The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1877-12-05
Pork Packing in wheeling and
ElAhNlhnnR.


log packing points. Receipts oihOgs are
large and prices are gradually getting
lower. The past season ia said to have
been the most Improbable in the history
Of the trade. Mr.. ]. s. Keck, Of Clncin.
natl, familiarity known to the readers Of |
the Commercial as Isl Ksck, /" a prominent |
and daring operator, who failed in the
early part Of last season, says that as
hogs were packed last year on basis Of
seven cents, and thsproducI sold on aba'
ais Of four and a half, the shrinknge was
greater than his margins would stand,
Our old friend, Mr.. Eph Barnes, now
Of St. Louis, who with George Bayha,
another Wheeling boy, is engaged in the
pork business at St, Louis, whilst visiting
here few days ago reported the bnsi.
ness as having been disastrous In St.
Louis. Many Of the largest operators
have lost the whole Of their capital
and the labor Of years, The sea.
sons Of 1875 and 1876 had not been
very profitable, and this fact caused the
packers to enter upon last season with
considerable caution, and had this feeling
been adhered to the disasters alluded to
would not have occurred. But the pros.
pect Of the Russian and Turkish troubles
bringing on a general war in Europe
developed large speculative movement
in pork, centsring in Chicago, and prices
we're almost daily, and at times very
largely advanced. The average country
packer is too apt 10 let the opinions Of
Chicago and New York govern his
actions, rather than his own judgment, and
especially was this the case last winter
The country buying points paid as high
Us the cities, virtually sustaining the
market for the benefit Of the Chicago
Spectator early in the season, and later
on furnished the stuff at panic prices to
help the short sellers, who were shrewd
enough to calculate that the rapid ad.
vance would be followed by a depression.
Hence the Losses that the regular and lie.
climate trade have had to meet, result
Ing, as we have said before, in the sweep
ing away OF handsome fortunes and the
labor Of many years.
Very naturally, after such experiences,
the trade enters upon the present season
with caution II not with actual timidity.
Bankers and capitalists have hesitated
and will hesitate 10 advance the money 10
carry the product at prices which prom
ise any chance for shrinkage. Our TAR
msr friends and stock feeders must there.
fore expect lower prices from this time
forward, perhaps for several years to
come. A vast change must take place in
the habits and expenses Of our popula-
ton. The growth of cities and towns
must and will cease, and the country must
furnish homes and employment moi only
for our foreign population, but Cor the
redundant population engaged in manu-
featuring, mining and mercantile pur-
suits. Changes OF this character seem
slow and scarcely observed, yet they are
surely taking place, and the effect will
soon be appreciated.
II has been frequently asked by those
who remember the good old days ofcheap
living, why is animal food 80 high Yet
few are aware Of the fact, stated by such
authority as that careful and accurate
statiSticiau, David A. Wells, that during
the period Oftwenty years, between 1850
and 1870, there was in the United States
an actual decrease Of neat cattle Of one
million, and Of Swine eight million head.
This deficiency must and will be rapidly
made up. A large army Of consumers
will become producers, ready to supply
the home demand, and to furnish the In
exhaustible markets Of the Old World,
provided the product can be made cheap
enough to meet the moderate wages pre-.
yaillng there. This can be done with a
sound currency and tariff properly ar
ranged, which will admit OF an exchange
with us Of the products OF the world.
Comingdo to local matters, we are
glad to see that Wheeling is doing very
considerably more in pork packing. A
good while ago, in the days Of Michael
Herr, the business done here was large,
but since then, until few years back, it
has been merely nominal. One Of our
leading houses that has hitherto COM
blned other business with that Of packing
pork, has gone into the latter eSclu-
styely, and expects to considerably in.
crease its operations. We refer to List
Davenport & Parks. Another Of our
packing houses has added largely to the
facilities Of its establishment,
The packing here, SO far this
season, is nearly double, compared
with the same time last year. The
opening Of the Wheeling stock yards
is a good movement, and will doubtless
promote the shipments of live stock to
thisoity. Like most of the products of
our Wheeling manufacturers, the meats
made here have high reputation, and
are making wider market each season.
The enterprise which cur packers are
exhibiting is commendable, and we trust
will DO fully rewarded, and we hope that
they may never asain experience the
untoward yicissiludes Of last season.
ACheeriul Young Man.
There is always some cheerful sonls in |