4 BULLETIN 1317, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 
Federal food board of that city in 1918, some of which has been 
incorporated with the results of the present study. 
In six additional large cities a- -partial canvass was made to ob- 
tain general information regarding conditions in the trade, and par- 
ticularly to obtain additional data as to operating expenses and 
profits. Data regarding chain-store systems and branches in the 
cities completely canvassed were obtained at the time of the general 
canvass of the trade, and information was subsequently obtained as 
far as possible from all the larger meat and grocery chain systems 
of the country concerning their growth in recent years and concern- 
ing the volume of their operations in meats and groceries in an 
effort to determine their economic importance at the present time 
and the present tendency. From a number of chain systems com- 
plete statements of operating expenses and profits were obtained and 
in several instances these were continued over a period of three 
years. Accounting records were usually available in chain-store 
systems. They were less often available in individual concerns 
even of somewhat large size, and rarely in those of small size. 
Methods of merchandising and economic conditions in the trade 
were found to differ considerably in different parts of the country, 
and accordingly for the analysis of data in some respects the coun- 
try has been divided into four principal sections, partly on the basis 
of meat production and consumption and partly on the basis of 
general agricultural and industrial interests. The northeastern sec- 
tion, the principal excess meat-consuming section, embraces Ohio, 
West Virginia, Maryland, and the States to the northeastward. 
The central section, the principal meat-producing and meat-packing 
region, embraces Michigan and Indiana and the States westward to 
the Continental Divide and southward, including Missouri, Okla- 
homa, Texas, and New Mexico. The southeastern section, charac- 
terized chiefly as a cotton-producing region, includes Virginia, Ken- 
tucky, Arkansas, and the States to the southward. The Pacific coast 
section includes the seven States west of the Continental Divide. 
This division is especially serviceable in dealing with operating ex- 
penses and profits in the trade, but it is of some service also in con- 
sidering methods of merchandising. 
DEVELOPMENT OF THE RETAIL MEAT BUSINESS 
The development of the retail meat business has been largely a 
result of the urbanization of our population and the centralization 
of the slaughtering and meat-packing industry. Formerly meats 
sold at retail, particularly in the summer in the less populous com- 
munities, were largely cured and dry salt meats, whose handling 
did not necessitate special equipment. The fresh meats sold by the 
village or city butcher were of local slaughter, and except in the 
winter were usually sold within 48 hours. The equipment of the 
early shops was essentially crude. Kef rigeration Avas not universal, 
sanitary conditions were indifferent, and inspection for disease was 
not attempted. 
As the stock-raising industry moved westward, meat slaughtering 
tended to greater specialization. Before the Civil War abattoirs had 
been established in several eastern cities, where large numbers of 
