Increasing Figures Due to War:
Records from Markets and Slaughter Houses Foreig under the protection of their respective flags may laugh at the Chinese armies and feel safe secure in the treaty ports, but in their innocence they fail to take into consideration the economic results which must affect them in perhaps a degree Chinese citizen similarly si Bread is dearer, cakes and pi re more expensive, while one bakery thus advertised that a general vi 30 per cent, is to increased cost of wheat is not pure-domestic, but comes about as a result of foreign shortage; other commodities, Chinese products, have however, attained a pinnacle in pri unprecedented in recent years—namely, coal and meat.
A correspondent writes as follows:—"A few days ago beet became scarce, 30 the price rose from 20 cents per pound to 30 cents, then it went up to 40 cents for prime beef and to-day the price is 50 cents." In the main he fs right though not in all pai. The oficial reports of the municipality place the following prices us being effective at Hongkew Market where the largest quantity of meat is sold Jduily:—Sirloin 40 to G0 cents (absolutely a maximum figure; those who know how to purchase may get this cut for-much less) shin bone, 25 to 30 cents, rump 35-40 cents, sirloin (some stalls) 35-40.cents, mutton chops and leg of mutton 30: 35 cents and pork chops 40 cents per pound.
Our correspondent further suggests the formation of a ce-operative buying organization by small. purchasers to "show the avaricious natives, who corner the supply"—a truly praiseworthy consideration, but practicably infeasible in foreign country and more so in ixed community' such as inhabits the Settlement. Socialized buying has, under certain circumstances, proved successful but the necessary condition do not exist here, Some Significant Figures There is not the slightest doubt but that the wars which have been waged round the port of Shanghai, are in the main responsible for higher prices of meat. But there hus been a gradual rise extending lover the recent yours, In 1921, for tance, the price of sirloin was a re 19'cents a pound, it had risen 22 cents in 1923 and in early Februury of this year to 30 cents, the large jump being due to un: settled conditions on the railway. During the closing months of 1924, after the defeat of Marshal Lu, the markets gradually returned to a prewar basis and on January 1, 1925, the Municipal Health Department official report stated that a plentiful and good supply of beef existed, The same statement further indicated that the supply diminished by reason of troop movements in the first weeks of the New Year and by the 19th had ceased altogether. This ix easily explained. Shanghai's main beet supply comes from the district surrounding—Chinkiang,—which proved to" be the seat of mi activity and, with the seizure trucks no cargo, excepting military, could be moved. Ina small way 4 few animals came in from Pootung and the local dairies disposed of cattle, which could be sold at much higher prices than usual—cows too old to furnish a plentiful supply of milk, ete—other cattle of a much Poorer quality came to Shanghai on native boats from north of the Yangtze, but in large enough quantities to supply local needs, Sixty thousand Fengtien soldiers also need supplies of meat, Freight Cars Still Held Up The records of the Municipal Slaughter House for January, 1025, ani for the same month one year ago corroborate this statement with an enlightening clarity—a year ago 890 Joxen, 409 sheep and 97 calves more were slaughtered than in the first month of 1925. The receipts for slaughter of animals are $1,000 less for "this month than 12' months before.
Although war has actually ceased, and trains are running—not on prewar schedule—the military still have jose for the freight trucks and seattle shipments have not been ro-sumed. The situation must remain jas it is—the law of supply and demand ruling—until the line is elearly opened. Supplies of french meat will then bring down the price.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.