The Wichita city eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1872-1883, 1882-09-07
THE OUTLOOK OF PRICES FOR HOGS AND
hog PRODUCT TIE COMING SEASON.

EoG PRODUCT TIE COMING SEASON.
The following article from The S,ciae
Breeders ,EoHaol was written by Col.
NJ. Stewart, of this city. Although
pcnned some weeks ago, lis conclusions
are still sound:
"Having been called upon 20 give my
views with regard to the Gatlook Of
prices for hogs aud hog product the
coming season, would respectfully
submit the following:
''In view Of the extremely high prices
now obtained for these commodities,
producers are DESTROYS Of ascertaining,
if practicable. how long such prices may
be reasonably maintained. Neither
hogs nor hog product have ruled as
high since 1870. The causes that lead
TO this are, first, the shortage in last
seasons supply. caused in great meas
ure by the loss OF the early farrows by |
the extremely coldwoathcr, and second, |
by the partial failure Of the corn crop |
and the consequently high price of this
cereal. Cured meats are no higher in
proportion now, allowing the usual
margin. than the raw material, and |
prices obtained for hogs are common |
surate only with the price Of corn,
proving that no corner exists in the |
line of provisions, but that the trade is
L. I. Thus xt-n
that the high price of hnss and hog
product is governed by the price OF
corn, and corn, am told, follows wheat.
The prospect for an immense crop of
wheat throughout the land was never
more promising. The acreage of corn
is large, and, though backward in many
localities, win undoubtedly produce an
average yield. The New York Com
mercial Bulletin reports that 'out of
3l2 counties making reports about the
corn crop, only SO reported decrease
of acreage; Il reported the same as
1881, while 23S reported large in
crease" Last winter and The early
part of spring were extremely favor
able for the production of carly filters
of pig. All swine producers do not
follow the same rules in breeding
many breed hap-hazard and have their
pigs come at all. seasons Of the year.
As before observed, the bulk of the
early litiegs froze last year-this year
the early Filters Jared best. No domes-
tic animal used as an article Of food is
so prolific SIS The hog, and any shortage
in The crop can be made up in twelve
months under ordinary circumstances.
As matter of proof the whole number
of hogs packed for the season Of 1869
20 was two million six hundred and
thirty-fiye thousand head. average cost
per 100 lbs. gross 1922. The following
season this was Increased to three mill
ion six hundred and nineiy-fivc head.
average cost per hundred pounds gross
1926. In 1s72-7S the supply had in
creased 70 five million four hundred |
and ten thousand head, average COS,
per hundred pounds gross 1913. liz
1883 the supply had still further in
creased to seven million four hundred |
and eighty thousand head, and the
price dropped to S285 per 100 lbs.
gross. In 1S69-70 when hogs ruled at
1922 corn was worth q cents. In 1871 |
corn fell TO 50 cents and hogs to 1926.
In 1873 corn declined 10 &c cents and |
hogs to SS.73 In 1889 corn was
worth SO cents and hogs S2.85. II is |
estimated that the supply of lard on
hand to-day is fifty thousand tierees in
excess of last year, and the supply of |
meats about the same. while the foreign |
demand for our stuff has fallen off al an
alarming rate, aud viii not be resumed |
until lower level OF prices IS reached.
What effect thc labor troubles win have |
upon the market is not easily deter |
mined. unless they should be Of long
continued duration. in which event il |
would hardly be rational TO suppose |
that the consumption Of high-priced |
meats would be increased. High prices
on the one hand discourage invest
ments, whilst. on the other hand, they |
stimulate 10 over-production. As
''pigs are pigs now" / have no doubt
those who raise tllsm VIII give them
the treatment their valuable proportion
entities them TO. There viii be de-
ficieucy TO make up OF one million head
next season, and if it is accomplished ii |
will undoubtedly undermine the price
of last winter, when the average cost
per 100 lbs. gross was $6.0G. | am
aware that the reverse Of these views is
entertained by many, hut years Of ex-
perience-and some OF them fatal 10 a
modest bank account-have taught me
that when corn is scarce and high, hogs
are relatively so, and are a safe invest
mcnt for commercial purposes, but
when corn is plenty and cheap, and
hogs high, il is policy TO stand from
under. and Others Of my greasy cloth
are prone to be guided by the same
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