Urbana union. [volume] (Urbana, Ohio) 1862-1872, 1871-11-22
9atsteltamous,
ICE-CURED PORK.

4 ReuoZution in Packing and Curing
The Hog Crop of 187l-72.
The Cincinnati P7ce Current, under
the heading of ''Provision Trade RevO-
luton" gives some interesting infOrma-
tfon concerning the growth of new in
dustry-the ice-euring of pork in sum-
mer-which it says is making ''great
breaches" in the old packing trade. Ac-
cording to this trade journal, it may al
most be said that it is not longer neces-
sary to salt and lay aside meat in
winter at all, any more than at any
other season, there being, however, a
few weeks in the heated term of sum-
mer when it is not necessary nor desira-
bic to handle or use much meat. Swine
are fattened more conveniently and
more econ OmicallY in fall weather, and
then transportation can be done twenty
per cent. cheaper. Fresh e-cured
meat is brighter, sweeteT, and sells high
er for several of the leading qualities
than the dry, highly salted winter cured.
Ice houses have been constructed at
many western points where packing
continues constantly and safely all sum-
mer. The extra cost of cold air from
ice is being radpidIy reduced, and is al
ready counting less than the expense of
holding meat over from winter to sum-
mer. This state Of affairs has complete
" upset the old business by which the
wealth of the pork packing business has
been acquired. And the article con-
cIudes with the remark that "the last
winters packing stock has lately been
selling at a loss of some forty per cent"
Whether the Indifferent success which
according to this authority, has lately
attended what was once the greatest
single interest in Cincinnati is wholly
due to ice packing may be questioned.
The Cincinnati Enquirer contains a copy
of an agreement entered into by the
packers there, dated Nov. 1st, in which
they formally covenant with each other
''that they will, in the purchase of gross
hogs, during the packing season of 1871
and 1872, only weigh as merchantabIe
hogs such as will walk without assis-
tance to the scale.". It is comforting to
the general consumer to know that heI
packers have ''struck hands" over a
bargain not to salt away any more "brok-
en- or diseased" pigs.
From the Louisville Courier Journal.l
Statistics show that there are over
thirty millions of hogs in the United
States. The market draws from this
stock annually, according to the demand
at home and abroad and the prospects
of the trade. It is supplied in proper.
ton of the yield of mast and maize, and
according to the contingencies of the
market its self. Usually, we believe
about four or five millions of these hog:
are slaughtered annually; but O.
course the contingencies mentioned
more or less affect the drift upon the
main stock.
The crop of hogs of 1870 and 1871 wa.
much the largest crop we have ever haC
in the West, say nearly a million more
than ever before, and during last sum
mer Chicago received from two to tel
thousand every day during the warn
weather, and all the other cities in tn,
same proportion. Notwithstanding tn,
extra large crop and summer curing
the stock has been consumed. In 1869
/, 70 the Drices wpra vprv biub Sov from
, eight to ten dollars. The high prices o
that year, together with the extremel,
) fine crop of corn, produced this larg
supply, all other products being com
parativeIy much lower, and at thos
, prices it was the best thing that farme