The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1914-08-05
SAY SCARCITY OF
BEEF WON'T LAST
Experts Sure Cattle Supply
WIN Increase Next Fall.
A SEASONABLE SHORTAGE.


Say Present Condition Is Usual In
Summer Months-Statistics Compiled
by Department of Agriculture Cal
culated to Reassure Housewives-ln
terestins Comparisons.
Despite the present high price of beef
and the unquestioned falling of in the
number of cattle received for slaughter
at the great markets of the country,
the June receipts and prices are not
necessarily criterion of what may
come during the fall, according to
figures obtainable at the bureau of
crop estimates, formerly the bureau of
statistics of the department of agricul-
ture-
The movement of cattle into the
great markets of the country naturally
the year. The June receipts of cattle
at Chicago, probably the greatest mar
ket in the world, totaled 1868 head
of beef animals, decided drop from
market of 199,S54. But the receipts at
Chicago in June, 1912, were only 1871,
400. nearly 10000 less cattle than We're
received in the present alarming"
| situation.
Scarcity In 1912.
In June, 1912, there was also talk of
| a scarcity of meat. The receipts that
year were the smallest for the period
| from 1905 to 1913, in June. In October
| of 1912. however, the receipts jumped
| from 40S, 900 to 963, 600, which was ex-
| ceeded only five times in nine years.
The June and July prices of meat. as
| far back as the records are kept at the
| bureau Of crop estimates, have always
| been the highest Of any time during
/ the year. The heavy receipts of cattle
| at the principal stock markets inyaria-
| bly, come during the fall. Last year
| the largest receipts were in Septem-
Der, and from 1909 to 1912 the great
est receipts occurred in October. The
September movement of last year was
/ more than double the movement in
May of the same year and so per cent
more than in sumo.
AS to the price of beef in the mar
kets and to the housekeeper, figures
| tend to show, says the Washington
Star that there is no rise in price es-
peciaIy unusual of late other than the
natural rise in price due to the in
crease in the population of the world
and the inability of the cattle raisers
to keep up the pace" There is nc
mystery about such rise in the price
of meat, especially beef. as has taken
place recently, authorities say. The
figures show that it would seem en-,
tirely due to the falling off in the mum
Der of cattle received for slaughter al
the markets. The real cause of the ad
vance of price seems TO be the normal
one of a falling off in supply without
corresponding decrease in demand.
Expect Cheaper Beef Next Fall.
Despite the fact that the fall price:
of meat last year did not take the
usual drop which has characterized
the prices of beef in recent years, of
ficials of the bureau say, it is not t.
be too freely imagined that the usua
l AlOI1 III HAICCS w Ill nOL lOiiOn tL4i
year.
Many things point to the usual droI
this fall instead of prices getting high
er. The very fact of high prices vii
: tend to stimulate the raising of foot
; animals, it is believed. and this in
; creased production will be assisted Thu
year by one of the largest corn crop;
; in the history of the country.
The influx of Argentine beef canno
fail to help the situation in this coun
try, many who are conversant witt
the situation aver The shipments o
beef to the United States have grow
tremendously in the past few months
A year ago they totaled about 5000
900 pounds year; today Argentin
beef is coming into this country at tn
rate of 44,O00,O00 pounds a month, &C
cording to officials of the bureau o
animal industry of the department 0
/. agriculture.
All these considerations lead man
, to believe that this fall the price o
beef will take its accustomed drop.