Arizona state miner., 1919-08-15
FEDERAL SUPERVISION OF MEAT INDUSTRY
is URGED BY DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULT LTURE

best food that skill and loving care
could produce. The result is history.
From an export of beef and beef prod
ucts of $4,000 pounds in 1914, we
exported 590,000,000 pounds of beef
and beef products in 1918-almOst
equaling the great surplus of 1901,
when our population was 35,O0O,OOO
people less than now. The exports of
1918 were treble the three-year pre-
war average.
Europe Does Not Need Beef.
The war is over. In a 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 we
shipped over seas in such quantity
was for the men in uniform. Europe,
short of food though it 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 numbers dur
ing the war. Indeed, outside the areas
actually Overrun by the contending
armies, cattle stocks have fairly held
their own and in some cases even in
creased. Stocks of hogs and sheep
have suffered much more severely
than have cattle. 1t is also well known
and Australia for beef and lamb as
soon as shipping conditions permitted.
England and Italy are now buying in
those markets. The United States,
however, is the only large pork sur
plus nation, and Europe suffering for
fats with her stocks of swine greatly
reduced, can consume our pork sur
plus readily. The beef and lamb now
awaiting market on our farms and
ranges must, therefore, find it's outlet
not overseas but at home.
In 1913, for the first time in many
years, the production of meat animals
gained ground in the losing race with
growth of population. This was made
possible by the earnest and patriotic
efforts of our live stock producers, and
unless beef and lamb consumption is
now increased to it's potential maxi
mum, without needless waste, we are
in danger of throwing away the ad-
vance we have made under war pres
sure.
Prices Compared.
1t is important to present the facts
concerning the prices for live stock
and the prices for meat wholesale and
retail. The following comparison ex-
hibits the decline in the prices of cat
tie on foot:
Prices of Medium and Good Beef
Steers at Chicago.
GENTS PER POUND)
March L 191S. ........................1 13 50-lS 90
Mean per cent decline, ID per cent. -
Prices of Choice and Prime Beef
Steers on Foot at Chicago.
GENTS PER POUND
March l. 1919. 1920 25
July l, 1919 Ia. 35-1550
Decline ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. Ais 475
Mean per cent decline, % per cent
The alleged reason for this sftua-
tion is the stoppage of export for
army use abroad and the failure of
| civilian beef consumption to resume
it's normal status. The hotel and high
class family trade are not consuming
the quantities of choice beef which
they used before the war, and the fam
lilies of moderate income are eating
only cheaper cuts, the price Of which
must compensate in part for that of
the cuts for which there is smaller
demand. The fact is evident that
many persons who desire to eat more
meat, especially beef and lamb, are
denying themselves.
People do not realize that the ne
cessity for conservation of foods, espe-
cially meat, no longer exists, except
as a matter of reasonable economy
and prevention of sinful waste. We
have in prospect the greatest wheat
crop in our history; we had in 1918
by far the largest production of pork
we ever had, as well as a great in
crease in our beef, lamb and dairy
productions
|EXTRA LABOR BY DULL TOOLS