Evening capital news. (Boise, Idaho) 1901-1927, 1917-10-21


which is now raising wheat and other
4 small grains, whereas a few years ago
1T was all given to grazing.
The average price of native beef
steers at the Chicago market for the
year 1899 was $3.50 per hundred. It
was exactly the same for the wear
1905. Since then, with the exception
of the year 1910. the increase In price
each succeeding year has been regu-
lar Until 1914, when the average price
| on that class Of beef was $685. per
hundred for the year. During the year
1915 the average price of native steers
was s8.4o( during 1916 $3.50, and this
week native steers are bringing an
average Of $10.75. Sheep and hogs
have shown a still greater advance in
price.
REASONABLE INCREASE.
! The increase of SO per cent in the
price Of beef cattle on the Chicago
market from the year 1907 to 1914
seems entirely reasonable in view Of
the decrease of 80 per cent in the num-
Der Of such cattle in the country and
the increase of IA per cent in our popu-
lation during that period.
The Transformation of much of what
was formerly free range into farming
land was done so quickly and the de-
cline in cattle was so rapid that the
country could not adjust itself through
increased production on our farms.
The advance in price was imminent
A Restocking of herds has begun
however, and is showing itself by re-
cent statistics, which indicate an in
Of IL,
of beef cattle in the United States from
Jan. l, 1914, to Jan. l, 1917, an increase
of 9 per cent in milk cows, IA per cent
IN hogs, but further decline of per
cent in the number of sheep.
These figures present an average in
crease Of about per cent a year in
cattle and hogs, our chief source of
meat, whereas population has been
Increasing but 2 per cent each year. 1t
would seem therefore that prices
should now be lower than in 1914, and
they probably would be lower were II
not for another abnormal situation
which suddenly developed the latter
part Of the year 1914-the war in Eu-
rope. which called for the expectation
Of great quantities of meat which
would have otherwise remained IN
this country
EXPORTS AND IMPORTS.
According to records received from
the department of commerce, our ex-
ports or meats and meat products In
excess of imports and imported on the
hoof, totaled SS1,394, 993 pounds, during
the year 1915 our experts of meat ex-
ceeded our imports by 1,533.S76.S1OI
pounds, and in 1915 the increase was
1866, 769,799 pounds While this is an
increase of over 400 per cent since 1914
1T represents only half of our export
trade on meats during the years 1906
and 1907.
However, this recent increase in our
export trade came at a time when our
live stock industry was Just beginning
TO recover from a depleted condition.
Our increase in the number of cattle
and hogs during the past three years.
as shown by government statistics. and
the larger quantity Of meats put out by
packing plants during the past two
years, has all been absorbed by this
increased export trade Our popula-
ton has been increasing, and what is
perhaps still greater factor, our fac |
tories are running fun time, wages are
high, and demands Of our own people
Tor meat, even at exhorbitant prices,
continues undated.
Until two years ago we bought more
dairy products than we sold to foreign
countries. During the year ending
Dec. 81. 1914, our imports of butter,
cheese, and milk exceeded our exports
by bo,196,724 pounds. During the wear
1919 our exports of dairy products
butter, cheese, and condensed milk
exceeded our imports los, 559,151 pounds
In 1916, 263,539,643 pounds. The balance
IN our favor on dairy products in 1916
was sS5,s69,614, of which 80 per cent
was for condensed milk. On both meat l
ana dairy products our sales abroad 1
In excess OF purchases amounted to
s2s3.656,s01 during 1916.
While the recent increase in our ex-
ports OF meat and dairy products has
been factor in reducing the supply
TOT nome consumption, 1t Is not the
chief cause of the record breaking
prices We are now Witnessing on cat
tie. hogs and sheep It is, rather. the
light grain crop produced in the United !
states and in many other countries
during the past season. +
CROP FIGURES.
Our corn crop in 1916 was IA per cent
less than in 1915, and per cent less |
than the average for the five years
preceding, namely, 1910 to 1914 inclu-
sive. In 1916 the wheat crop was 81 :
per cent less than the 1915 crop and IL &