Vicksburg weekly herald. (Vicksburg, Miss.) 1868-1883, 1870-06-11

WeRas oa tAo Meat Question
The New Orleans Pioayune In the
course Of some very sensible talk
for planters, takes up the question
Of meat.
1t declares that to-day we find
meats relatively deprer, even than
cotton itself. Pork which sold In
lS60, for SIS and SIG per barrel,
now commands about $50 50@3i
and will 60 much higher. Lard,
which formerly brought l0@lIJkc.
per pound now sells at l9c. Beef
has advanced more than one hum
dred per cent. Many Of our plant
ers are inclined to view these high
prices as the result of a combina.
tion Of speculative influences, and
hope to see a speedy reduction al
any time. In this they are sadly
mistaken. There may be an effect.
i've local combination occasionally,
but the general increased value OF
the meat food is due to the same
cause as the advance on cotton that
is, the demand outstripping the
supply. The returns of the Agri-
cultural Bureau show that the mum.
Der Of beeves, swine and sheep Is
enormously reduced below the
proper ratio TO the population. Ce-
reals have been selling at enhanced
value, which hSs discouraged stock
raising, until the meat question has
become one of serious import, not
only to the South, but the whole
country. The American people
are particularly fond of animal
food, and while population has
gone on increasing. the prOduC.
tion OF meat has been almost sta.
ti0nery. s.s
twill take several years to re.
duCe their relative cost, even should
every means be resOTted to In or.
der to increase the supply.
Under these circumstances II be-
hoOves the Southern planters to at
once apply themselves to the work
Of stock raising. There is every
advantage with them, former sup.
positions to the contrary nOtwith.
standing. The experience of the
late war demonstrated that as fine
bacon can be put up In the South
ern States as that comes from the
West. The progress Of science has
removed all climatic difficulties In
the way of packing on an extensive
scale. The refrigerating process
has. prolonged the packing season
through the entire year. In q
warehouse where the temperature
is at q very small cost reduced to
any desired point, packing may be
as thoroughly done beneath the
equator, as in the frozen regions oi
Alaska. But q short time since II
was deemed necessary 10 drive the
beef cattle Of Texas up to Chicago,
In order that they might be safely
packed. To-day the finest beef Il
being put up on the very borders Of
Mexico. In fact, we deem the time
as not far distant when Missouri
Indiana and Illinois will find for,
midable pork packing competitor
In Louisiana and Texas.
The upper portion Of our owl
State and Western Texas must sOOl
produce hogs in abundance; but &
is not our design to encourage hos
raising In particular localities. W.
desire to see II almost universal
over the cotton States. A pound
of good bacon will cost the planter
this summer 20 cents. 1t will take
exactly one pound of his best cot.
ton In exchange, There are few
who will not agree with us that the
former can be more easily and
cheaply raised than the latter. II
the cotton crop should be increased,
prices will fall in proportion; but
we may depend upon it that the
cost Of provisions will be long IN
finding the old level. Let our
country friends bear in mind that q
couple Of lltters Of pigs costs them
all the cotton that q good hand can
produce on the best alluvial land.