SIXTH ANNUAL YEAR BOOK — PART I. 83 



in every part of the United States, for without this and the other con- 

 tinental European marliets, which invariably look to Germany as a 

 leader in affairs of this kind and imitate her policies, the time will not 

 be far off, when the cattle interests in this country will experience a 

 situation never heretofore thought possible. 



As the table of exports of this class of products shows, Germany 

 since 1900, has taken practically none of our canned meats. The im- 

 ports that year represents the product suitable for canning, from over 

 100,000 range cattle — (equivalent to about 2000 head per week); and to 

 what extent this canned meat trade could be developed in the German 

 market, if the embargo could be raised, and which will be raised, if the 

 proper co-operation of all the agricultural and allied interests can be 

 made a certainty, and the tremendous influence which such interests can 

 wield, could be brought to bear upon Congress to insist upon its acting 

 as it should in this matter, would astound those unaccustomed to the 

 possibilities of such trade. We should easily triple the business. This 

 is not idle conjecture, but the concensus of opinions of practical busi- 

 ness men conversant with the situation in all its details. One can plainly 

 understand what such an increase means; just so many more cattle de- 

 manded by the canning factories, and naturally an increased demand 

 means increased values. 



It will be noticed that the table, while it shows a decided improve- 

 ment in canned meats, during the past six years, as compared with the 

 years 1898 and 1899, notwithstanding the fact that Germany imported 

 but a nominal quantity during the last five years, that these increases 

 occurred only with the countries which were directly involved in war, or 

 which were interested in furnishing supplies to them, and therefore is 

 not a natural increase incident to trade. This is pointed out in order 

 that the casual investigator, who looks over the statistics, and finds a 

 continued increase in exports during the last six years, is not misled 

 in drawing his conclusions as to Germany's importance as a market for 

 our canned meats. 



We simply must have this market. And woe betide the range cattle 

 interests of this country, if we fail to secure it. 



As the table shows, Germany is a heavy buyer at the moment of our 

 barreled beef. She takes the product suitable for the purpose or about 

 50,000 head of cattle annually in casks, and of the kind described as 

 "range cattle." Now unless satisfactory conclusions are reached with 

 her before March 1st, 1906, barreled beef as well as all other packing 

 house products will be practically prohibited from entering the country, 

 owing to the highly increased tariff rates to be inaugurated at that 

 time. 



We must also consider Germany's imports of our pork products. 

 There has been since 1898 a decided falling off, as the following figures 

 will show: Their import of fresh pork in 1898 was 3,067,100 pounds; in 

 1904 it amounted to 149,160 pounds. Hams and shoulders, in 1898 was 

 9,555,700 pounds; in 1904 it amounted to 186,120 pounds. Bacon in 1898 



