Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1874-01-06
Pork Packing i'm the West.


Sine the date Of our last issue, when we
gave returns from 10 interior points, we
have received 80 additional reports, and We
are now enabled to present returns from
$50 interior packing points, representing
over nine-tenths of all the packing in the
West during the winter season of IS72-13,
outside of the six principal cities. These
returns are in response TO inquiries mailed
Dec. II, and bear dates from the 18th to
the Both, including amended returns at
many points, the larger number having
been made since the 10th Of December.
The preliminary report, which we now
present, compiled from these reports, is
more complete and reliable, we believe,
than has been published so early in the
season in any preceding year, and it indi-
Gates quite oOnclusively what will be the
financial outcome of the seasons business.
These indications, are, first, a reduction of
about 10 per cent in the number Of hogs
which will be packed by the end of this
season at points other than the six larger
| packing cities, a decrease in weight, which
cannot be reliably estimated, but which is
| so considerable that it may be safe to say
10 per cent, and falling off in the yield of
lard of about four pounds per hog from the
yield of last year, which, however, was I'M
usually large.
There is another thing which has not
thus far had due prominence as an element
affecting the supply, and the reason why it
| has not is, perhaps. that il is not generally
known even to the packers themselves-we
| refer to the shrinkage, which is much larger
his year than last, not only from gross to
net weight Of hogs themselves, but also
| the larger number Of hogs this year, shrink
more than one-fifth of the gross weight,
whereas last year Is per cent would cover
the shrinkage in many instances, and We
| doubt if the average was more than IL per
| cent. In some test case made with meats
| il is found that the shrinkage in curing also
is more than dOuble what it was last year.
The cause Of this is generally attributed to
the inferior quality and deficient quantity
of corn. but whether this is the true ex-
PLANTATION ornOt, the fact remains the same.
This subject, we may remark in passing, is
worthy tOf thorough investigation, and we
should be glad TO have the opinion of those
packers and farmers who feel interested
enough TO take pains TO find out the facts
in the case. The result, as far as the pack
er is concerned, is that his meat has cost
him a fair manufacturing profit above what
it would have cost last year had he paid the
same price for hogs. In other words, an
advance on the cost of meats, which would
have been a fair profit last year, must this
year be added TO find the actual cost.
As regards the six larger Western pack
ing points, We do not esteem it practicable
at this time to undertake an estimate of
what will be done during the remaining
two months of the season. The packing to
date at these points aggregates 2,495, 900,
against / ,945, 900 to same time last season.
or an excess this season amounting to $50
600, and leaving 100000 more to be packed
TO equal last seasons numbers. Our latest
advices give unmistakable evidence of light
supplies of hogs yet to be marketed.
BY reference tOthe table of recapitulatiOn
it will be seen that the estimated packing
in Ohio aggregates at points heard from
the same as last year, Indiana a little less,
Illinois $1,000 less, Missouri $4,000 less,
which embraces the leading comparisons to
be made. ..r
The packing last year at the more prom
inent points from which we have had no
returns was as follows: In Indiana, Cos
port q, 1872, Princeton IL ,522; in Illinois,
Springfield 1900 probably little or moth
ing this season.; in Iowa, Ottumwa $4,000,
which will show considerable falling off
this season, we are informed, the principal
packing-house having been burned early in
the season.
The approximate packing at the princi-
pal packing points at the West up to the
latest mail dates, and estimated since, COM
pares with corresponding date last year,and
total packing for winter season of 1S72-73,
as follows: