Rutland herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1823-1847, 1836-01-12
From the Correspondence Of the Baltimore Patriot.
Cincinnati, Ohio Dec. 6, 1885.
THE PORK BUSINESS

Cincinnati, Ohio Dec. 6, 1885.
THE PORK BUSINESS.
! About year since, gave you some account Of
the Business in this city. The mode and manner
Of slaughter and packing the hogs sc. That
account, although marvellous by our Eastern and
Northern friends, who had never visited the West,
and consequently knew nothing of the enterprise
of our citizens. was nevertheless strictly true. 1t
was thought, am informed, oy many of your read.
ers incredible, that hog could be knocked down,
bled, scaldcd. scraped, strung up and the inside
dressing completed in little more than a minute
still i, is true that the average time is less than
a minute and quarter-Ffy hogs are FUSED up
| as we say in the West, i'll an hour-from running
in the yard. they are within the hour suspended by
their hind feet from the beams in he slaughter house
| completely dressed.
stated in that letter. that at one of Mr. Col
mans slaughter houses, he had a man that usually
opened, removed the ofla, and completed the dres
sing OF three hogs in minute--this was strictly
true, and the same man understand is doing the
same thing this year, at the same slaughter house.
| Another statement in that letter, which by some
was thought incorrect, was, that at one of these
houses six hundred and fifty hogs were slaughter,
ed, aud completely dressed in one day, and that Mr.
Coleman had slaughtered and dressed at his four
houses, in single day twenty six hundred-say
eleven hours work by 100 men-strange as this
may appear to any one that has not witnessed the
operation of hog killing (and | doubt not this
whole story appears to such ncredibe.) 1t is new.
ertheless strictly true without the least exapgera
tion-it is also strictly correct that at any OF the
large Pork Houses, they can receive the hogs at
the slaughter house, (Which different establish
men' altogether, and conducted by different men
\ thpt ,ho
n'"at pack. brine. cooper. md brand two hundred
ana fifty, TO three hundred barrels Of Pork in one
day, and have 1t ready for shipment-and at the
same time, turn out two hundred kegs of Lard.
More hogs were slaughtered and packed last year.
in the city, than during any season before-say
l52' 900. In the winter preceding the number was
| 1913 900.
There are two smoke houses one at each end
Az by ~ feet each, IN which three hundred thou =
sand pounds OF meat, can be smoked in each eud,
20 feet square, and containing four large kettles in
each for rendering lard with cellar under the
whole paved with brick. The building is hand
somely finished and rendered in every respect con
venent for the business.
Hogs were purchased last year at SO per bnn-
bred pounds for those weighing on an ayerape. 200
| pounds. This year they are compelled TO nav for
similar hogs IS to 50-which will make differ
ence IN the cost to the packer of barrel of Mess
Pork over las, year of about five dollars--so that
Mess Pork will be turned out at a cos, of about ff
teen dollars per barrel. Hogs have never but once
before been sold at such high prices in this market.
In the winter of 1888, '34, SO rs was psid on
an average for 200 weight hogs
| Last year, in this city alone, las have before
rcmarked) 152 900 hogs were slaughtered and
packed, and largely increased quantities at Hamil.
ton, Rossville Franklin, Middleton, Dayton Law
renceburgh, &c. This year, ain informed that
go or 10000 will be the extent that will be pack
ed in the city. and but very few will be packed at
any of the above named towns. In Illinois, some
| few more will be packed this winter than last
But throughout the whole Western country. it is
said, that the amount of Pork packed will not ex-
coed one half Of the expectations Of last year.
| There can be no question but that Pork as well
as Lard and Bacon, will be high for the next year
The quantity in market will be less than the demad
| for consumption.
| The spare ribs and feet were formerly given
away, and often thrown away-this year there
| is demand for them, and are sold at rs gents
per barrel, for feet, and two cents each for spare
! ribs.
| Two or three Virginlans aud number of Yam
KEGS are here this fall for the purpose of packing
pork, but the scarcity and high prices of hogs have
deferred them from taking hold