Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1872-11-07
PORK-PACKING IN THE UNITED
STATES.

There are two great interest concerned
in packing in barrels, and otherwise curing
hog-me for foreign and home consump-
ton. One, ard the most active and con-
centrated interest is engaged in buying and
slaughtering fat hogs as money making
business operation. It's inclined to over
estimate the number of hogs in the country
and the amount of corn to feed them with
view to depress the market price of this
product of the farm before the farmer sells
it. The less money per 100 pounds paid to
the producer of meat and Lard by the pack
er, the greater will be the profits of
the latter, and :of dealers.
The article IN this paper of Nov. 6, copied
from the Cincinnati Gazette under the
heading "Hog Crop" was evidently writ
ten in the interest of hog-buyers in Pork
opolis. 1t concludes with these remarks:
at is not strange that packers feel indiffer-
ent about commencing operations, and that
many of them have determined to remain
idle rather than take the immense risks,
unless they can buy hogs at much lower
prices than now prevail"
As plain Tennessee farmer, the writer
begs to inquire, what point Of depression
will suit the views of those packers who
are so indifferent" about pursuing their
regular trade ,,5or business?
Admit Gas this writer asserts) that the
United States this fall will have a surplus
for export of seven hundred and forty mil
lion pounds of hog msat, is it not bstter for
farmers to bacon and hold considerable
share of this crop rather than throw it all
on the market, and let spectators, rail
roads aud commercial houses in New York,
London and Berlin consume our staple,
while the isolated, home staying farmer
works for nothing and finds himself?
Steamships and sailing vessels on the At
lautic, and railway companies on land, have
put up the price Of freight to make some
thing handsome for themselves this fall and
winter.
Our facilities for sending produce to dist
ant markets are too restricted and too much
In the power of a few men. In theory,
the majority rule this country; but in
practice, very few fix the cost Of every
mans dinner, and tie compensation Of all
his labor. Farmers and mechanics have
no self-government, because they fail to see
its value, and the Importance of earnest
cooperation to command all the natural
advantages Of scientific agriculture. They
are in great danger Of becoming mere
hewers of wood and drawers of water for
a moried aristocracy. No matter whether
grain, meat or cotton, is scarce or plenty,
SPECTATORS want the lions share of all
prots.
Those who raise fat hogs, cattle and
sheep, corn, wheat, cotton and tobacco,
have yet to learn the great art and science
of selling what they produce, and Of buy
ing what they consume, to the best advan-
tage. It is far more difficult to keep prop
erty, and use it wisely as invested capital,
than TO produce grain and meat on farm,
or acquire dollars and cents by trading. Not
knowing how to keep property is the de-
fective point in the general education of
honest industry. Ignorance, weakness and
poverty in the masses present a wide field
for capital greater intelligence, and some
dishonesty to plant dimes and dollars, and
harvest eagles rapidly and successfully.