Show e live I 1 stock C awe S situation of los angeles A recent announcement has been made that tho the interstate Corn commerce merce commission of its own volition has initiated an extensive hearing in relation to western livestock and meat food product rates directing particular attention to the situation in the intermountain and pacific coast sections tho the western livestock rate situation has more or less jus grown up like topsy the original structure has been added to and about until it has become a highly complicated affair this of 0 course la is readily accounted tor for by the phe nominal growth in hi consumer demand on the pacific coast following the shifting shit ting of population in that direction and in transportation circles it has been difficult to keep abreast of 0 the development to say nothing ot of settling down to formulate a policy projected into the future the economy of 0 centralizing meat packing and distribution at strategically located points has been amply proven in the east and middle west many benefits result from such centralization meaning as it does the greatest return tor for byproducts economies in buying expense through making purchases at a given point and from the standpoint ot at distributing the finished product a much more satisfactory operation results at first glance it might not appear economical to ship live animals from the country to tho the packing centers and ship the finished product back to the country however this has demonstrated itself in the east and middle west and much benefit has been derived through the reducing ot of duplication ot of facilities more economical and efficient inspection methods from a sanitary standpoint and a more thorough laboratory and scientific research program being made possible with proper coordination between the meat packer transportation systems and retailers located in the smaller communities at di distant stant points a much broader variety may be carried in the retail shops and many economies effected in less extravagant cooling systems by carrying a smaller supply which may bp ble replenished pleni plent shed regularly many times this Is accomplished by the use 01 peddler cars these cars covering rek regular scheduled routes over the railroads and supplying retail meat mai bets along the way naturally transportation play a most important part in the cost of meat tood food both through the movement ot of live animals to marketing centers and the distribution of finished products from these centers the old time costume particularly on the coast has been the scattering ol of slaughtering throughout the country at widely diffused points this system before the present day metropolitan centers were formed answered the purpose however with the concentration ot at an immense consumer demand represented by over five million people in california alone requirements have outstripped the early day practices and have made necessary the centralization of livestock marketing and packing operations at given points through the bringing together at focal points of these operations erat ions of course the entire western rate structure has been distorted it Is timely now that such a hearing should be had and a disposition is evident in all quarters including the railroads producers meat packers livestock markets and all interested te rested parties to cooperative to the fullest extent in making proper readjustments this Is a matter that Is of interest to everyone along ther line from the producer to the consumer and an effort should be made to give the interstate commerce commission the broadest possible light |