The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1880-11-09
MEAT PACKING,

In inc Oncago Times or SATURDAY morn
ing, is a full account of the doings of the
pork spectators, in which Armour 4
Plankington made 100000 by getting up
n corner on hogs. This was by speculation,
though, and not by the legitimate process
of pork packing. The item, however, put US
to thinking somewhat and it occurred to
us that a pork and beet packing establishment
at Dallas would pay handsomely. The city
is we'll situated for such an enterprise. The
Trinity river will furnish all tho water
necessary for use on the premises, fuel is
abundant and cheap enough, and we have
railroad transportation to bring in hog, from
five different directions. In 1870 there were
raised in Texas ,202, AS head ofswine. Now
il is safe TO say there are raised 2,404, 800
head of hogs. The splendid mast region Of
east Texas, the cross timbers, and in ev cry
portion Of the state where timber is TO be
found makes it an easy matter TO raise swine
besides our abundant corn crops every year
enable every farmer to raise surplus of
hogs. In II pork or beef factory, properly
managed, nothing is lost, and such establish
ments conducted on reasonably large scale,
| lead to other industries. For instance, if
Dallas had u pork and beef factory, the
bristles from the hogs would be utilized for
brushes, and the remainder of the hair could
all find amarket as builders material, TO be
use in mortar. And does anybody doubt
that the hams, tho lard, the bacon or picked
pork that could be turned out here, would
find quick sale? Pork AM bacon always sell,
fer they arc necessaries Of life. If there is
no trouble shout selling the bacon, the
hams, the lard and the mess
and prime pork that a packing
establishment at Dallas would turn out, why
wouldn't it pay? If hogs can be shipped
from Texas, as is the case every year, to 81.
Louis, Kansas City, Cincinnati or Chicago,
and there slaughtered, picked or bsconed
and then sold at profit, why wouldn't it
pay to slaughter, pickle or bacon these same
hoes here in Texas and save freight two ways?
Right here in Dallas we can buy hogs cheap
err than they can be shipped to either of the
points namedby us and sold. We can get fuel
and labor just AS cheap here as itcan be got
ten at either one Of these points. Then what
i; there in the way of such an enterprise pay
in? Why would not beefpackery pay,
too? From 100000 to 100000 head of beef
cattle are driven on foot every year to mar
kets outside OF Texas and halt as many more
are shipped by rail. There would be no
difficulty then in getting the cattle here at
Dallas. That beef packeries pay in Texas,
there can DO no question. We have
but to look at Fulton, on Arkansas bay, and
cthec points on the Texas coast where beef
packeres have been in successful operation
for a number Of years. At these packeres
not only is prime and mess beef put up, but
beef canning is carried on on IN extensive
scale. If Dallas had beef packery, the
horns and hoofs of the animals slaughtered
would lead to glue factory, and the abund-
auce Of hides saved from the beeves would
lead to tannery. The olal, too, would be
utilized for fertilization. All these enter
prises would pay, not only those who engage
in them, but would rebound TO the benefit of
Dallas, They would bring trade to the city;
bring population to us; advertise the place
everywhere and swell the volume of money
in circulation here. Nearly every industry
that has been undertaken in Dallas yet, has
remunerated its proprietors. Our cotton.
seed oil mill is paying; two
foundries here, both make money;
q broom mandatory proves TO be
cigar mandatory rewards its
for his time and his capital in
vested; two soap making establishments are
both paying; our several Touring mills return
good profits to their owners; our planning
mills pay satisfactory dividends. Why, then,
we ask, should not u pork packing establish
men, and q beef pacllery, and a tannery, all
pay? We propose to discuss various meas
ures, looking tothe benefit of Dallas aud of
Texas, and show how to develop and make
prosperous our city and our whole state, with
the hope of drawing capital here to carry
out the ideas We advance, and to help build
up and make our grand state what she ought
to be-. what nature designed she should be-
If our efforts are in vain, we at least have
done our duty, and have striven in good
cause, as becomes the sentinel on the watch
tower.