Show BIG INCREASE IN MEAT PRODUCTION But Official Report Shows No Reduction in Price By Associated Press WASHINGTON March Under Unde r the stimulus of wartime demands I meat production reached the enormous enor- enor I total of pounds last year which the department of i agriculture announces undoubtedly I never before had been attained in this country and certainly not In any t 1 other country Meat 1 producers increased meat production production pro pro- I in one year t by y 24 per cent and thus made possible an Increase of national meat surplus In one yea yeaby year yearby r by 79 per cent and an Increase inper in per capita consumption by 17 per I I cent The national surplus ot of all kinds of meat was pounds In 1900 while last year it was J pounds or nearly double the surplus of 1917 I Another official announcement sa says s 's I that although food prices showed a decline of 6 per cent during the month I ending last February 15 the prices were 9 per cent higher than those prevailing In February 1918 and about 75 per cent higher than the price average of 1913 Price statistics for last month announced announced an- an by the department of labor showed that twenty six of the forty forty- two articles listed were cheaper In February than In the preceding month The marked decreases were eggs 33 per cent and butter 19 per cent Potatoes led twelve articles showIng showing show show- Ing an Increase by an advance Qt 25 per cent |