Crossville chronicle. [volume] (Crossville, Tenn.) 1894-current, 1917-02-07
GREAT MEAT SHRINKAGE,
Cattle and Sheep 10 per Cent Short and
10 per Cent Population Increase
Means High Prices,

The meat supply of the United State!
shows startling decline in the pas
decade. A compilation by the Nation
al City Bank of New York comparing
the number of available food animals
in the United States on January /,
1917, as shown by the recent statement
by the Department OF Agriculture,
with the number on January l, 1907,
shows fall of over 10, 0U0, 600 in the
number of cattle other than milch
cows, and of nearly 5000, 200 In the
number of sheep IN the period Of 1907
1917. Meantime the population of con-
tinental United States has increased
l5,000,000.
Thus the supply of cattle available
for food has decreased 20 per cent, and
that OF sheep 10 per cent, while the
consuming population was increasing
18 per cent
Hogs are the only class of food AMI
mails showing an increase, the number
OF swine in the United States having
been on January l., 1917. about l3, ,OOO,-
900 greater THANH n 1907, while the de-
cline in number of cattle is 10000, ,OOU
and of sheep 100000
This large decrease in the number of
food animals has not, however, reduced
the value Of the entire group. On the
contrary the advance in prices of meats
has greatly increased the value of the
reduced number.
The Department OF Agriculture fig
ures. on which these compilations are
based, put the value of the 40, ,849, 9, 900
cattle, other than milch cows. vn rarms
IN ths United States on January l.
1917, at 81, ,465, 662. 600. while the value
Of the 81. 566. 600 head IN 1907 was but
$sSl, $4,000.
The aveage value per head was Of
milch cows in 1907 $40, 70 per head and
n 1917 $685. all other cattle in 1907
s17.0s per head, and IN 1917 $S5. .8S;
sheep in 1907 So. 50 per head and in 1917
STA, and swine in 1907 81. 81 per head
and IN 1917 $ll.7 73 per head.
Thus cows. "other CATTLE and sheep
have doubled in price per head in ten
yeas while swine show an increase of
50 per cent per head in value In that
period.
These decreases of nearly II. 900, 900
in the number OF cattle other than
cows and 100000 in sheep have oc-
CURED during a period in when the
population of the United States. and
thus the number OF mouths tc teed.
was increasing Is, ,O0O, 900, the pepula-
ton of the United States IN 1907 hav
ing been 1882. 200 and in 1915 l02.-
OOO, 900.
AS consequence, the supply. of
meats available for exportatIon was
greatly reduced, the actual expectation
of fresh beef having fallen from PSI, =
652, 900 pounds in the fiscal year 1907 !
to G, 1874, 900 pounds IN the fiscal year
1914, which ended just before the be-
ginning of the war. while of beef cat =.
lic tuc uuuDCA Chpoi tCu lCii iIoin CC1s
239 in 1906 to 81 ,666 IN 1914. the export ,
price. however, advancing from little I
over $40 per head to $llO. New York ,
J ournal of Commerce. {
In view of foregoing conditions ,
farmers Of this section should feel ,
much encouraged to bend every effort l..
possible for the production of meat
of all kinds. Especially, since
the war conditions insure large de-
mand for meats as we'll as other food !
products.
Especially should farmers of this
section be encouraged when 1t is re- =.
membered that hogs can be grown
I ready for the market at less than q &
dollar head and sheep for only lit
tie more. Where cattle Craze five or '
six months of the year on grass that
costs not one cent. In addition to all >
that, farming here can be done with =
practically the same ease as on prairie
Iand, after the stumps are removed.
All in all the outlook for this section Z
Is most encouraging for those who wish b
m anvaUo in farming or stock RAISING | \