Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1918-04-16
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PRODUCER, PACKER AND CONSUMER

The formal opening of the Swift warehose and stor-
age plant in this city brings to mind in a rather intimate
way the relation Of the packing industry to the COM
munity, and the manner in which the packer serves as
the link between producer and consumer. The year book
of the Swift company, just issued, contains a number of
facts which shed light on this important subject.
One fact brought out is that during the two years,
1915-1917, wholesale prices Of meats have not kept pace
with the prices paid for live stock. Both have advanced,
though not in the same proportion. The exact fact is
that while in the term mentioned the prices of live cat
ne advanced 1913 per cent the advance in meat prices
vas but 2o.7 per cent. The reason for this is found in
the fact that while meat is the chief product derived
from live cattle, it is one of the products, and that Incl
dental to the business of transforming live cattle into
dressed meats there are produced a great number of other
commodities whose price is regulated by the demand in
the open market. And, during the period mentioned, the
demand for these by-products increased so greatly, and
the price advanced so much, that it was possible to pay
the greatly increased prices Tor live animals and at the
same time to advance meat prices in a much smaller
measure. aa
The year book shows in diagram form the receipts of
live animals at the nine principal markets for the years
ending September 80, 1911 to 1917 inclusive. Taking the
earliest and latest of these years we find that there were
marketed at thes cntrs Of cattle, in round numbers,
8, 400, 900. head and Il. 800, 900, head respectively. Hog re-
ceipts advanced from 1000, 900 to IS. 900, 900 head. Sheep
receipts fell Off from 13,5OO,OOO head to IL, 1000, 900 head.
1t is interesting to note that the per capita production
of meat in the United States. contrary to the generally
,acceped opinion. is increasing rather than decreasing.
beginning with 1909 the production of beef, veal, mutton
and pork for the series Of Years ending with 1916 was,
in pounds, 217, 1877. 21s. 2os, 2os. 1911. 30. and 2ss. The
year 1917 showed a slight decrease from the preceding
year, but the production in that year was the highest on
record with that one exception.
The people Of the United States. we are told, con-
sumo more meat per capita than do those of any other
country with the exception OF Australia and New Zealand
The figures for the principal countries are: Australia
1858 pounds; New Zealand, 212; United states, III; AT.
gentina, 14o;7 Canada, 1877; Great Britain. lis: Germany
Up; France. -. These hgures are not all for the same
year. SO there may be some discrepancies. but all tho
figures on consumption are for years before the war.
The year. book contains an interesting description Of
the handling of meat from is receipt ON the hoof unit
# is ready to be placed in the bands Of the consumer
and when the vastness of the business II considered IT 4
apparant that the packing industry II one which plays al
Important part IN the economy Of the nation. and that N,
Ilpacksr 3 one of the most useful servants 6f the public.
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