveyor of beef to Eu-
rope, the increase in the home con-
sumption having cut down our eX-
ports in marked degree
Argentina has been looked upon as
competitor of the United States in
the beef industry and has even been
considered by some as a possible
source of cheaper meat for this coun-
try. The present outlook there lends
no color to such superstition, Mr..
Whelpley concludes. Shipments of
beef from the River Plate to the
United States may come shortly, he
says but they probably will be direct
~ ~ Atit oftiilt ihltlCo AttitIl sup
ply the market here, not in opposition
TO them.
So far as the American packers are
their present operations in
the Argentine field have nothing to do
with the meat supply of the United
States. The immediate object is to
obtain supplies. which can no longer
be secured at home. for their English
markets. They have not given up
their foreign business. as the dimin-
ishing export figures of the United
States might lead one to suppose. but
have simply transferred their base
from the Mississippi Valley to the
River Plate
European Demand Keeps Prices Up.
Even we're it not for the position of
the American packers in the Arsen
tire field, there would be no likelihood
that United States consumers could
secure 4 neat supply from that quar-
ter at loss than prevailing rates, and
probably not at such Low hsures one
reason far this IS that Argentina has
an ample market in Europe For tho
Year 1908 Great Britain took IS per
mutton. but this represented only s.
per cent. Of Great Britain's total I'M
ports OF beef and - per cent. of her
total imports Of mutton. II is ap-
parent, therefore. that in Great
Britain alone the market can be much
extended.
Moreover, it appears that the CONT
mental nations of Europe, which have
used practically no cold
storage beef, are on the point of TAX
ing up that product on account OF the
scarcity OF live animals and conse-
luent rising prices. Hence, if the
nited states wants Argentine meat
L will be necessary to pay for it at
European prices. Added to this, as
further obstacle in the way of sup
plies from Argentina, is the fact that
the cost of living in Argentina is high.
This makes the production of beef
high in spite of the countrY's great
natural advantages for that industry.
Trade of the Argentine with the
United States is of character to de-
light the soul of the high protection
st. For the five years ending 1909
exports from the United States to the
IN value by more than 100 per cent.
This. of course, has direct effect
upon shipping. For example, steam
producing coal can be bought cheaper
in the United States than in England.
yet the Argentine imports no coal
from the United States. She takes t.
all from England, in vessels which are
chartered TO return with grain.
American Merchants Criticised.
Argentina like almost all foreign
countries with which the United
States does business. has her share of
of the unsatisfactory
methods employed by Americans One
Is of the losses due to pilfering on the
New York docks. This is said to be
due to the fact that. contrary to usual
practice in Europe, United States
shippers deliver goods to and get a
receipt from a wharf company instead
of dealing with the steamship COM
panies direct. This leads to many
legal complications. lawsuits and
claims for damages involving long de
lays, to say nothing of the fact that
when shipments are received in the