The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1912-08-14
BETTER CATTLE THAN SHEEP.

1t has been abundantly proved that
the Beef Trust was right when it gave
out that the price Of beef would be
higher and not lower, and that the de-
mand for beef was SO great that it could
not be supplied. The prices just quoted in
Chicago for beef, $l0,4o per hundred for
prime steers. 80 for range steers, and
$40 for distillery fed steers, are record
Dreaklng figures, and it appears that
In the opinion Of experts the top notch
has not yet been reached. A Western
ranchman in Chicago is quoted as say
ing that he expects TO see SIS per hun
dred paid for fat steers within the next
five years, and possibly within twelve
months.
Such prices as those will surely dis.
courage the eating of beef, and when
we consider that the prices of all meats
are also rising, the situation is a. most
grave one for the meat eaters of this
country.
The claim is made that the popula.
ton of the United States is increasing
IN a much greater ratio than the meat
supply, indeed, that the supply of meat
animals is even smaller now than it
was ten years ago. Manifestly with
this sort of a situation, there is urgent
call for something to be done.
One thing that is proposed is that
the tariff be taken off from meats,
and that imports be allowed free of
customs duty from Argentina and Aus
tralla, which are the great meat sup
ply countries Of the world so far as
surplus production is concerned This is
opposed by the meat raisers of this
country as unfair to them, since they
have arranged their business on the
basis Of the protective tariff that has
country. Accordingly. it is not likely
that the tariff will be taken off from
meats.
Another proposition might be- made,
which is that the raising of sheep in
all this Western country might be dis.
continued and the growing of cattle
take the place. AS we have noted here.
tofore, Mr.. Richards Of Wyoming shows
that the sheep industry in all this
Western country is precarious busi.
ness; it is known to be SUCH There
is constant fight TO reduce or remove
the tariff on wool which, if done, would,
Of course, PROSTATE the sheep indus
try in all the mountain region. 1t is
liable to be done in case the Demo
Gratis win this Presidential campaign
and elect Democratic Congress. They
already have the House of Represent
atlves, and may keep it. A very few
changes in the Senate would give them
control of that body; and since the
Democratic programme is always for
the abolition of the wool tariff, it would
be reasonable to expect a Democratic
Congress and Democratic President
to carry that Democratic principle into
effect. The result would be the low
cring Of the prices of wool to the
world S import standard.
AT the best, as stated. the wool in
all this region. 1t is liable to be made
absolutely Improbable. Why would it
not be a good idea, therefore, for the
sheep men Of all this region to con-
slider the proposition whether it woud
not pay them better to market their
sheep, TO go out of the wool. growing
business, and go into the raising or
cattleF There is no likelihood of the
prices of beef being low any moro in
the United States. The prices are go"
ing up all the time, and must con-
tiDue TO rise rs long as the beef sup
ply is inadequate. We do not raise
enough meat to feed our own people,
with the increased and increasing pop
ulation. We make this suggestion, there
fore, in all good faith, to the wool
men Of all this region, that they may
fairly consider whether IL would not
he to their interest to quit the wool
business altogether and go into the
raising of cattle There is no doubt
in the world but that If this were
done the beef supply of this country
could be very materially increased at
home Ii this increase cannot be man.
aged as indicated or in some other way,
the pressure TO take off the tariff from
imported meats is likely to become SO
Great that IT cannot be resisted