MEAT TRAFFIC.

Globe, Volume XXIV, Issue 2515, 29 April 1882, Page 3

MEAT TRAFFIC.

Tho following remarks on the United States export trade in fresh meat are taken from the “ New York Produce Exchange Reporter” : —“ The falling off in the quantity ef cattle exported to foreign countries is no indication that their business is decreasing in extent, except temporarily and for a goad reason. An advance in prices checks consumption instantly, and tho prices of cattle and meat have advanced of late. This is the necessary and inevitable effect of the dry weather of last summer, which seriously injured the pastures, and of course reduced the condition of the stock. Our foreign market is now a permanent and a sure one, and no fears need be entertained that the footing once made will ever be lost, so long as we can supply tho demand at a certain price. When a people become habituated to an advanced condition of living they never go back. The English people eat more meat and that of better kind now than ever before; and having learned the habit will continue it permanently. England last year imported £166,000,000 worth of food. This is an advance of 160 per cent, in the last twenty years. In that time the population increased only 16 per cent. This shows in a most conspicuous manner how the style of living among the English people has improved. And this improvement is still going on ; the poor are getting better off, and the rich are coming down. Extremes are gradually meeting, and they must still further approach, for every popular effort and desire are tending to equalise social conditions more and more, and this means still better living, which moans good beef and bread, and more of them. And America must necessarily supply the large part of tho growing demand, if we can do it at a certain price. Ae soon then as circumstances permit it, prices will come down to the point when largo shipments can be made, and the exports will again pass beyond all former figures.” Of 39,514 cattle exported from New York last year, Mr T. O. Eastman shipped 17,063, and of 286,374 quarters of beef sent abroad from that port, Mr Joseph Eastman shipped 231,641 ; Mr M. Goldsmith owned 3264 of the 9187 sheep exported, and of 70,877 mutton carcasses Mr Joseph Eastman exported 55,239. Messrs Sherman and Gillett sent abroad 13,962 of the 16,131 dressed hogs exported. The “ Cincinnati Prica Current” states that one of the largest packing houses in Chicago is preparing to ship bacon in bulk from Chicago to the seaboard, and thence in bulk by steamers to Europe. The expanse of packing would thus be saved, and the bacon would bo of lighter and milder cure, the intention being to ship green from the block, or nearly so, and the curing process to go on while in the car* and in tho steamer, so that it would be just about cured on its

arrival in Europe. Fifty cam with patent refrigerating apparatus, are now in process of oonstractioß for use in warm weather, and there is also to be a refrigerated compartment in the steamer for the stowage of the bacon in bulk.