The Snowflake herald., 1913-08-29
WHY MEAT IS HIGH
WHAT TO REDUCE COST
From The New York Sun.

In anticipation of new tariff
act admitting free of duty meat
and meat products Secretary
Houston Of the department of
agricultuare has detailed DR.. A.
d. Melvin, chief of the bureau of
animal industry to go to South
A m erica to investigate the
slaughter canning and general
packing house business of that
continent. Secretary Houston
also has ordered DR.. E. C. Joss
of the bureau animal industry.
whose head quarters are at Port
land, Ore. Immediately to proceed
to Australia to make a similar in
vestigation there.
tits admitted at the department
of agriculture, that as a matter of
fact DR.. Melvin and DR.. JOSS, both
experts in their line, are being
sent to big beef-producing coun-
tries to instruct the packers there
how to prepare their products so
as to expedite the entry into this
country of fresh beef, when the
act becomes effective.
Information has reached the
department of agriculture within
the last day or two that American
packers who have for several
years maintained establishments
in South America already are
awake to the possibilities of in
creased trade with the United
States. They are preparing to
increase their facilities, but
whether or not this promises any
substantial relief seems doubtful,
for the concerns that are show
ing the chief activity are men,
bers of so-called beef trust.
For instance representative
of Armour & Co. today Informed
DIR Melvin that the company had
completed plans for the erection
of an abattior just OUTSIDE of
Buenos Ayres that would be the
most complete and extensive of
any in existence. The department
also is in possession of informa-
ton that other American packers
are extending their plans in
Argentine, Paraguay and Brazil
and that altogether the cattle
business in South America is on
the boom in anticipation of the
free entry into this country of
fresh meats.
According to DR.. Melvin, the
situation in regard to the beef
supply in this country is serious.
He says that Americans are the
greatest consumers of beef in
the world exceeding even the
British, who have had the repu-
tation of being the greatest beef
eaters.
Estimates for the bureau OF
statistics Of the department of
agriculture show that in the last
six years the number of beef cat
/ tie in the United States has fal-
| len from 81, 566, 900 to 36, 030, 00C
a decrease of about Is, 500, 900, OF
/ 80 per cent. All market re-
ports show that receipts of cat
/ tie at six Western markets from
January to March 10, have de-
creased to the exteut of 73, 600,
while sheep show a decrease OF
1876, 900 and hogs at eleven mar
kets have fallen more than $685..
600. The decreasd is reflected
in the number of animals slaugh.
tered under the meat inspection
act. In January and February,
as compared with the a m
months of last year, the de-
creases amounted to n, 951, cattle
q, 228 calves, 381, 304 sheep anc
1896. 668, swine.
The demand for meat, on the
other hand. has been increased
along with the population. Ac
cording to the sensus we have 29,
600, 900 more people to feed thar
we had twenty years ago. Amer
leans are great meat eaters. 4
recent estimate made by the ami
NAL industry bureau shows th'