Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-08-31

termination are protected. Their argu-
ment is that by such protection the con-
sumner of meat would be given a thousand
pounds of good beef in the place OF zoo
pounds Of veal, an inferior meat.
x =
The Department OF Agriculture does not
believe that the matter could be con-
trolled in this way. 1t argues that the
holding or selling OF calf depends upon
and should depend upon the relative
profits OF the two processes. II holds
that the farmer has n right to do which
ever he makes the most money out OF
and will continue to follow that program.
This view does not however, satisfy the
calf conservationist and the matter PROM
fses much agitation in the near future
During the past week a great deal OF
attention has been attracted by two ship
loads OF beef which came to the Pacific
coast OF the United States from Aus
tralia and an assignment of 100000
pounds of meat that reached New York
from Argentina. This meat paid n duty
OF 11e cents pound and sold at a profit
on the American markets at price rang
ing from i to cents below that charged
Tor the American produced meat. A great
deal of attention was paid to the quality
OF this meat and IL gave entire satisfac-
ton to the consu2ieI. II was all rigidiy
inspected by government officials and
pronounced good
Congress is just now wrestling with tho
problem of tariff schedules which include
meat. Upon that articl. the bill, which
promises 10 become 4 law, assesses no
duty whatever. IL this meat can be sold
at proht At a lower price than Ameri-
can-grown meat and paw a duty of II,
cents, IL should be able after the tariff
bill has passed. to compete at a still less
price. The lowering OF the tariff is ex-
pected to draw great quantities OF Aus
tralian and South American meat To- the
United States and this may help meet
the present deficiency.
Argentina cannot be depended upon az
permanent source of meat supply. how
ever. as the demands OF Europe are now
SO heavy upon its supply that the number
OF cattle there are already decreasing
The meat that came to the United States
from Argentina had to take the route
which leads past Liverpool and was
thirty live days on the way. Ii the trade
develops in such a way that the mea;
may come direct by steamer from Buenos
Aires. there should be a saving in freight
rates and saving Of thirteen days In
time required for the shipment
Should an extensive trade OF this eort
be developed II would be very few years
before Argentina found itself facing the
same shortage of cattle that the United
states now faces. Australia is much
more OF a sheep country than a cattle
country and heavy drain upon its beef
supply would soon he felt II. therefore
becomes obvious that this country is fac
Ing great meat emergency and that the
only method of meeting that emergency
Is through a reform OF farming and stock
raising methods that will result in the
production OF the meat that Is to be con-
sumed. 1t is either this or do without
the meat.
The unwillingness OF the American to
shown that he, of all the people In the
world. is the greatest meat eater. He
eats, in fact. a third more meat than
does the Individual who most nearly ap-
proaches him in the contest.
I'm the last six years." says the De-
partment OF Agriculture, there has been
decline of over 30 per cent in a number
of beef cattle in the country. while the
population and the consequent demand
61,5O0OOO head OF these cattle in the
country January 1. 1907, while at the
beginning of the present year there were
hut 36OOO.OOO.
THE year 1912 was a season Of high
prices for all classes of food animals.
The average price of steers for 1912 was
$..95. as against $3.50 for 1911, or an in
crease of 22.31 per cent. The slaughter
this year is less than last. not because
the demand is less, but because the
cattle are not to be had. The pinch has
already come"
tCopyreht. 1913. by W. A. Du PuyJ