Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1874-12-03
LThe HOG { and corn Crop.

Reports from ia points IN HI
inois, Kansas, Nebraska, Iowa,
Missouri, Ohio, and Indiana,
the great corn and hog produce
ing States, seem to confirm opin-
ions previously published indi-
eating a decrease in hogs and a
fair crop of corn. In the ma.
ijoriGy of, instances the number
of hogs reported is considera-
bly, less than at this time last
year, as confirmed by the Off
cial reports of the several State
Auditors. There is but little
doubt as to there being fewer
hogs in the country than at this
time last season. In almost all
section in the country hogs are
reported in poor condition, ow-
ing to the scarcity of old corn.
In Canada it is also said there
will be a slight falling off in the
number. III s-JihF SAW 3" 1tA5
The corn crop, according to
latest estimates, viii be a fair
one, but as there is very little
of last years corn now on hand,
and as the market price is fully
TOPPER cent. higher than in 1873,
it seems probable that the far
mers will sell their hogs early
in the season, in order to realize
better value for their corn. u
Last year the price of hogs
in Chicago ranged from $3.50 to
81 on the last of November, 10
$4.624 to $5.75 at the close of
February, and the result was a
safe price for products, at which
shippers early, and spectators
later, took hold free. This
year, however, we shall doubt
less commence packing at much
higher rates, and as to the con-
try is bare of stock, the new
crop will doubtless be largely
drawn upon to supply the immez
diate necessities of trade, both
home and foreign. Summer
curing has been more EXTENSIVE
ily 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 10 the scarcity
of winter meats, the southern
trade has taken the ice-cured
/ to a larger extent than usual,
while there has been a large a.
mount Of old and damaged ba-
con re-shipped from Liverpool
and sent South, which has COM
pletely cleared both Europe and
America of old and damaged
bacon. Long clear was at first
the only cut inquired for, but at
Staffordshire, Cumberland 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
GovernmentStatistical Bureaus
Report was made up is less in
proportion than for last year
or for former years. So far sta
tistics enable us to Judge of the
course Of the future market; but
as We have often remarked be-
fore, statistics are getting, year
by year, less to be relied upon
by the mercantile community,
because they have so often and
invariably 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
Enthusiastically pointed too low,
or at least not high prices
This was accepted by the trade
generally early in season to be
the situation, and yet specula-
tors. took hold of the whole crop
later and carried it successfully
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 specu-
latiye or non-speculative dispo-
sition of the trade itself during
different periods. In view of
these facts, the provision trade
is standing aloof, and the ques-
ton of future prices is still as