The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1919-06-06


market conditions in the meat indus
try, the bureau of markets, United
States department of agriculture, is
sues daily and other reports to facili-
tate distribution, improve transporta-
f1on, stabilize values and to help the
producers in placing their stock where
It will sell to the best advantage.
On the assumption that the dissent
nation of market information will tend
to improve conditions, the bureau of
markets has developed a system of
market reporting that has already had
some effect in restoring confidence in
the markets. While the information
made available by the bureau is being
used most extensively by those active
ly engaged In some branch of the live
stock or meat industries, it is believed
that sooner or later the public gener-
ally will utilize this knowledge and
with 1t bring into line any retailers
who reduce consumption by an unwar-
ranted margin of profit.
Present arket-Reportins System.
The present market-reporting sys-
tenn, which was begun in the fall of
1916, has developed rapidly, and at
present there are IL service centers,
each of which distributes daily, week
ly and monthly reports on the various
branches of the industry. These in
clude daily reports on meat-trade con-
ditions in Boston, New York, Philadel-
pbia, Washington, Pittsburgh, San
Francisco and Los Angeles; daily re-
ports on livestock lOadings; daily re-
ports on the estimated receipts and
prices of live stock at Chicago and
Kansas City; reports of livestock
movements in grazing and feeding sec
lions; monthly reports on stocks of
frozen and cured meats, eggs and
poultry; monthly reports on livestock
receipts and shipments at all public
stock yards, and monthly estimates on
the supply of marketable live stock.
The report on meat-trade conditions
ut the leading markets brings to the
small dealers, as we'll IS to producers,
information that was formerly pos
sessed only by the larger meat-packlng
institutions. Specialists obtain full in
formation daily on the fresh-meat sup
ply, including various grades of beef,
veal, pork, lamb and mutton at the
markets, and this information is tab
uiated and distributed widely by tele-
graph, through leased-wire system,
to meat-marlet centers. In similar
manner daily price quotations are fur
nished on different grades of live
stock. AS applied to fresh meats, this
service results in giving to the public
full information as to the supply and
accurate data on values of all COM
mercial grades. Secrecy is eliminated.
so that when prices on meats are high,
as compared with values on foot, it is
possible to locate the profiteer.
Shipments Reported Each Day.
Daily reports prepared by the bureau
furnish the industry with information
on livestock shipments. This inforn1a-
ton is obtained from transportation
companies who report by wire each
night to the Chicago office of the
bureau. The wide distribution of this
information tends TO stabilize values.
1t furnishes to the producer informa-
ton which will enable him to ship his
stock to market where there is the
greatest demand. A knowledge of the
demand by smaller plants, which these
reports furnish, has a tendency to
stimulate competition among buyers
with the subsequent effect of raising
values. Also, when the amount of live
stock moving from production areas is
known, it is possible to regulate the
supply of cars needed and to deter
mine whether car shortages for any
particular district are apparent or
real. Improving the system OF dis
tribution makes fewer cars necessary,
and they can be moved with greater
dispatch.
The better distribution of livestock
receipts resulting from information
obtained from the loading reports en-
ables commission men and buyers to
render better service in handling live
stock after it arrives at the stock
yards. Heavy receipts arriving unex-
pectedly create congestion and confu-
sion. which in turn Invariably result in
unnecessary shrinkage and costly de-
lays, working in reality an injury to
the producer and thereby discouraging
production.
Bureau Issues Variety of Reports.
An important branch of the live
stock reporting system of the bureau
of markets consists Of the telegraphic
bulletins prepared by representatives
of the Chicago and Kansas City Of
fees, and issues from time to time
during the market hours of each day,
They report the actual livestock ar
rivals and the exact conditions OF the
market, and are transmitted over the