Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1874-01-20

1t will be seen by the comparative prices
Oh the last ten years, that in 1864 the ave
rage price was 16c per ID, and that 1900
tierceS only were exported, while in 1878
| 6OOOOO tierces were exported, at an average
price Of s 5-16c. These two years represent
the two extremes, and show that the for
| eign demand fluctuates between them Just
in proportion to the fluctuations in prices.
Another important fact is, that the lowest
price of lard last year increased its use as
substitute for tallOw, while the case is re-
reversed this year, and the demand cut off.
Bearing upon this export question we
have before us an able review of our export
trade in lard, which will apply to the bal
ance OF the product equally well. In W.
j. Wilcox d Co.'S third annual exhibit,
under date of Jan. 9, We quote as follows:
"This state of affairs has been brought
| about by a combination Of packers and
warehousemen, principally in Chicago, who,
by the old cry Of short supply, have induced
outsiders both West and here to buy ''fII-
lures" at unusually large margins over spot
prices; the packers prudently accepting
present prices, and the warehousemen
kindly advancing funds at one per cent a
month and charges. These parties, how
ever, overlook the very important fact that
the falling off in orders from Europe is
fully equal, if not greater, that the decrease
(if indeed in the end there proves to be
any) in stock. Our own figures eOnclu-
sively prove that at over SIC, with gold at
11On lis, the demand for refined lard will
decrease fully 80 per cent. With refined
lard up to SIC the Continental demand was
equal to the entire refining capacity of the
country. At about that price, We alone de-
livered in the first three months of 1873
over $1,000 tierces, but when in April the
market was advanced to 9169ac, our man.
ufacture was reduced over 80 per cent, and
when again the prices declined our orders
Immediately doubled. And besides, in adj
ditiOn to these facts, it must be borne in
mind that the Continental production of
hogs is largely in excess of the past few
years. Our private advices from Germany
place this excess at about % per cent, and
this in connection with the ample stocks in
all parts of Europe Gin many of which
prices are below an equal of s &c in New
York; indicate to us very clearly that the
trustful but deluded buyers of future lard
will, before the showers bloom" realize
that 20 from s you can't, and there is
naught TO carry"
With these remarks we proceed to pre-
sent our annual figures relative to the pro-
duction, export and prices of lard for the
last season and the year, with such other
items in connection Herewith as we believe
will be Of interest to the trade at the mo-
ments
The entire production OF lard during
the regular packing season, Nov. ],
1872, to March 1, 1873, at all points
West, from $50 600 hogs, was equal Tcs.
:....-............... 'z0'OOV
period, from /, 40, 800 hogs, was...... 10000
Making total production for the seas'n $4,000 |
The production during the summer
packing-ChicagO and the West, 575,-
900; New York, 1,2l93i3; East, etc,
9j0,Ooo-2,7 4,513 hogs..-.............. $4,000 |
to Nov. I, .................1, 900
Same period, 1SIl-l2. ,O17 100 |
Gain in production. m6,SOO
There were exported from all ports from
Nov. l, 1872, TO Nov. /, lS73.......... S6i,74j |
Same period, 1871 TO IS72.............. 1886 |
We now proceed to give our own esti- |
mates Of the present pork packing season. |
obtained through the kindness Of CORES |
pOndentS throughout the West, who all re- |
port unusual reticence on the part of pack |
erS in furnishing statistics concerning the |
present crop. From those obtained, and |
which We think reliable, we gather the fol- |
lowing data;
l. That the number of hogs already cut |
at the West is very largely in excess of |
those cut last year same date, when tie to- |
tai packing was 5,450.900. as against 4, 7OO,- |
600 in 1912. The packers and operators |
concede that the present crop will reach D. |
100000. From our own latest advices We |
assume that the crop will fully equal in |
number that of last season. At the promi- |
nent points of packing in the West the to- |
tai number cut thus far is $4,000 in excess
of last year same period, Chicago alone |
gaining over 100000.
2. That the yield of lard will not be |
more than lbs per hog less than that of |
last season, when it was unusually large, |
much above the average; from which we |
estimate the production of lard at the West |
during the present season ending March l, |
at not less than 100000 ties, or, say 5000 |
ties less than last season with fair prob |
ability from the present outlook that even |
this deficit will be made up before the sea-
son endS.) More than One-iifth of this |
shortage has already been met in the de- |
crease of foreign orders during the single |
month of December; a large portion of that |
months shipments being made on old con- |
tracts much below the ruling rates of that |
month, besides which an unusually large |
number of hogs. live and dressed, are this /
season coming East.
The coming summer, we also think, will /
show an increase in the number of hogs |
sent to market over last summer, and they |
will probably be heavier, for 1t must not be |
overlooked that notwithstanding the adj !
vanced price Of corn, the price of hogs has |
also advanced 30 per cent, and it will there
fore repay the farmers, especially in distant |
points, to feed their hogs, and iC is also in
timated that the farmers fully appreciate
the fact that hogs usually sell at higher
prices in the summer than when crowded |
into market during the packing season.
We now present the actual transactions
at this port for the year ending January l,
1874:
TIerces.
Entire receipts we're equal to........... 40, 263
Total number of hogs, live and
dressed. ...............-....... 2,O6S,5S9
From which the yield Of lard at so lbs.
each equals. ..................-.-...... 20brSoS
Total receipts, 1873. 6l6,l2l
Same period, 1872. So, 364
Entire exports from this port were equal
..........................6 Is,s76
Same period. lsI2. SD, O4S