Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1915-06-05
Facts for Farmers.

Facts for Farmers.
Consul General Frederick NJ. Ryder.
Winnipeg, Canada. reports that much
Of the heavy-stock cattle from all
parts of Manitoba received at the
Union stock-yards in Winnipeg Is be-
ing purchased by American buyers.
The first shipment consisted Of 943
head of what is known as heavy
stockers," mostly yearlings. and was
consigned to Billings. Montana. the
latter part Of April; another ship
ment OF about 400 head. destined for
points in Montana and Minnesota.
was shipped May Sd. He reports thai
the buyers are much disappointed at
not being able to secure greater
number, as they fully expected to
take up about 10000 head. They may
vet succeed in doing this II satisfac-
tory prices can be agreed upon. The
average price Of the cattle SO far
procured was $50 per head for year.
lings and $3.50 for two-year ODDS.
All of these cattle were examined by
American veterinarians, and the ship
ments are covered by livestock in
surance. Thus one Of the effects OF
the Democratic tariff law in putting
cattle on the free list is to induce
American buyers to cross over to
Canada, buy in that market, pay for
veterinarian examination, insurance.
and shipping, and land the stock IN
this country to be marketed at a
profit.
From October 3, 1918, when the
Democratic tariff law went Into ef-
feet, to June 80, 1914. nearly 12,000.-
600 bushels of corn were imported
into this country free Of duty. or
this amount over 80 per cent. came
from Argentina The latest month
lv summary of the Department o.
Commerce shows that since June 80,
1914. s,OOO,OOO more bushels have been
imported, mostly from Argentina.
This Argentine corn Is a small, very
hard berry, that looks almost like
popcorn. The bulk Of it is imported
by the Corn Products Company OF
New York State and is used by them
in making cornstarch. 1t contains
about two per cent. less starch ex.
tract than the American corn. Mr..
E. B. Walden Of the Corn Products
Company. testifyipg on this subject
before the Congressional committ>o
on ways and means said I'VE would
buy at an even price American corn
With the duty Of Is cents a bushel
under Republican law the importation
of this Argentine corn was largely
curtailed, only 100000 bushels coming
in during the fiscal year 1913. Had
this lucent duty been retained. not
less than 100000 bushels Of Ameri-
can corn would have been purchased
from American farmers by cornstarch
manufacturers. With the duty of,
they were able to pay the freight rate
from Argentina on corn producing
two per cent. less starch, and still find
1t more profitable.
| For nine months ending March,
1915, fresh meats were imported into
this country to the astonishing
amount Of 1s4.00o.0oo lbs, with an
average value at the port Of entry OF
eM cents a pound, and this despite
the severe handicap Of decreased
ocean tonnage and the consequent in
crease in freight rates from South
American countries. For the nine
months ending March. 1914. six
months under Democratic law the
timporta lions Of fresh meats were 3d.
fUOo, 900 pounds, average entry value
SK cents q pound. These imports
rose to 1ss,e0o.ooo pounds by Juno Of
that year. During. the Is months
operation Of the Underwood law up
to March, 1915. 377.soo.ooo pounds Of
fresh meat came into the United
States without paying one cent OF
duty. Fresh meat imports under
Republican law were SO negligible
that they were not separately listed,
but it is estimated that less than 49,
o0O, 700 pounds were imported for 1913.
The effect Of these large imports un-
der Democratic tariff law was not
to lower the price Of fresh meat to
the consumer, but to cripple the mar
ket for the farmer and stockraiser.
| Przemysl was but an incident Of this