The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1874-01-27
FINANCE AND BUSINESS.
WESTERN PORK PACKING.

WHERE INDIANA STANDS II RETURNS FROM
SEVERAL sTATES-AMOUNT YIELD OF LARD
AND WEIGHT COMPARED WITH LAST YEAR.
The Chicago Inter-Ocean prints from
Howard & Whites Commercial Bulletin an
interesting and valuable record of the pork
packing of the west: Early in the season es-
Inmates of the hog crop indicated slight
decrease as compared with last year, but
little confidence appeared to be manifested
in these statements. When the crop COM
menced to move in November, followed by
increased arrivals at all the points during
the early part of December, it was deemed
that the fall estimates Of the crop were I'M
doubleday incorrect. To be sure. farmers
appeared to be anxious to sell their hogs
freely, and the corn crop was lighter than
usual, yet it was thought moderate receipts
would make the final report of the packing
of the west at least equal to that of last
season. With the advent of the New Year
the receipts were rather light at the princi-
pal packing centers, while good portion of
the interior points had closed for want of
hogs. At the present time the packing
season, outside of the leading points, may
be considered closed. AS to quality. thu
hogs slaughtered during the early portion of
the season were quite good, but as the sea-
son progressed the quality gradually dete-
riorated, and at the present time Is decidedly
inferior for packing purposes, though pack
ers are selecting the best lots Offering. AS
a whole, the hogs packed this season were
decidedly inferior to those of last. Accord
ing to advices accompanying many of
the returns, we are led to the conclu-
sion that in Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Iowa.
Nebraska, Kansas, and Missouri, the farmers
have sold their hogs off closer than usual
and the prospect for summer hogs is de-
cidedlY unfavOrable, while in Minnesota
Wisconsin and Michigan there will be a fair
crop, and in Kentucky and Tennessee about
the usual number. The corn crop was bet
ter proportionately in the latter states than
elsewhere in the west, and the hogs packed
in these states were of a good quality. In
Ohio shippers drained the country early,
still the state makes good showiDg-better
than generally expected. The increased
packing at Indianapolis. and the opening of
new houses at Spencer, Martinsville and No
blesville, tends to give good report for In
diana, and assists in making up the def
cheney sustained in other states. Illinois has
not done quite as well proportiouately,
though the hogs packed will probably be
better in quality than the average. In Iowa
a fair business has been transacted, and the
state makes good showing. In Missouri
the falling off is quite large, both in quality
and quantity: the decidedly poor corn crop
in western Missouri and Kansas, and the
forwarding of the hogs to market in half
fattened condition. reduced the aggregate
packing below The average. Nebraska
makes fair exhibit tor a new state, and APP
pears to be increasing her business in pro-
portion as the development OF the new
country and the raising of stock is encour-
aged. In Kansas there is considerable fall
ing off at some of the principal points
though some of the smaller points report an
increased business. In this state and in
southwestern Missouri the farmers are re-
ported to have packed more than the usual
mn hor n
prevailing early in the season and the search
ty of feed. In Minnesota, Wisconsin and
Michigan, in the pinery regions. the reduc.
ton in packing is quite marked, owing TO
the less urgent demand for pork from the
various numbering camps. At the principal
packing points in these states. however, the
business has been prosecuted with the usual
energy and activity.
SUMMER AND OCTOBER PACKING.
The heavy drain upon the hog crop during
the summer months may partially account
COR the decreased supply during the winter.
The aggregate packing in the West during
the past summer may be estimated in round
numbers at SOC, 900 hogs, of which Chicago,
indianapolis, Keokuk, and Cedar Rapids
contributed about $4,000 During the month
of October packing progressed favorably-
the aggregate business no doubt exceeding
that of the same month last year, and good
portion of the product passed as standard"
on contracts-the scant supply of meats and
the high prices prevailing acting as induce
ments to buyers to accept 1t.
THE AGe sEGArE RESULT IN NUMBERS.
AS will be observed, we have returns from
$50 points-a larger number than ever before
reported-in seventeen different States, of
which fifty-seven points have not appeared
-, anv racant afatauanf Tho raturns "a re-
ceived give the following aggregate result in
numuers:
Old points packed to date...........4 l626,TS9
Estimated additional for season. 49,
- 5,7tOOS
Points packed last season not re-
pOrted-----....s..... 4oYloO
Decrease at the rate OF 80 per
z,ilo
1914
New points packed to date.....-..- SOs35
Estimated additional for season. 1880
................................. 5,3O4 35
Calculating the decrease in the average
weight of ten per cent, the average packing
for the season will be equal to 4,774 900 o
- -