The Washington times., 1914-07-17
PRICES ARE LOWER.

In the face OF the startling ad
vances in the price of all kinds Of
meats, it is cheering to learn that The
index number of commodity prices
for this country has shown an almost
steady decline since the beginning Of
the year.
Whether the advance in meal
prices will be permanent, as some
people insist, or temporary, is il
fact more than anybody can say &C
curately. It is to be remembered
that many factors will enter into the
determination. For instance, if the
Federal Governments crusade fol
the suppression of hog cholera shall
produce really notable results in the
next few years, it will not only save
the great number of hogs that are
lost annually through this plague
but will encourage farmers to raise
more hogs. More hogs means, in
many sections, more steers as we'll;
for the real profits of meat raising
come largely through the combina.
ton of corn, steers, and hogs.
Hog cholera's greatest influence on
the country's meat supply is not to
be observed in the statistics of the
number of hogs that fall victims to
the disease. Tens Of thousands of
farmers prefer to keep out of the
gamble of hog raising because they
are unwilling to risk the big chance
of having their years crop wiped
out in a fortnight through the at
tack of cholera. The annual meat
crop would be increased, if cholera
were eliminated, by the number of
hogs that are now lost, and oy prob
ably five times as many in addition.
The campaign for elimination of
cholera is being pressed as never be-
fore. Last February Congress made
available an appropriation of half a
million dollars for organizing this
crusade. Cooperation with the State
authorities, agricultural colleges, ex-
pertinent stations. etc, is being ef-
fected just as fast as possible. Con-
gress stands ready to increase the
amount as fast as the Department of
Agriculture authorities will indi-
cate their confidence that they can
use the money effectively. 1t IS al
together likely that within the next
ten years-probahly we'll within that
period-the danger of cholera will be
largely eliminated. and the incen-
tive to raise hogs will De increased
correspondingly-
1t has been observed that more
hogs is likely to mean, especially in
parts of the corn belt, more steers.
Where will the feeding cattle come
from? 1t is useless to have corn, if
there are not steers to eat it and
grow into beef. The Western ranges
are not producing feeding cattle as
they used to do. Is there a new
source of supply in sight?
Without serious question, there is.
The vast areas Of middle and north
ern Mexico will furnish millions of
stock cattle for this country. That
country is ready to begin cattle pro-
duction on 4 vastly greater scale
than ever. Peace and steadied con-
ditions will insure a wonderful ex-
pansion Of this industry; and the
American meat market will get most
of its product.
Finally, there is an immense latent
meat-producing capacity in Ameri-
can farms that at present are not
developing their possibilities in this
regard. They will be more and more
disposed to raise meat, in view of the
low price of wheat, the high prices
of meats, and the improving condi-
tons that will develop as progress
is made toward the control of swine
disease.
1t is altogether too soon to assume
that meat prices are going higher,
and that meat is 70 become the lux
ury of the rich. Net many years
ago the cotton crop was threatened
with ruin by the boil weevil; but it
has increased immensely since then.
About that same time the world got
excited about prospects for a wheat
famine. We were promised that we
would never see wheat as cheap as
81 per bushel again; but the Western
farmers who get 20 CENTS are doing
handsomely this year. There's no
danger of starving to death yet; or
even of forcing the race to a vege-
tartan diet.
NrvTrr,r