386 ANNUAL EEPORTS OP DEPARTMENT OF AGEICULTUEE. 



munities. A survey of the movement shows that over 500 associa- 

 tions are now shipping stock to market in a cooperative way, prin- 

 cipally in Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Nebraska; also in Iowa, the 

 Dakotas, Kansas, Michigan, Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio. 



STUDY OF MUNICIPAL ABATTOIRS. 



A survey of existing municipal abattoirs in their relation to the 

 local marketing of live stock has been begun, including a first-hand 

 study of typical instances and a comprehensive inquiry addressed to 

 State and city officials throughout the country. Of the five munici- 

 pally owned abattoirs in the United States, three have been studied 

 personally. At 14 cities centralized abattoirs under private owner- 

 ship Avith municipal inspection and control have been found, 13 of 

 which are located in the Southern States. Municipally owned abat- 

 toirs are projected at nine other places at least, and the movement 

 is extending rapidly. A publication calling attention to the limi- 

 tations as well as the possibilities of these establishments as factors 

 in locating marketing is in course of preparation. 



STUDY OF COOPEKATIVE MEAT-PACKING COMPANIES. 



The rapid development of the cooperative packing-house move- 

 ment within the past year, particularly in Wisconsin, Minnesota, 

 and Iowa, prompted an investigation of local conditions and factors 

 concerning this method of marketing. It was found that the so- 

 called cooperative companies were being prom.oted almost wholly by 

 parties from outside the communities concerned and without sufficient 

 regard to the limitations which characterize this complex form of co- 

 operation. The conclusions were issued as- a press bulletin which 

 called attention to the precautions essential to the success of such an 

 enterprise. This was circulated particularly in about 2.5 communi- 

 ties in which cooperative packing plants are being projected. 



LIVE-STOCK AND ifEAT-MAEKET EEPORTS. 



The methods, sources, accuracy, and use of market reports and the 

 variations in prices of live stock, meats, and animal by-products at 

 market centers have been investigated by means of personal in- 

 quiries and statistical compilations. The results of the investigation 

 emphasize the urgent need of more reliable, complete, and uni- 

 form quotations, both of live stock and of wholesale and retail meat ; 

 and the compilation of variations in prices affords a valuable basis 

 for further investigations as to the most favorable seasons for mar- 

 keting the different classes of live stock and as to the normal seasonal 

 fluctuations in market prices of meat products and by-products. 



OTHER INVESTIGATIONS. 



A schedule of 3G questions on marketing live stock has been ad- 

 dressed to 10,500 live-stock correspondents and price reporters of the 

 Bureau of Crop Estimates in order to secure data from stockmen 

 regarding the marketing problems which they consider most pressing. 

 Returns from this inquiry w^ill serve as a guide in the planning of 



