The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1919-07-14
NO LONGER NEED FOR
MEAT CONSERVATION

Especial to The Richmond Firginian)
Blacksburg. Va, July 1l.--John r.
Hutcheson, director of extension d.
vision, Virginia Polytechnic Institute,
thinks that the people of Virginia will
be particularly interested in the fol-
lowing statement recently issued by
the department of agriculture. The
statement Is to this effect:
: with meat prices to the consumer
so high that he Is denying himself,
and with prices for live stock. especi-
ally beef and lamb, so low to the
producer that he is actually losing
money, the nation is confronted with
grave problem which requires soiu-
ton, II we are not to suffer decline
in the live stock industry.
There is no longer need for
meat conservation. The supply is
plentiful and patriotic citizens may
freely disregard the meat saving pla-
cards which are still displayed at
many eating places. Europe needs our
surplus pork, but is filing its beef re-
quirements by Importation from South
America and Australia. Prices on
beef cattle have fallen sharply since
March i, on account of, the stoppage
of exports for army use and the slack
demand for beef at home due to the
continuation of beef conservation I'M
der the mistaken idea that such con-
servation Is still necessary to feed the
people OF Europe. Beef producers and
lamb producers who sell their pro-
ducts at this time are confronted with
the danger of heavy financial losses
which would tend to restrict produce
ton and cause serious shortage in
the future.
For decade before the outbreak
OF the war in Europe, farmers and
ranchmen had heen urged TO increase
beef cattle production because the in
dustry was not keeping pace with the
growth of population. The campaign
for increased production began to
bear fruit with the outbreak of the
war and beef again gained volume in
our exports Prices rose and farmers
were encouraged to expand their beef
making operations, With the en-
trance of the United States into the
war vigorous and successful effort
was made to increase the supply of
meat for our army, especially beef
by civilian self denial. Wonderful re-
Spouse to this effort was made by the
people OF the country.
But the war is over now and in a.
little while the presence OF American
soldiers in Europe will be memory
OF noble sacrifices. Europe, short of
food though II is. does not need beef
from the United States So much as il
needs our pork The beef and lamb
now awaiting market on our farms
and ranches must. therefore. find an
outlet not overseas, but at home,
in 1918 for the first time in many
years. the production of meat animals
gained ground in the losing race with
the growth of population. This was
made possible by the earnest and pat
rlotic efforts of our live stock pro-
ducers. and unless beef and lamb con
sumption is now increased to it's
potential maximum without needless
waste. we are in danger of throwing
away the advance We have made un-
der war pressure,
The United States will never have
satisfactory and permanent solu-
tinn of The problem unless the manu-
iaeture, sale and distribution of meat
productions are finally supervised by
authorized agents of the GOV eminent,
working in cooperation with the state
and municipal authorities whose only
aim is To serge the public at large
and not any particulars class. When
the federal government is enabled by
law TO maintain just supervision over
the meat producing industry that will
prevent unfair dealings speculation
and profiteering by furnishing the
plhiic through ten unimpeachahle
source with The facts in regard to the
industry and when states and NUM-
cipallties are enabled by law TO ex-
erclse similar supervision over in
frastato and local business. then only
can We expect 10 have fair and
stable markets in which producer and
consumer alike will have square
deal"