Daily Kennebec journal., 1919-07-09

beef portions and regularly left beef
eff their menus Private families by
thousands did likewise. Farmers and
ranchmen exerted themselves TO the
utmost at great risk in order that
our soldiers and sailors could have
the best food that skill and loving
care could produce. The result is
history. From an export Of beef and
beef products of 1sl, ,ooo. 900 pounds in
1914 we exported 590,000.0 600 pounds
of beef and beef products in 1915
slmost equalling the great surplus or
1901. when our population was s5,-
ooo 900 people less than now. The
exports Of 1918 were treble the three
year pre-war average.
The war is over. In little while
the presence of American soldiers in
Europe will be a memory OF noble
sacrifices. We must not forget that
the principal use for the beef which
we shipped overseas in such quantity
was for the men in uniform. Europe,
short of food though il is. does not
need beef from the United States so
much as it needs our pork. The
stocks Of cattle in the most of Europe
have not suffered seriously in num-
bers during the war. Indeed, out
side the areas actually overrun by
the contending armies. cattle stocks
have fairly held their own and in
some cases even increased. Stocks
Of hogs and sheep have suffered much
more severely than have cattle. It is
also well known that Europe turned
to South America and Australia for
beef and lamb as soon as shipping
conditions permitted. England and
Italy are now buying in those mar
kets. The United States, however, is
the only large pork surplus nation,
and Europe, suffering for fats with
her stocks of swine greatly reduced,
can consume our pork surplus readily.
The beef and lamb now awaiting
market on our farms and ranges
must, therefore, find its outlet not
overseas, but at home.
IN 1918, for the first time in many
years, the production Of meat ami
mails gained ground in the losing race
with growth of population. This was
made possible by the earnest and
patriotic efforts of our livestock pro-
ducers, and unless beef and lamb con-
tential maximum, without needless
waste, we are in danger of throwing
away the advance we have made un-
der war pressure.
Reason Alleged
The alleged reason for this situation is
. the stoppage Of export for army use
bread and the failure of civilian beef
consumption to resume its normal sta
It's. The hotel and high class family
trade are not consuming the quantities
o. choice beef which they used before
the war, and the families of moderate
incone are eating only cheaper cutg.
the price of which must compen ate in
ra-t for that of the cuts for which
there is a smaller demand. The fact Is
evident that many persons who desire
20 eat mere meat. especially beef and
lamb. are denying themselves.
People do not realize that the necessity
for conservation OF foods. especially
meat. no. longer exists. except as a mat
ter Of reasonable economy and preven-
ton Of sinful waste. We have IN pros.
pect the greatest wheat crop in our his
tory; we had in 1918 by far the largest
as a great increase in our beef. lamo
and dairy production. Yet one sees !
everywhere in hotels. restaurants and /
dining cars the Save Food" signs which
were such a vital influence in the Sue
cessful prosecution Of the food cam
paigI and incidentally, the winning Of
the war. The Save Food signs should
now tie GisreE arded. Consumers are un-
consciously working harm to them (,
selves and to livestock producers by /
now restricting their consumption Of J
meat.
This situation is real menace 10 tie
| farmer and to the consuming public as
well. Many cattle raised in response =
7 tie demand for meat production for the
army are now maturing, and if market
, e! on falling market Will cause heavy
! loss to the producers. with the result
that declining production may Re ex-
pected liz the future. Stockmen do no.
deserve TO be penalized for ther patriot
ism. but should be supported by the
consuming public in an effort 10 restore
consumption to the normal without de-
| lay.
| Retail Prices Not justified
! The department is aware that much
! Of the reason for the hesitation of the
average housewife . increase the
( amount Of beef in the family Diet is tie
excessive retail prices which now pre-
vail. These prices are not justified by
the wholesale quotations
! The daily market reports of the By
reau Of Markets show that prices Of
! good and choice beef cattle on foot at
| Chicago have declined about 81 a hun
! dredweight, o. nearly g per cent since
! March /. while lower grade beef cattle
have declined as much as Is per cent.
| During the same period wholesale
! dressed beef prices show on the ayera ga
| approximately a corresponding percen-
tage Of decrease, which varies, how
| ever, in different cities from about Is
| per cent to 80 per cent.
Hides. however. have advanced decid.
edly while the cattle market has been
breaking rapidly. The packer hide
marxet at Chicago has gone from. abou,
- cents to e cents a pound. an increase
( or about 80 per cent 1t is estimated
I mat this offsets about 20 cents a Aun-
oredweight in the wholesale cost 81
oeet and increased prices of stearin.
taiiow and other byproducts added 70
the increased prices of hides bring the
total saving on beef costs up ia ahou.
cent a pound since March
While the live cattle and vh,,..,,.
dressed beef markets have gone down
10 the extent Of 2s per cent. the price