Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1874-10-27

4 new 1Ork Duuelln, Oct- "A.
Reports from PA points in Illinois, Kan
sas, Nebraska, Iowa, Missouri, Ohio and
Indiana, the great corn and hog producing
States, seem to confirm opinions previously
published indicating decrease in hogs and
fair crop of corn. In the majority of in
stances the number of hogs reported is con-
siderably less than at this time last year,
as confirmed by the official reports Of the
several State Auditors. There is but lit
tie doubt as to there being fewer hogs in
the country than at this time last season.
In almost all sections of the country hogs
are reported in poor condition, owing to
the scarcity of old corn. In Canada it is
also said there will be slight falling off
in the number.
The corn crop, according to latest esti-
males, will be fair one, but as there is
very little Of last years corn now on hand,
and as the market price is fully 100 per
cent higher than in 1873, it seems prob
able that the farmers will sell their hogs
early in the season, in order 10 realize bet
ter value for their corn.
Last year the price of hogs at Chicago
ranged from $3.50 10 81 on the LIST of No
vember, TO S4.621 TO 1915 at the close of
February, and the result was a safe price for
product, at which shippers early, and specu-
lators later, took hold free. This year, how
ever, we shall doubtless commence packing
at much higher rates, and as the country is
bare of stock, the new crop will doubtless
be largely drawn upon to supply the imme-
diate necessities of trade, both home and
foreign. Summer curing has been more
extensively carried on this season than ever
before, and especially in the West, and the
product has generally given much better
satisfaction than winter cured stocks.
Owing to the scarcity of winter meats, the
Southern trade has taken the ice-eured to a
larger extent than usual. while there has
also been a large amount of old and dam
aged bacon reShipped from Liverpool and
sent South, which has completely cleared
both Europe and America Of old bacon.
Long clear was at first the only cut inquired
for, but of late Staffordshire, Cumberlands
and Stretfords have been in demand.
This shows conclusively that the number
of hogs cut during the summer has been
greater than last year, and that the balance
left since the returns of the Government
Statistical Bureaus Report was made up
is less in proportion than for last year or
former years. So far statistics enable us
to Judge of the course of the future market;
but, as we have often remarked before,
statistics are getting, year by year, to be
less relied upon by the mercantile COM
munity, because they have SO often and in
variably failed them of late years. No
stronger illustration of this fact is needed
than the statistical position of the pro-
vision market a year ago, which unmis-
takeably pointed to low, or at least not
high prices. This was accepted by the
trade generally early in the season to be
the situation, and yet spectators took hold
of the whole crop later and carried it sue
cessfully through at the highest point
known for years. And no one seems yet
able to account fully for this apparently
anomalous condition OF affairs. Clearly,
statistics failed. The cause of these
changes are in constantly changing currents
of trade and different modes of business, to
which must be added the speculative or
non-speculative disposition of the trade it.
self during different periods. In view of
these facts, the provisions trade are stand
ing alOof, and the question of future prices
is still as doubtful as ever.