The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1874-01-27
STATE SENTINEL TUESDAY JANUARY 81 1874

son the reports are decidly the reverse.
Where hogs were selected and packed for
special purposes, there is very little change
to note, and in a few-exceedingly few-in-
stances, there is slight increase reported.
At the larger points-which packed $4,000
hogs or over-the falling off in weight is
more marked, clearly indicating the gradual
decline in the quality of the hogs marketed,
and the desire to rush them forward to take
advantage of the high prices ruling. The
hogs yet to be packed will no doubt further
reduce the aggregate average weight, and
the final report of the packing of the west
shows a greater reduction at some points
than is now reported. At Cincinnati the
decrease in weight is reported at 30
pounds gross, or about equal to "a pounds
on the net weight. At st. Louis the re-
duction is reported at ten to fifteen pounds.
At Indianapolis there is falling of OF 20
pounds. At Chicago the majority of packers
report their weights at about 10 pounds
lighter than last year, though the number
of small hogs slaughtered for the manufac-
ture of light English meats will probably re-
duce the average to 10 and possibly to 20
pounds-as compared with last season. AT
Milwaukee the reduction is reported at Is
pounds, but the late arrivals OF dressed hogs
there show further falling off. At Louis
vile the reduction is reported at IA pounds
the packing season having closed earlier
than usual. At Kansas City the decrease
will be more marked, owing to the inferior
corn crop of that section, and parties report
That the hogs now being slaughtered are
exceedingly light. At San Francisco the
hogs were very light-averaging only about
$50 pounds-owing to the feed used in that
section eff country. At most of the other
prominent points the decrease in the weight
.Rfn ut * 70 L.
whole, we are inclined to the opinion that
the final report Of the packing of the west
will exhibit a reduction of 10 per cent, or %
pounds per hog in the average weight.
AVERAGE YIELD OF LARD.
More interest is probably conferred in the
average yield of lard, and there is little
doubt that the aggregate yield will be lighter,
proportionately, than the reduction in the
average weight of the hogs. Farmers for
warded their hogs to market in half fat
tened condition, owing to the scarcity and
inferiority of the corn crop. The financial
revulsion also forced them to sell their prop
erty, in order to obtain means to meet cur
rent expenses; and, as hogs could be disposed
of to better advantage that most anything
else, they were accordingly marketed.
Nearly all the reports indicate falling off
in the yield-the points reporting an in
creased yield are exceedingly few, and their
aggregst packing light. At Cincinnati,
the reports give reduction of six pounds.
At Louisville the reduction is given at five
pounds. At Chicago the decrease in the
yield is estimated five to six pounds. At
st. Louis we have various ranging five to
ten pounds; and, judging by the returns
or adjacent packing points, it may be con-
sidered safe to place it at seven pounds. At
a falling off eight pounds is re-
yield is given at five pounds-the manufac-
ture last season being lighter than at most
points. At Toledo the yield is very light -
only twentyfour pounds of all kinds. AT
Kansas City we have no definite report, but
it is fair to presume that the decrease will be
equal to ten pounds. At st. Joseph the fall
ing off is lighter than at most points-the
hogs being lighter but we'll fattened, and the
season closing early. On the Pacific coast
the yield will be exceedingly light, as the
hogs are small. Recent contracts have been
made by San Francisco merchants with east
ern parties for large amount of lard. On
the whole, we deem it safe to calculate on
an average decrease in the yield of lard at
seven pounds per hog, and the final results
Of the packing OF the west may show a
further decrease.
THE RESULT IN POUNDS.
The falling off in the weight of hogs is
larger than generally anticipated, while the
number is greater than many operators ex-
pected. Calculating the decrease in the
weight of hogs at about ten per cent on the
whole crop, the two seasons will compare as
follows: