New Iberia enterprise and independent observer. (New Iberia, La.) 1902-1944, 1913-11-29
SUGGE ITIONS FOR THE LOUISIANA
FARMER.

the writer, a man who has made a life
long study of live stock and rural af-
fairs in the South. Some of his opin-
ions are radical and will, perhaps, meet
opposition in various quarters. All of
them ale, however, stimulating and
thought begetting and are given in the
spirit the title suggests, Suggestions" !;
New Orleans has to-day about as
,ear a competitive live stock market as
ny city of its size in America, but on
ccount of the markets development the
,eef packers are contemplating an in
Ision of this market as elsewhere de-
oped by establishing their own abat-
>irs, hich means an absolute control
f the live stock and dressed fresh meet
industry of the State. Chicago, St.
.ouis, Kansas City and Forth Worth,
lex, e to-day and have been for
ears Z one-man market. The packers
make the. market daily to suit them.
The sellers have no option whatever.
Now is the opportune time to protect
ourselves against this great monopoly
'efore it is too late, by legislating against
he importation of dressed meats from,
oreign States and countries, on account
# sanitary conditions and precaution.
the eighties the markets on live
tock were cut by the beef trust to a
minimum and fresh dressed meats ad-
anced to maximum, when move
ient was stated of legislation in some
If the Eastern States to prohibit the
hipment and offering for sale of fresh
lressed meats on account of sanitary
,reca aution. Within one weeks time
le corabine had advanced the markets
n live animals from 10 to Is per cen;
nd reduced the market prices on dressed
heats as much more, when, of course
,e aforesaid agitation ceased. The
rmer markets were at once restored
y the com bine and have been practically
Elective since, and now with their abso-
ute control of the South American live
took products there seems to be but
ne chance of relief from this gigantic
rust, and that is Statewide legislation
'rohibiting the importation of fresh
ressed meats from other States and
oreign countries on account of sanitary
,recaution, and the establishing of mu-
,icipality owned and controlled abattoirs
all cities of the States of over, say
900 inhabitants, like those in success
[ operation in such cities as Austin
Beaumont and Paris, Tex; Montgom-
ry, Ala; Chattanooga, Tenn; Pittsburg
Pa; Hattiesburg, Miss; Grand Rapids
dich., and Des Moines, Iowa. Municipal
battoirs have been for many years in
u. f,,t
n New Zealand the laws require every
ity or village of over 1000 inhabitants
o establish a municipal abattoir as a
,art of its public works, also these in
,titutions in Canada on the north and
cuba on the south offer valuable ex-
mples which we have been slow to OBJ
serve.
Mrs. c. B. Crane, Kalamazoo, Mich.
,ne of the advisory committee of the wo-
mans department of American CivicFede-
alton, has very comprehensive art.-
lie on the beef trust methods as they
.xist to-day in the July number of the
oearson's Magazine, which is independ-
mt of all trusts. She explains the method
# present beef and other fresh meat
Inspection and states that meat from dis
,ased animals is not approved by the
government for shipment to foreigners
,ut meat from diseased animals is ap-
proved by the government for us te
at at home. We get meat for our tab
,es which is not considered to be good
enough for foreigners to eat
HIGH PRICES HERE TO STAY.
There is no doubt but what the hig-
price of live stock has come to stay, a:
you will notice by the government re-
port of April 20, 1913, which says tb'
United States was exporting more thar
.hirty-six times as much fresh meat
beef and cattle-six years ago as it sends
abroad to-day, as shown by statistics
made public to-day by Secretary Ked
field of the Department of Commerce
IN the first nine months of the presen
fiscal year ending March 81 there wa.
exported only 5,479,439 pounds of fresi
Beef and 1888 pounds of cattle, as com
pared with 2O0,O69,72o pounds Of fresl
reef and 3O7, ,726 pounds of cattle in tn
same months of 1907. The intervening
wears reveal uninterrupted decrease.
Another feature of the report IS tn
statement that while the population ha
increased II per cent since 1907, tn
number of beef cattle has decreased 9
per cent; furthermore, 22O,OOO head o
.attle came into the country in the firs
eight months this year, against oni!
1880 in 1907.
In the calendar year past, the Unite.
States exported 100000 pounds of fresl
beef. while Argentine sent 75o,OOO'oV
pounds, Australia 10000 900 pounds AM
Uruguay 21,OO0,00O. To the Units
Kingdom Argentina sent 139,ooo,oO
pounds, against $4,000 pounds iron
this country. The number Of beef cat
lie in the United States in 1907 was ~,
500 900; to-day it is 360OO,OOO.
The United States urpassed its rivals
however. in prices obtained, having re
ceived last year for beef exported .
average of 11.67c pound, against IS
for Argentine, 4.o3 for Australia an
s.26 for New Zealand beef. Dresse
beef is now being received in New ioi
from the Argentine republic, shipped VI
London.
Now that free sugar is practically =
assured fact, the planters owning tn
hest farm land on this continent, ii nc
in the world, do not know where the
| are at. as they have had but little gen
eral farming experience outside OF sug'
! planting. and are offering their beautifs
hiehly-improve plantations at soni
Instead Of following their old custom
t--of purchasing all their short and lon
forage. horses and mules and meats froi
the Northern farmers, to his pront an
their loss, there Is no reason IN IN
world why they should not compete wit
him instead Of building him up; a
sure there is no country on earth whei
horses. mules, cattle, hogs and sheep G.
he nsoduced of better quality, or cheap
81 in price, than in Southern Louisian'
Once our people are wise on gener,
farming, it is fact that Centrai ~
no;s farmers on lands worth from u,
70 $500 per acre, have become rich .
general farming, largely in the breed
| ing Of and fattening OF live stock fe
the market, and the breeding OF horse
and mules for the Southern cotton an
sugar planter. A good Northern tai
mer's rule is sell nothing off his tar'
that can't walk to the market Wh'
our planters need is practical educatio
in general farming, not theoretical eds
cation, as he is now getting Feed stuff