Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1920-02-26
WHY MEAT PRICES
WILL SURELY TUMBLE
NO MORE BEEF TO BE SHIPPED
ABROAD; MUST USE PRO-
DUCTS AT HOME

Things are occurring that will
soon be felt throughout the country
affecting the high cost of living. Ii
is well known that prices of grain
and live stock have been on the de-
cline for months, but the ultimate
consumer has not been benefited by
cheaper food. The farmers have
been obliged to sell for lower prices,
but retail figures have remained the
same. The following from the New
York Sun, indicates that the farmers
prices will go still lower, and there
is reason to believe that the reduc-
ton will reach the ultimate consum-
err. We consider the situation in
teresting, both to the farmers and
consumers of Audubon county.
Meat prices are about to drop, and
within the next ten days the effect of
wholesale quotations in the local
markets will be noticed, it became
evident yesterday when the institute
of American Meat Packers in state
ment issued from their offices in
Chicago announced that the meat
export industry practically has ceas-
ed.
Beef exports ceased some time ago
according to the statement, and the
amount of pork being loaded for
abroad has dropped to negligible
amount from total annual export
of 1850, 100000 pounds. The re-
suit will be that the output of the
packing industry formerly divided be-
| tween domestic and foreign con-
sumption will be thrown on the do
nestle market.
Chicago has already felt the effect
of the shutting down of the export
! ing trade, il was reported yester-
day. Hogs and steers being sold
there, however, will not reach the
| eastern markets until next week, and
even after their arrival there will be
required a few days during which the
local market can be adjusted to the
new situation. The Chicago re-
ports indicated last night that the
downward trend of prices was notice
able last Saturday.
The review of the foreign meat
situation as given out by the big
five shows that the United King
dom has about 275, 100000 pounds
of bacon under her control. This
will last for seven months. Her
present consumption is being salts
fed by supplies of English, Irish,
Danish and Canadian bacon.
The big five's agents in Germany
are unable to sell meat products
there and have been forced to turn
to cold storage houses with the ov-
erflow. This condition exists be-
cause the German government is I'M
able to pay acceptable currency, the
report states.
AS for Holland, Belgium, France
and Scandinavia meat sales have
about ceased. In Holland the return
to the United States of lard and
boxed pork has been recommended
Money has been lost in Belgium be
cause of the small quantity the
packers were able to dispose Of. In
France active selling stopped two
weeks ago and under the present ex
change the trade will be small.
Italy, the report continues, has
been a poor market for some time
and there is no hope of developing 8
demand. The big five had HOPED
the allied council would permit Rus
sian cooperative societies to import
and thus open market for consign-
ments of meat at Scandinavian
points, but their representatives a.
Copenhagen have notified the Chi
cago offices that the situation is
unchanged