The Aberdeen weekly. [volume] (Aberdeen, Miss.) 1878-1933, 1919-08-15

spected and Passed a
prepared by the United States Depart
ment of Agricultureo
With meat prices to the consumer
so high that he is denying himself.
and with the prices for live stock. espe-
.ially beef and lambs, so low to the
producer that he is actually losing mon
ey. the nation is confronted with
grave problem which requires solution
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 filing its beef requirements by i'm
portations from South America and
Australia Prices of beef cattle have
fallen sharply since March l on ac-
count of the stoppage of exports for
army use. and a slack demand for
beef at home. due to the continuation
of beef conservation under the mis-
| taken idea that such conservation is
still 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 tend
to restrict production and cause Sc
rious shortage in future.
The United States will never have
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 at large
and not any particular class. When
| the federal government is enabled by
! law to maintain a Just supervision
over the meat -producing industry that
will prevent unfair dealings. specula-
| ton and profiteering, by furnishing
the public from an unimpeachable
source all the facts with regard to the
Industry. and when the states and
municipalities are enabled by law to
exercise similar supervision over in
! trastate and local business. then only
| can we expect to have fair and stable
markets in which producer and con.
sumer alike will have square deal
Beef Industry Crisis.
Some of the particulars of the stu
alton are rs follows:
The beef industry in the United
| States faces a most serious crisis
| For n decade before the outbreak OF
war in Europe farmers and ranch
men had been urged to Increase beef
cattle production because the industry
| was not keeping pace with the growth
| OF population. The lowest ebb in pro-
! duction was reached in the fiscal year
| ended June 80. 1914. when we prac
| tfcaIIy ceased to have fresh dressed
beef for export. but began to import
It from the southern hemisphere. The
| campaign for increased production be
gan TO bear fruit with the outbreak OF
| the war and beef again gained volume
| in our exports Prices rose and farm
| ers were encouraged to expand their
| beef making operations With the en-
| trance of the United States into the
| war vigorous successful effort was
| made TO increase the supply of meat
| for our army. especially beef by eli
| william self-denial. Hotels and res
| taurants. at the request of the gov
| eminent, reduced the size of theiI
| beef portions and regularly left beei
| off their menus. Private families by
| thousands did likewise. Farmers ant
ranchmen exerted themselves to the
utmost at great risk in order that oul
| 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 prod
ucts Of ISL 900 pounds in 1914. We
exported 59OOOOO00 pounds of beef
and beef products In 191S-almos1
equaling the great surplus of 1901
when our population was $4,000. 00(
people less than now. The exports oi
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 II
Europe will be q memory of noble
sacrifices We must not forget thai
the principal use for the beef VIZ
shipped over seas In such quantity
was for the men In uniform. Europe
short OF food though It IL. does MOI
need beef from the United States q
much as II needs our pork. The stocks
q cattle In the most - Europe hayl