Los Angeles daily herald., 1889-10-28

L
and mouth harmonica simultaneously.
exhibiting remarkable skill. Mr.. w. 81.
King and Mr.. J. III. Stevens sang a duet
in fine style. Mr.. Mabin rendered bass
solo and was recalled. Professor G. 81.
de Lano gave some of hiasweetest guitar
music, and was obliged to respond to an
encore. Mr.. Tom Barnes recited funny
piece, which paved the way for another
one still more ludicrous. Every number
was roundly applauded, and the entire
entertainment was intensely enjoyed.
Hogs for Profit-The Last Chapter.
The Rural Californian in it's last issue
repeats its blunder of the month before
in allowing q man who hides behind
three letters of the alphabet to attack
the interests of this section in order in
directly to serve the interests of Chicago
packing houses. Reference of course is
had to the letters of "X. Y. Z."i
which the irresponsible writer repeats
his assertion that hogs cannot be profit
ably raised here. He writes what would
make perhaps two columns of the HERALD
in an attempt to create an impression to
the above effect. There are but two or
three eentences in the whole which merit
consideration, and with few words in
reply to the statements there made the
HERALD will dismiss the subject go far as
a discussion of it with the Rural goes.
The whole matter might well be dis
posed of by stating the fact-aud fact it
is--that the writer of these letters is the
local agent in this city of one of the
prominent packers of pork products in a
large eastern, city, center of the hog
packing industry. That is a complete
answer to anyone who has seen the large
invoices of eastern hams laid down from
time to time before the door of this
agent in Los Angeles, and who figures
out the commissions or other profits
derivable for the handling of these east.
ern goods.
But dismissing that aspect OF the af-
fair, here are the statements of the writer
in the Rural: "The HERALD states that
I said there is no profit in raising hogs
in this section If it means as busi-
ness and on large scale, will accept
the statement as a correct version of my
idea." "The HERALD asserts
that am ignorant. Possibly so, but I
want to ask it if it is not fact that Cali
fornia cured hams and bacon do not now
bring from to cents less than
eastern cured? Is it not fact that they
have always done so? Is it not fact
that, in consequence of this, the pack
jng-house near Santa Ana and the one
here now stand idle? Is it not a fact
that there is not one hog fattened for
market in this southern section where
there were ten five years ago."
In the other portions of the long letter
there is not one statement that
admits of any argument, for the
reason that their utterances are
too vague and pointless. The first
question above is the statement on
which the whole discussion turns. As to
the relative market value Of California
and Chicago products, and the claims of
the packing houses here, that is what in
spired the discussion as begun in the
HERALD's first articles. In answer to
the Ruraps first letter, the HERALD ad-
mitted that if the writer had said that
the hams made in California
were not usually up to the
best standard, there would have
been some truth in the assertion. The
thing distinctly denied here, and that
will be continued to be denied here, is
that this is owing to any intrinsic lack
OF quality in the pork produced in this
section; but it is owing to the
way in which it is ordinarily
put up. 1t was to suggest reasons
for radical change in the exist
ing programme, to open the packing
houses at Santa Ana and the one here;
to produce ham here that will not only
sell as high az the Chicago mans, but
will drive him and his hams out of the
market that the HERALD began this dis
cussion, and it proposes to keep it up
until the thing becomes an accomplished
fact.
Now the Chicago ham importer does
not know one out of one thousand facts
connected with this subject. The HER
AID has seen the San Joaquin valley
black with as fine hogs as ever walked
on four feet, being driven in great bands
to the San Francisco market, while east.
ern hams were being served on the tables
of every hotel between Oakland and vi
salia. The HERALD has seen old "Hog
Bennett" at Sacramento, with the poor
est facilities imaginable, produce hams
that would compare in all respects with
the best in the Chicago mans
shop. The HERALD knows that for
twenty-five years people like the Chicago
ham vendor have been here preach
ing that potatoes, peaches, apples, hams
and nearly every other thing were not
produceable here. The HERALD has at
all times insisted that these things were
thoroughly possible here and that there
was money in the producing of them,
one and all. The HERALD knows that
there is not product Of the West any
where that equals an alfalfa meadow for
raising hogs in. The HERALD knows that
here are immense stretches of country
that produce as good corn as any prairie
in the State of Illinois. 1t knows that
here are all the elements of pork-making,
and it knows that, as a matter of fact,
as firm and sweet pork is raised here as
any in the country. 1t knows that Chi
cago packs substantially as many hogs
in summer as in winter, and makes as
good hams in August as in January. It
knows that artificial ice is as cheap as
that cut from the lakes and slowed away.
Here are all the elements for great
packing house in this city. All there is
needed is combination of men of
means. The farmers at Downey City
built and paid for winery, and
made it financially successful. 1t
is the belief Of the HERALD
that the intelligent farmers of this
section are capable of founding and
operating a great cold storage establish.
ment to pack pork. 1t believes that
much assistance will be given them by