The Ouachita telegraph. [volume] (Monroe, La.) 1865-1889, 1872-11-30
Tho Pork Crop.

Despite the low prices ruling for hog
products the past two years, the crop
this season promises to be the largest on
record. The incoming corn crop is pro-
nounced tbs largest and best ever pro-
duced, indicated by the fact that all the
States in the Union, except five, and
these not among the leading producers,
return a yield of eight per cent. above
the average. In addition to this, it is
to be noted that there is an unusually
large quantity of last years corn crop
still IN the hands of the farmers and
when it is considered that they are en-
abled to realize moro money by feeding
it to hogs than by selling the grain, a
ready explanation of the magnitude of
pork crop Is afforded.
Under these circumstances, q cOntin-
uation of low prices would seem to be
foregone conclusion. Very few of the
packers, it Is said, have made profit
the last two seasons, the competition
between the Western packing centres
having been so sharp that higher prices
were paid to the farmers than was war
ranted by the condition Of the market.
Most of the packers name four cents
per pound gross as the extreme limit
that is likely to be paid at the Western
centres this season, while some think
three and half cents is all that the con-
dition of the trade will warrant. Any
thing over tho maximum price, it is
claimed by the best authorities, will
prove ruinous to the packers, since tho
crop is so overwhelmingly large that
tho hogs will be forced Off in any event;
while the money pressure and tho new
system of summer curing will compel
packers to turn over their products as
soon rs ready. Heavy contracts have
already been made for bacon for the
English and Continental markets, and
most of the available steam room at this
port, devoted to that class of freight,
has been secured for the next two
months, ut 40s@50s per ton, according
TO port. While the sales of bacon for
future delivery have been large, both
horc and in the West, tho tendency Of
prices has been downward, as tho season
has advanced. Barrel pork, ON the
other hand, has lately ruled higher !;
but this has been largely because of cor
nering operations in connection with
Chicago, facilitated by n reduced stock
of old meats. Tho circular of q Chicago
packer says that the shippers of stock
from the interior to that centre arc
completely under tho control Of the
commission merchants there, who can
produce q scarcity Or Il glut, as they
consider most desirable; yet if tho hog
crop is so large as it is claimed to be, it
will be impossible to force up prices
beyond tho point warranted by the in
exorable law of supply and demand.
Chicago, however, must have her "cor-
ners." Her enterprising merchants are
never entirely happy unless they have
some gigantic enterprise on hand for
tho enrichment of themselves and the
discontinue OF the rest of tho world. 1t
is true tho Board of Trade Of that city,
seized with n tit Of spasmodic virtue,
resolved last summer against "corners''
generally, and provided for tho admin
istering of wholesome discipline to such
of its members as should engage there
in; but these paper resolves are esteem
cd Of small account by tho Spectator
who thinks that no secs IN opportunity
for making money. If no can pocket u
snug pilc, even the cxtrome penalty of
expulsion from the Board has no special
terror for him. In point of fact, a pork,
corner in Chicago has boon successfully
maintained for several months but
when tho new crop begins to come In
in large quantities there will be a break
in tho corner, and the price will gravi-
tate to its natural levcl.-N e,U York
Shipping List.