The Wichita city eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1872-1883, 1882-12-14
HOGS AND CORN.
The Situation Reviewed by Well Posted
Ksusan.

wichita Cor. Kansas City Indicator.
This place, besides being great pri-
mary point for the reception of wheat
and corn, of which vast quantities are
shipped abroad, likewise receives and
ships more hogs than any other
inland town in Kansas. A considerable
number of hogs is packed here; many
are shipped direct TO Colorado and
New Mexico, but the great bulk OF
them is unloaded at the stock yards at
Kansas City. They are almost invari-
ably hauled here in wagons and sold TO
the highest bidder on the street before
unloading, many of them being hauled
a distance of thirty or forty miles.
have received hogs on the same day
from Reno, Kingman, Sumner and
Sedgwick counties. In these four
counties the elm peelers have all passed
in their checks; the white hog'is be-
coming a rara dris, so to speak; the
jersey Red-he of the sweet by-and-by
still glimmers in the distance; the
Essex doesn't materialize worth cent
the lordly Berkshire, the swine Of the
nobility, has been routed,-horse, foot
and dragoons,-and the field is lett in
undisputed possession of that wonder
full product of Western skill, that mis-
nomer-the Poland China, and the re-
suit is that no finer stock of hogs can
be found anywhere than right here.
The demand for thoroughbred stock Is
on the increase. L remember well the
time when a three-dollar-scrub boar
was considered good enough for the
average farmers; but the scales have
fallen from their eyes, and it is an ex-
ceptional one now who will grumble
when asked TO pay fifteen or twenty
dollars for a three-months-old pig.
The credit of this is largely due to the
livestock and agricultural journals of
the day, in not only advocating such a
course, but in being the medium
through which the breeder could reach
the ear of the people. Swine-raising in
this country has been lucrative bust
ness for the past three years, with
scarcely a drawback. The high prices
last season stimulated every one to do
his best. and the hogs that are now
rolling into this market give evidence
of careful breeding and good feeding.
The bulk of them so far delivered is
under one year old, and will average
abont 260 pounds. | gather from the
farmers that most of the receipts will
be of this class, though heavy lard hogs
will not be lacking when prices meet
sellers views. Were / to venture an
opinion as to the prospective prices OF
hogs and pork, | should say that, in
view of the shortage claimed for both
corn and hogs in the two great leading
States engaged in this industry, can
see no good reason for believing that
the bottom is going TO drop out OF
either. Receipts of hogs at Chicago
and elsewhere are heavy just now, and
when excessive always break the mar.
ket; but let a great polar wave come
whistling down from Manitoba, and al
the one-horse packing houses in tho
West will start into life, absorbing il
the aggregate sufficient 10 cut off ex'
cessiye receipts at the head-center-
Chicago. l believe we shall get oul
cheapest hogs before. Christmas, and
the cost of them will be but little il
advance of last years prices. 1 believe
pork will be relatively low until some
thing more has been learned as TO the
probable supply hogs for the sum
mer packing. If it is ascertained tC
exceed the run of last year by half s
million head, it win be rough on the
holders of winter product. But for the
shortage of corn and hogs, as before
stated, in Illinois and Iowa, the indica-
tions would point TO lower values. The
margin between the price of new corn
and hogs is wide one. Corn is selling
here at 80 cents, which would make the
relative value OF hogs $3.50 per 10O
pounds, whereas they are bringing
1915, clear margin of 40 per cent.
over and above the legitimate profit OF
feeding corn at 80 cents per bushel, and
these same conditions will obtain wher-
ever there is an average corn crop.
NJ. STEWART.