The Oakley herald. [volume] (Oakley, Idaho) 1908-1961, 1919-08-15

prepared by the United States Depart
ment of Agriculture)
With meat prices to the consumer
SO high that he is denying himself,
and with the prices for live stock espe-
cially beef and lambs, so low to the
producer that he is actually losing mon
ey, the nation is confronted with
If we are not to suffer decline in the
live stock industry.
1t is an anomalous situation. The
department has endeavOred to inform
itself on the subject, and after confer
ence with senator's and members of the
house who represent livestock produc-
ing regions and who also feel deep con-
Germ for the welfare of consumers,
deems it important to give to the pub
lie certain outstanding facts, which
may be summarized as follows:
There Is no longer need for meat con-
servation. The supply is plentiful, and
patriotic citizens may freely disregard
the meat-saving placards which are
still displayed at many eating places.
Europe Needs Pork.
Europe needs our surplus pork, but
Is filling it's beef requirements by i'm
portations from South America and
Australia. Prices of beef cattle have
fallen sharply since March l on &C.
count Of the stoppage Of exports for
army use, and slack demand for
beef at home, due to the continuation
of beef conservation under the mis-
taken idea that such conservation Is
4t'll necessary to feed the people OF
Europe. Beef producers and lamb pro-
ducers who sell their products at this
time are confronted with the danger
OF heavy financial losses which lend
to restrict production and cause Sc
r'ous shortage in future.
The United States will never have
a satisfactory and permanent solution
of the problem until the manufacture
sale and distribution OF meat prod
ucts are officially supervised by au
thorized agents of the government
working In cooperation with state
and municipal authorities, whose only
aim Is to serve the public ut large
and not any particular class. Wher
the federal government Is enabled by
law to maintain just supervision
over the meat-producing industry tina
will prevent unfair dealings, specula
ton and profiteering, by furnishing
the public from an unimpeachablt
source all the facts with regard to thu
industry, and when the states anf
municipalities are enabled by law tt
exercise similar supervision over In
trastate and local business, then onl,
can we expect to have fair and stable
markets in which producer and con
sumner alike will have square deal
1 Beef Industry Crisis.
Some Of the particulars OF the stu
alton are as follows:
The beef industry in the Unite'
States faces most serious crisis
For decade before the outbreak o
war in Europe farmers and ranch
men had been urged to increase bee
cattle production because the industr
was not keeping pace with the growt
OF population. The lowest ebb in pre-
duction was reached In the fiscal yea
ended June 80, 1914, when we prat
tically ceased to have fresh dresse
beef for export, but began to impor
1t from the southern hemisphere. tn
campaign for increased production bt
gan to bear fruit with the outbreak Q
the war and beef again gained voldm
in our exports. Prices rose and farm
ers were encouraged to expand thel
beef-making operations. With the er
trance OF the United States into tn
war a vigorous successful effort wa
made to increase the supply Of mes
for our army. especially beef, by c
william self-denial. Hotels and re-
taurants, at the request of the go'
eminent. reduced the size of the
beef portions and regularly left bee
of their menus. Private families
thousands did likewise. Farmers an
ranchmen exerted themselves 10 III
utmost at great risk in order that OF
soldiers and sailors could have til
best food that skill and loving cal
could produce. The result is histor
From an export Of beef and beef pro-
ucts of 151 900 pounds in 1914. "
exported 59O0OO,OOO pounds of be,
and beef products in 191S--almo
equaling the great surplus Of 100