The sun., 1914-08-16

that will help to throw light on the sub
ject.
While there was no change in the retail
meat prices In Washington Market yes
terday because the wholesalers had made
no advances, II was said that nobody
would be surprised II there was another
slight wholesale increase tomorrow.
Most or the butchers are convinced that
Notwithstanding the assertion Of the pack
ers that live stock is scarce that the
packing houses are well filled with beef,
much OF which will be shipped abroad a,
the earliest possible date.
worlds supply Of Beef.
The National Provisioner. the official
organ OF the American Meat Packers
Association discussed "A Bad Beef Sit
uauon editorially yesterday as follows:
"A glance at official figures shows that
beer supplies at eight principal markets
IN this country for the first half Of the
present year were over 400. 900 head less
than for like period last year. And the
shortage last year was bad enough The
comparison with the nearest normal year
1911. shows shortage OF alarming pro-
portions.
No wonder the newspapers are be-
ginning to revive the beef price agita-
tion. With million less beef cattle to
slaughter for the year as compared to
the last normal year IL is enough to
make anybody nervous. either packer or
consumer And with hog shortage on
comparative scale and sheep men GO
ing out OF business through fear OF free
wool the domestic meat supply situation
Is anything but a rosy one.
Even those who make a living out OF
agitating the public on most questions
are forced to admit the facts They can
not dodge them. And the prospects for
I l..a.. q H.. l..
beef supply Is not at all encouraging.
"The chief facts bearing on tvs situ-
alton are briefly summarized by James
| r Poole, the livestock market expert.
when he says that the reserve supply of
| fat cattle is now the smallest in the
! history OF the trade that the feeding
cost will restrain the beef making, even
| II cattle bring a cent a pound more than
| present record prices that the supply OF
cattle available for fail and winter mar
keting has been d, pleted by drought TO
n greater extent than is generally known.
| and that even the Western grass beef
crop will be OF diminished volume because
| OF inferior character.
| Market statistics and market prices
| during recent weeks substantiate every
1 one OF these statements Beef steers
reached the 10 cent record mark at Chi
cago last week and IL cents is predicted
] for the near future. IL II does not pay
/ TO finish beef at these prices then short
/ age Is inevitable. There are those who
believe that there IL plenty OF profit n
marketing cattle at present prices. but II
seems as though the producer needed q
/ lot OF argument to convince him OF that
] fact
Relief from foreign sources has no,
proved adequate That fact Is evidenced
/ by the resumption of attacks against
American packers for alleged domination
OF foreign supply sources How rldicu.
| lous such charges are the trade knows
II the public does not. American market:
are now open to the worlds beef. but II
Is not coming in sufficient volume to max,
even dent In the scarcity.
! Imports OF South American beef for tn,
J first half OF 1914 aggregated less thar
400. 000 quarters. This would not be equa
/ to pound OF beef for each consumer IL
the country for the entire six months
How little such meagre supply could
affect the scarcity may BE- easily seen.
Australian imports have been small
as to be negligible in augmenting the pei
capita supply. Canada is the same. The
trouble is that the world supply is short
1 and the world eats beef as we'll as the
United states. Meat price agitation
among consumers is as bad In Australia
In the heart Of beef producing country
as II Is In the United states"
The Seventh Ward Progressive Re
publican League OF Jersey city has pc
titloned the city Commissioners to start
an inquiry into the causes for advances
In prices OF staple food commodities
Members OF the league have offered "a
assist in the investigation by obtaining
, lists Of current prices and comparing
them with prices just before the begin
/ ming OF the war
The steamer Highland Watch arrived
yesterday morning from Buenos Ayre'
and Montevideo with large consignment
OF frozen and chilled beef and mutton
II Is said that comparatively small ship
ments OF Argentine beef have been re-
ceved here since the war started.