The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1916-09-13
WAR AND OUR MEAT SUPPLIES

One of the unexpected CONNER.
cial results Of the war is the demon.
stration that this country had not
nearly reached the limit of its ca.
pacity for meat production. Just al
this time prices are very high and
there is a disposition to pessimism
about the meat prospect. But in
truth, properly understood, the hap
penings in war time indicate that
this nation is long way from a
permanent meat shortage.
Take first the question Of meat
production over a considerable
period. The Department of Agricul-
ture and the census agree that down
to the beginning Of the war there
had been a shrinkage for some time
IT. the number Of head Of cattle and
hogs. This, in view Of the increase
OF population, was a most ominous
sign.
Recent reports from the depart
ment show that the number Of meat
animals has been increasing. This
increase has been at an encouraging
rate, and SO distributed that it indi-
Gates probability of permanence.
The cattle supply for many years
depended largely on the old range
methods of raising feeders on the
plains, and then shipping them to
the corn country to be fattened.
When the ranges were cut up and
disappeared, the supply from this
source fell off so fast that it could
not be replaced with animals raised
on the small farms. 1t required
time for that readjustment; but it is
now being accomplished, and rather
rapidly.
So the increase in number of meat
animals is particularly significant.
But there are other factors which
make it still more impressive. Hog
cboieras toll has been greatly re-
duced, it is hoped permanently, and
farmers arc more and more disposed
to return to hog raising as they are
convinced that the danger of great
and sudden disasters by reason Of
this plague is being minimized. The
epidemic of foot and mouth disease
had a disastrous effect; and, finally
the considerable decrease in the sup
ply of feeding cattle from Mexico
has been a factor.
Despite all these deterrent ele-
ments, the aggregate number Of
meat cattle has latterly been in
creasing. 1t is reasonable to assume
that it will increase further, and
still more rapidly, under the infiu-
ence of high prices. The settlement
of conditions in Mexico will greatly
stimulate production there; Mexico,
in fact, seems certain presently to
take the place that our old ranges
held.
For the time being, the immense
demands of Europe are making meat
prices excessively high. But the
very fact that the country can spare
any such amounts of meat as are
going abroad is the proof that there
was a great measure of elasticity
left in the producing capacity. In
the last year before the war, the
country exported $4,000, 900 pounds
of meat. In the wars first year,
1856, 100000 pounds; and in the wars
second year, 1885, 100000.
With the stimulation of produc-
ton, the reorganization of produc-
ing methods, the increase Of meat
growing on the small farms, the re-
turn of Mexico and the great in
crease of its contribution of our re-
quirements, the further suppression
of the cholera menace, and, finally,
the considerable reduction of the
European demand after the war, it
should be possible to entertain a
very hopeful view of the future.