, 1860-01-02

The seasons of 1s5s-59, though disastrous to
operstors in general throughout the United
States, to Chicago packers it w=s ono Of mode
rate succcss-as this market was neither no ex-
cited nor SO iluctuating as at Cincinnati, Louis
vile and other points, where operations vera
carried on under the 1t short crop" theory At
the date Of our last annual review the number
OF Hogs packed amounted tn l56, 900; but they
continued to come in during January and Fcbru'
AIRY. aud ut the close Of the season there were
cut in all Isl, 900 hogs the2lighest number ever
before reached by nearly l0d,esl!.
The Provision market AutinS The vcor has !
been ts1erably active, t,o Eh for the want OF pro-
duel during the summer months there was but
title movement.
.u January the market opancd quiet Mt $1G.c8
IlG.l0 for Mess Pork, 81. 2. and tic for Bulk
Meats packed. and 1pl@loac for prime Leaf
Lard; but during the !irst two weeks the mar
lct declined 5o@1'ic OH Mess Fork, with sales
ut $l5-5o@ 1878. About the 10th, however, the
market becau1e lrmer. and several thousand
barrels were sold at $1,000 for shipment to st.
Louis-the market gradually advancing and bo~
coming excitcd-till Mess FORK on the 26th
reached ss7.00, aud Bulk Meats 81, It and Sc.
packed. Lard sold the 4Ctl at lie, and
c1nscd at 1l111tc.
The buoyancy in Hog products continued to
increase ID February, till on the 18th 40 bb's
were sold Gu Canadtao account At SIS W. and
on tic nth. 1000 hbfs were sold Tor March de-
livery at sis..a. Cut Meats were also in good
st and Shoulders Il: &c packed. In Lard
there wnu n speculative inquiry, and Prime Leaf
.vas sold ut III. During the last half uf the
snonth, however, the excitement s.1hs'ded. and
the narket closed on the a.>th at Sls@l7.l5 for
Mes Pork and III for Lard.
In Mnrch the market was dull and spiritless-
salcs Of Mess Pork being inade over iu small
lots at Sl6.7it1 II 7.U0-cfusng on the 31&t nomi-
/ nal at sl6.50@l5.7:1. In Cnt Meats there was
scarcely any movement, except in Shoulders. at
she heginning ofthe month. when several thou
sand pieces were sold ut Glc pncked- Lard de-
clincd 10 llc but ut the close there was better
demand, and sales were made ut lite.
In April the market was very quiet. Early
in the month several thousand barrels Mess
Fork were sold at s16.;p; but throughout the
remainder Of the month tue dem and WAS almost
entirely limited to the wants Of 1umbcrnen,
who purchased freely ut SlG.251lG.5 The
stock Of Cut Meats was unusually light. except
Hams, which were in good supply, aud limited
sales were made Il: sc, looso. Several lots of
country cured Bacon llams were sold during
<hc month at sic in ca*ks. Lhrd opened with
light sales at lie, but the markctwas exceeding
ty inactive all the month, aud ut tbs close, 800
bbls. changed hauds ut 1nac.
In May, the stock Of Hog Product was light
and the market opcncd with = good local de-
mand at s1G.5o for Mess Pork but the war
news excited the market mud prices advanced
on the l1th to $1at"!-gradually subsldlnE with
bseadstufls nnd closing quiet, with but fc~ buy
crs at SlS.tH'. In Bulk Mcats there were suIes
on The 9Th 0f 1u,tlnt pcs Shoulders and lu.th'0
PCS Hams at 81 mud 1lc. Io0sc; but oher titan
these there were no transactions unless 4 few
small lots, consignncnts frnm tue INTERIOR
There was hut little .urd Offering. und the mar
let advanced from II! @llac on the 1st, to 1870
l1!c IN the lsth,-closlng on the clst nt ltc.
From June to October inclusive, the stock of
. product was too light to admit Of any demand
IRON tue cnsr, mud the only movement TINT took
place WIS to supply the requirements Of Canada