White Cloud Kansas chief. [volume] (White Cloud, Kan.) 1857-1872, 1858-11-25


millions. The surplus packed for market,
at the leading points, therefore, do not
embrace more than one-third Of the actu
al number in the pork-paeking States.
From this. it may be seen, how easy IT is
for farmers, when extra inducements are
offered, in the shape Of high prices, to in
crease the surplus. and they have rarely
failed TO dc this when the business open-
ell at tempting tignres, as il has this wear
1t is to be concluded, therefore. that If
prices are sustained forsixty DAYS to come
full proportion of all the hogs in the,
West viii be packed.
One important question to be consider
ell, then,-is: How does the number If
hogs in the country compare with last
years crop? Looking only at the prices
that have prevailed. and drawing our
conclusions from this basis, we should
estimate large increase. But for sever
al years past a counteracting influence has
operated to check the production, and ro-
duce. relatively, the number in the coun-
try, SO that the former has not kept I'D
with the general increase of population,
or the progress of agricultural industry.
Millions of hogs have been swept away
by that extraordinary and mysterious dis
ease known as "hog cholera within the
last three or four years, which has not
only diminished the number by death, but
has also checked the production for far
mcrS. discouraged by the prevalence of
this epidemic, have, in the infected dis
trfcts, given less attention than usual 10
this department Of business. And dur
ing the past year the disease has been full
ly as fatal as in any previous season. It
is a question, therefore, notwithstanding
the high prices that have prevailed, and
are still current, whether there is great
er number Of hogs in the country now
than there was last year. 1t is safe. We
think. to say. that the increase, If any. is
but slight. But with equal safety it may
be concluded that fiiere has been no actu-
al decrease in numberS-lhat there are as
many animals in the leading hog produc-
ing States, at this time, as at the cores
ponding period last year. Ifso. how will
the packing Of the two seasons compare
Let us see Last year, it viii be recol-
lected, the country was at this time in the
midst of the panic. Money was exceed
ingly scarce. and every branch of business
was greatly deranged. There were few
cash markets for hogs. In the West, far
mers had the alternative. of packing. them
selves. or selling on credit. In some
cases they chose the latter, and in Others
the former Bat in consequence of this
difficulty. the surplus crop was not brought
ont. y large proportion Of it was seat
terrell about through the hands Of farmers
AMI small dealers, which was not incla-
ded in the general footings and but lit
tie of this, comparatively, was sent to
market in the shape OF products. This
year it is different. Money is plenty.
Bus I ess is settled, and everywhere pork
dealers are actively preparing for opera
tons. On the western rivers, particularly,
there is a brisk demand for hogs, and at
many points the contracts, already made,
exceed the total Of last years business at
the same places. Wherever there is
pork trade there is a cash market. In
addition full prices prevail, and farmers
are in condition to appreciate and avail
themselves Of these ,ad~antagcs. They
neel money Many Of them are in debt.
Wheat crops are short, and hogs are the
most available thing they have for sale.
They will, therefore, be apt to sell as
many hogs as they can fatten, depending
upon other commodities for domestic
consumption. The inference, therefore,
that farmers will sell close, and that the
fell surplus crop Of hogs viii be brought
out and concentrated at the packing points,
is reasonable one.
The views that we have thus presented
lead MS to anticipate an increase in the
hog crop of 1850. This will be chiefly
realized in Indiana, Iowa, Illinois, Mis-
souri, and Tennessee. Ohio and Kentucky
will probably hold their own. but no
more. The packing. as reported last
year, in the several States named, were as
follows.