New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-08-10
BEEF TO CO UP AND UP,
CHICAGO PACKERS SAY
Scarcity of Steers Given as the
Reason for Continued Ad-
vance in Price.
RANCHERS HAVE NO PROFIT
Many Quitting Business and
"Barons" Are Looking to Ar
gentina for Future Supplies
Sheep Also Decreasing.
fBy Telegraph to The Tribune. J

TBS Telegraph to The Tribune
Chica go Aug. "a legitimate scar
city OF steers is the excuse given ~
Swift & Co. for the raise in beef OF
from one TO two cents a pound. Ar
mour & Co. and Nelson Morris will fol-
low with similar advance within the
next few DAYS. tho advance announced
by Swift & co. being but feeler by
the beef trust. II Is said. working
under "A &c ltleman's agreement, 10 see
how the public will accept tho new
prices.
The difference in the advance lies
between the values Of range and farm
fed steers The latter. regarded as
highly superior to the cattle fed on the
ranges. have been bringing from 80 10
10 so - a hundred on the hoof in Chi
cago for the last week and establish
ing new high prices never reached
since the foundation Of the packing In
dustry. Steers from the Western
ranges. lacking the plumpness OF the
farm fed animals. are bringing IS IS
hundred. also a high price record. They
formerly sold for 81 80 TO IS hundred,
the latter price being regarded as the
limit
Cattle BUYERS as we'll as the ranch
ers declare that the gradual lessening
of land available for feeding steers Ia
the cause OF the scarcity Of beef ami
mails. II is shown that the great
ranges Of the West are gradually be-
coming a thing OF the past. that farms
are taking the place Of the former
ranches OF thousands Of acres Of land
given up solely 10 grazing. and thar
the ranchers are simply forced 10 get
the highest price possible for the linn
tied number Of steers they can raise on
the smaller acreage.
II is a fact. ranchers say. that many
Of them are going out Of business. not
being able TO make both ends meet
when the high cost Of feed Is consid-
cred and the limited amount Of land
on which they can still feed their herd.
The advance in price viii he 10 the
wholesaler. who will tack it on 10 the
price charged the smaller dealer. BY
the time the meat reaches the consumer
the advance will jump as high as five
cents pound on some OF the tancy
cuts. owing to the smaller amount OF
capital the retailer has with which TO
carry on his business.
william Neeker. the executive head
Of the Armour interests. declares that
the limit OF price is not Yet reached.
cattle will become scarcer before the
supply Is Increased" he said. The
only solution at present Is the Argen-
tine range. and this. too. will soon go
tho way the American range has gone
I'm the last ten years. Instead OF de-
voting thousands Of acres TO grazing.
the Argentine planter now puts his
land in wheat as a means Of quick re-
alization on his investment. Wheat
markets In one year. steers In not less
than three.
The American interests have estah-
lished branches in the Argentine Re-
public and have bought up great tracts
Of land for grazing. renting 1t out 10
the ranchers." says Mr.. Meeker. TN
time we will. be compelled 10 get all
our meat from the Argentine. except
ing the little which is raised by the
American farmer on his few hundreds
OF acres. This class OF meat Will be
go high and 40 superior TO the range
fed class that II will be prohlbitive for
the person Of ordinary means
Porterhouse cuts OF steak, which now
brinx 30 cents a pound will hereafter
he retailed at 50. cuts which bring
% cents a pound will be sold al from
- 10 81
The decrease in cattle holds good In
the same proportion TO the decrease IN
the amount ~ available sheep. It is
pointed out by the packing interests
that sheep are usually raised on the
land left practically bare by the steers.
Hoes are becoming more plentiful, ow
ing 10 the fact that many embryo
farmers believe there IL money in
hogs" However. the demand for pork.
esnecially In hot weather is small, 50
that the market. glutted in the fail
and winter, strikes an average in the
summer and leaves but small mar
-.