Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1913-09-19
W. ERNEST OFFUTT.
Seek A Meat Supply.

Government officials at last have decided
that this country is unable to supply enough
meat for its own needs. Importation from
South America and other countries where
vast herds of cattle are raised is the only
salvation, these officials believe. All the
bureaus of the government devoted to
such work, therefore, are hard at work
laying plans to develop the supply.
Through the West and South, where
cattle in years past were raised in great
abundance, government experts have been
striving to induce farmers and ranchmen
to again develop the industry. They have
gone into the fields and instructed these
men how to raise stock by scientific meth
DDS, and have succeeded in large measure
in Increasing the production. But even this
increase is not enough, for the demand is
becoming greater with the growth Of popu-
latiOn, and prices, instead Of going down,
are going up.
When the new tariff bill becomes law
within few weeks meat will be on the free
list, and this will open a way for increased
shipments of beef and other products from
South America. In anticipation of this,
DIR. AlonZO d. Melvin, chief Of the bureau
of animal industry of the Department of
Agriculture, now is in South America, in
structing the packers of Argentina and
nearby countries as to the best methods
of shipment and the standards required
for entry in the United States.
This invitation for South American grow
ers to send their products here, together
with the removal Of duty, probably will
bring greatly increased shipments the gov
eminent experts believe This beef, they
say, can be sold at prices below domestic
meat. and will solve partly the high cost
of living problem.
Besides, the beef that will come from
South America ranchmen of Mexico and
Canada are expected to make large ship
ments. These cattle, grown on the extern
sive ranges of those countries, are of the
finest sort, and will be for the entire coun-
try, like those of the West were some years
ago. Before the advent of refrigerator cars
and speedy transportation Eastern con-
sumers had little faith in statements that
meat could be sent from the far Western
ranges and compete with the prices set for
Eastern cattle.
Already there have been some ship
ments of beef from Argentina, and the
dealers here have been able to sell the
choicest cuts at from to 3 cents pound
lower than the domestic product. With
the establishment of more steamship re-
frigerator lines and the completion of ar
raneements 50 that the importation may
become fixed industry, the dealers say
that the price may be made still lower.
One of the chief reasons for the low pro-
ducton of cattle in the West is the fact
that the large ranges are being cut up into
farms, and that more attention is being paid
to agriculture. Farmers believe they can
make more money raising corn and wheat
than by breeding cattle and permitting
them TO Craze on expensive land in sum-
mer and feeding them high-priced corn in
winter for two years until they are mature
Another thing that is hurting cattle rails
ing is the cattle tick in the South. This
insect is prevalent in most of the Southern
States and is causing an abundance o.
trouble.
Experts have been sent into the field by
the Department of Agriculture, and they
have been fairly successful in their fight
against the ticks. But the force is small
and is able TO do but little.
Both branches of Congress are consider.
ing increased appropriations to fight the
tick. Only few weeks ago delegation
of senators and representatives from the
Southern States called at the Department
of Agriculture. where they discussed with
experts a general scheme for the cattle.
tick campaign.
According to the latest reports from the
Department of Commerce expectation OF
beef has dropped to almost nothing. Some
years ago beef in large quantities and
hundreds of thousands Of head of cattle
annually were sent to Europe. But that
day has passed. America, instead Of be-
ing an exporter of beef, is about to become
an importer on large scale.