Evening capital news. (Boise, Idaho) 1901-1927, 1912-11-10
PROBLEM Of THE
BEEF SUPPLY IS
4. SERIOUS ONE
The Dean Of Agricultural
College of Iowa Discusses
the Causes of the Present
Shortage.

has written booklet on the problem or
beef supply for the nation in which ne
forecasts q continuance of the exceed
ingly higf1 price of beef cattle Tor a
number Of years and In which ne
makes valuable suggestions to farm
ers relative to the subject. Among
other things. he says;
Tho Cattle Situation.
The expected has happened. Ten
dollar beef on the hoof has been reach
ed and passed. This situation mas peen
predicted for some time. 1t is not due
to speculation, but to supply ana de-
mand. The packers would buy cheap
er II they could, but the supply or peer
stock is inadequate Thousands of cat
tie are daily going to the shambles that
ought to go back to the country to be
finished on the abundant supply OF
CHEAP feed now on hand and coming to
maturity in the ripening corn crop. so
marked Is the shortage, however, that
the packers are taking everything III
for decent beef at prices prohibitive to
feeders The result is that practically
ali of what would ordinarily consti-
tute the better class of feeders are going
directly to the block with two to five
nunOTeU pOuIdS iess "S'Sh' ''AoA' ~s
ought to carry.
This situation has not grown up sud-
denly. A number of causes have con-
spired to cu.'tail beef production. There
has been "a gradual but constant hqui-
dation of large holdings of the rang'
Government projects have put large
areas under irrigation. Dry farming
ans the siren song of the land agent
hav forced the
cattle man off the large tracts, some Of
which might better have been retained
for grazing purposes. The supply of
feeders coming from the range to the
corn belt is no longer in sight. For 10
years past there has been a marked
tendency to put pastures under the
pillow and curtail grazing and feeding
operations in regions that formerly
produced beef and pork. During this
time the dairy COW has gradually ex-
tended her domain. To a large extent
beef producing operations changed
gradually to a process of finishing beef
grown on the range. This was followed
by a tendency to go out of the beef
finishing altogether on account of un-
satisfactory prices and market condl-
lions, and the attractive prevailing
The past years short corn and hay
crops, coupling with abnormally high
prices for these products. reduced feed
ing operations to a minimum. High
price corn curtais beef production
The conditions that prevailed in 1911
forcing the premature marketing of
stock. The season of 1911 merely
brought about the elimination of in
off he situation
that had been in operation for period
of to 10 years.
At present the curtailing of cattle
feeding is almost imperative in some
localities on account Of shortage OF
feeding stock. Some relief is look ed
for in the run of grass cattle from the
range, which promise to be of goo1
quality. Some of this supply will come
from the Canadian ranges. Present
prices in Chicago will enable them tc
pay the duty and net more than any
other market. T..
1t is useless to talk about investiga
tions or to undertake to fix the blame
on the farmer, or anyone else. The sit
,istion has grown out of economic con
ditions, and changed agricultural con
ditions.
between the price realized by producer
and the price paid by the consumer
Perhaps this can he reduced. IL so i
ought to be done. Considerable o
this spread, however. appears to b.
due to service and not wholly to mid
clemens profit.
Not Substitute for Meat.
It is senseless to talk about mea
boycott. Such movement would no
last a fortnight. 1t would not ever
get under way, and if 1t should partial
ly succeed 1t would defeat it's owl
ends and ultimately punish it's pro
jectors. The Americans are beef-eat
ing people. We wiz continue " b,
heavy consumers of Ibeef for man,
years to come. Beef diet is RESPONSE
BILE for no small degree of American
achievement. Beef makes red blood
Drawn and brain. II has no satisfac
tory substitute. A noted statesman
analysis of this question was expressed
as follows: Dinner is potential fore
in American civilization"
There are limitless brands of break
fast foods, but the scientist has foun'
no substitute for beefsteak. The chem
list has no formula that will satisfy
mans appetite for prime rib roast.
That was a beautiful sentiment ex
pressed by Governor Oglesby whel
he said, AYE, the corn, the royal corr
within whose yellow heart there is o
l.eaith and strength for all the ma
lions" But the fact remains that tn
primary use OF corn is, and Away
will be, as food of domestic animals
nsrives its strength to nations best ii
form of the concentrated vitalizin
yneat products
With a Is per cent shortage of bee
cattle in the past five years and
yer cent increase in population dur
ing the past 10 years it is not strang
that beef is selling high
The liberal corn crop that is in sigh
will stimulate feeding and result j
lower prices. but not those Of forme
days. Previous low prices and unpro
fitable conditicnS are factor in tn