The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1913-10-12
MEAT PRICES
BOUND TO RISE
Imports Will>NOt Give Ade-
quate Supply, Say
US. Experts.
ABATTOIRS ONLY HOPE
Department of Agriculture
Urges Public Sale
Of Meats.
PACKING HOUSES BLAMED
Farmers Are Advised to Coop
crate to Prevent Meat
Famine.
PACKING HOUSES BLAMED

WAsHiNGToN. Oct ia bulletin issued
to-day by the Department Of Agriculture
contains the most thorough analysis Of
the situation confronting the people Of the
United States in regard to their meat
supply that ever has been prepared.
The Departments experts can see no
possibility OF relief through shipments Of
beef from Canada. Mexico. Argentina or
any other country.
Prices. in their opinion, are bound TO
continue upward unless improved methods
are adopted by the meat producers Of the
United States.
Among the proposals for rele> ing the
situation by FAR the most interesting is
the establishment of public abattoirs and
the sale OF meats through public markets
in many European countries.
Through these public slaughter houses
would be eliminated. local markets would
te created for the small farmers and the
so-called beef trust would receive blow
Other remedies lie In more economic
methods OF stock raising on the farms
and the Improvement OF waste lands for
pasture purposes.
Summary Of situation.
James VI. Pickens of the United States
Bureau OF Animal Industry su,nma rizes
'he sNua''oh !" '"e Depa' '"''"'s ou''e"h
az Io''o"s'
Inc hi2h cost OF meat Is serious
reality ana II ~ now obvious 'hat the rise
IN prices III recent years is the natural
result or an actual shortage IN production.
These conditions are reflected In the per
capita consumption OF meat in the United
States. which ia estimated to have fallen
or ten pounds in four years. or from ls2
pounds IN 1909 to le: pounds in the fiscal
"I, 10 ev;d.p, tina, tho conn,rv is fac.
ing an era OF short product IN of meat
aud that some constructive me1ns must
.e adopted II the American appetite for
I, is class OF food is to be supplied
THE decline in beef production is
| especially marked. This is shown in three
| different ways-by the number OF cattle
| on hand. the number received AZ market
centres. and the number slaughtered. A
decrease in market receipts and in the
slaughter. with n corresponding increase
in the number remaining in the country
would not be alarming. but when with a
diminishing slaughter we are depicting
our stock Of cattle there can be no
doubt Of the gravity OF the situation.
"In the last six years the number OF
beef cattle in the country has apparently
fallen of over 80 per cent. while the
population has. OF course. Increased. Ac'
J ltt,ey tn aStif "a
tistics OF the department y,
the beef cattle IN the eoun'rs 0n no '"nu us
AIRY /. 1907. numbered el''ee'ooo' aho
at the beginning Of the present year th'
number was only 36.oSo'ooo. "ea"~"",
the number Of dairy COWS has remained
practically stationary
| ...
decrease o.
"rhe receipts Of cattle at six Of thu
principal live stock markets--Chicago
Kansas City, omaha' 81 i-ou's' OF o",s, so
and Sioux City--for the first nine rno"'n'
Of 1918. as reported IN marSe' rs
were very slightly in excess OF tne re
ceipts for the same per'oa oi '.' ~. no
comparison with 1911 thele ""'
crease Of nearly 10 per cent
THE slaughter OF beer uh"er "o','"
ment inspection. when covers " .S .o,,n
half OF the total slaueh'er VI Wv ,o,o
try, shows a steady falling OF since ,Hr' 90
the total decline amounting 10 o'e' .eo'
900 carcasses, equivalent 10 ao'u' WV
900. 900 pounds OF dressed oeei'
Applying the ratio OF redetanS ="
spected slaughter to total s'aushteF. so ao
cording to the census hgures ior isv0
this means q falling OF OF l'4ls'ooo ca'''e
or approximately 7so.ooo.oo" POUNDS o
beef In the entire slaughter OF the co""
try from 1910 to 1919.
with our diminished prouue'oa :" y"
face Of the heavy demand and h'sh price
Of the home market We no longer nav