The morning call., 1893-01-10
THE PORK FAMINE.
Supplies Decrease at a
Great Rate.
THE PRICES JUMPING UP.
They Rise Eighty Per Cent and Are
Threatening to Go Still Higher
Before Long.

The pork famine has arrived. There is
DO cOncealing the outbroken alarm any
further, and the main pork packing firms
of this city ara in a lively state of agitation
at the daily bulletins from the East.
Already the price Of pork has risen 80
per cent over last years prices, and is
proceeding rapidly forward to double price.
The receipts at the main packing cenIers
last month were only 100000 hogs, or half
the amount for the same period last year.
While the supply has fallen so per cent.
the demand is steadily on the Increase. and
so prices are forced up higher and higher
till pork will take its place as luxury, to
be nibbled at only by the wealthy few.
California is the only State that has
raised as many hogs this year as last" SAID
Henry Moore of the South San Francisco
Packing Company.
I'VE only supply quarter CT the demand
and import the balance from the Eastern
States. so that prices are not affected by
CALIFORNIA; stock. ! don't know what we
can do about it. We are charged so much a
carload and we just charge 1t up proDor-
tionatey," he added philosophieally.
John Mccullough of the Armour Packing
Company was exceedingly animated over
the outlook.
Look at our latest bulletin aud figures.
he said, with all the enthusiasm OF a man
with his heart In his business. TITS per
tectly terrible. The supply has tumbled
down, down, down, and the demand is posi-
lively increasing.
Imagine what prices will be In a few
weeks later il the decrease in supply con-
tinues al the same rate. We are 80 per
cent over last years prices already. How
ever, think we have seen the worst. The
shortage In supply. take II. is owing TO
short corn crops In the East.
Would it pay to raise more hogs In Cali
fornia?"
Zone would think So There is three
quarter supplyto fill. Some few years back
the hog industry was overdone. The fact
was the few packing-houSeS could not
handle the business We had no refrigera-
TOT cars and could not ship East from our
surplus product"
Mr. Whitney was too pressed with bust
ness matters to go into the subject at length,
but he was none the less interested.
Its a serious question and I'd like to
discuss ii in all its bearings" he remarked,
Mr.. Breon Of Wheaton 81 LuhrS joined in
the general interest.
IT'S serious outlook and has created
considerable establishment in our line Of
business. We have no idea what is going to
happen next, you see,' said he.
w ould more h0g-ralsing pay in California?
Well 1t looks as II it would as far as figures
will tell one. There is Que thing | can tell
you about California ham, however. 1t will
not pay to raise 1t in the old-time fashion.
California 'tule pigs have no show in the
pork market. If our farmers are going to
raise hogs 10 compete with the Eastern
animal for packing purposes they must
raise corn 10 feed them ON.
Then, again, IL is always feast or fam
ine' with Us. II every one PUSHES into hog
raising down goes the price again, with
repetition OF the 1856 experiences.
THE Eastern farmers will take careful
note OF the present state OF affairs, and next
year you will find the demand comfortably
met LII California farmers would calculate
within our Is Der cent importation then
there would be an opening for great
many ranchers. But they must raise corn
fed pigs. These local alfalfa and city swil-
fed pigs make what is known In the trade
as 'soft-hog. Again, the hams dry up and
get horny and lack the springy freshness
and sweetness Of the Eastern ham,"