The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1868-11-26
HOGS.

Hogs in small lots, are coming in
freely. Messrs. l.add, Gillaspy 4 Co.,
are rapidly preparing their house
with many additional facilities, and
the slaughter of the innocents will
commence in bloody earnest in a few
days. They are contracting for De-
cember delivery at about $50
gross.
OF course anybody else's opinion is
just as good q ours, but there is one
good sure rule to adhere to in the
matter ofselling pork, as we'll as any
thing else, which in the long run is
bound to win, and that is-when you
can get good price take it. In view
of the immense corn crop, all over the
country, and the gre atty increased
weight Of the hogs as consequence
of heavy and late feeding, and the
probable tightness Of the money mar
ket, we are inclined to the opinion
that the carly market will be the
best. But our readers pays their
money and takes their choice.
We take the following from thelast
circular of Francis w. Crane 4 Co.,
of st. Louis, reliable Provision
House as being interesting on this
point:
awe are informed by most reliable
and intelligent gentlemen and deal
ers located in the South that the
condition of the people in that section
is better financially than it has been
for some years. They have this year
gathered a good full crop of cotton,
and the people are receiving the
money for the same, and can pay for
what they require, and their demands
for provisions are greater than the
dealers have stock to supply. This
favorable condition of affairsis to have
a powerful influence on the next
seasons business, beyond o doubt
So far as the provision trade ia to be
affected by this improved condition,
it is fortunate that the hog crop Of
the year is abundant and the corn
crop is immense. The hogs will be
well fed and fatted, which will large
~ increase the amount in bulk. The
difference IN amount of product by
weight over the same number OF hogs
slaughtered the last season must be
| considerable This OF itself will in
the aggregate add vastly to help
swell the amount OF hog product to
be put upon the market the coming
season. In this view of the case, we
must conclude that the present price
of hogs is altogether too high, and
cannot be sustained. The farmers
should consider that the packer must
have a margin for fair profit, or he
cannot afford to buy the hogs. Prices
should be neither too high nor too
low. Our packers will be found will
ing to pay fair price, and upon this
basis they should be met by the far.
mers. Prices should be much lower
than the present rates to give any
profit to the packer, and we do not
doubt they will be after the farmers
have got through feeding out tn,
corn. In this connection we ar
moved to refer to another matte7
which is working serious injury t.
country producers. We hear inucl
complaint that the railroads are Civ
ing q severe check to business by no
providing sufficient transportation tt
bring tho hogs to market, and tina
large shipments get off over othe
roads to other markets which woul,
como here if they could get through
on our roads. We are told of repeat
ed instances where hogs have waite,
from four to six days before any car
were provided to bring them forward
The farmers feel that they are &C
verely dealt with by what appears t
them to be unnecessary delays. w
trust that our railroad managers vii
exert themselves to remedy thi
evil"