The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1893-05-23
WHY PORK Is HIGH.
PRODUCTION Has Not Kept Pace with the In
crease in the Number of Pig Eaters

cASHso III the NumD8r OF Zig Eaters,
Houskeepers have noticed that their gro
Gerry bills have been larger the last month or
two than formerly. The increase has been
on pork and lard.
The common explanation given by gro.
GERS when an article goes up is that the
crop is short. For instance the sugar crop
IS always short about the canning season.
housewives have observed that each sum
mer.
The hog crop really is short this year and
the prospect OF lower prices is not bright.
One thing will bring the price of hog pro
ducts down and that is for the south to go
to raising its own hogs Statistics show
that the west is not raising any more pork
now than Tor years past. But all the time
the number of pig eaters is increasing
There are 100000 more pig eaters in
this country than there were eight years
pack Prlces are just One-fourth higher
100 than they We're then.
For many years the crop of hogs has
kept pace with the corn crop. There has
been relation between the two crops.
IhIs varied some but it was not large and
generally speaking there has been q certain
number OF hogs to a hundred acres of corn
year after year. The corn area in the west
is standing still. Away up in the north
west the farmers are wheat growers ana
they do not raise hogs for the packers
In the big hog. states, Ohio, Indiana, Hi
nous, Missouri, Iowa. Kansas and Nebraska,
We're raised this year than in 1880. and
the corn area is three-quarters
Of q oo- million acres more than
III 1885. This is small differ
ence and doesn't figure considerably. so
neither the corn crop nor the hog product
is going to increase in these states. Both
III cne -stl Ies,..,(s}' ! Seems probable, with
the exception of the southern states, where
the hog will flourish if attention is given to
him or if he gets half q showing. The
rapid increase of the urban population neces-
states the increased production of dairy
and market vegetable products, and the
pork crop is shortened.
1t is suggested seriously that if the south
ern states and especially Georgia would take
good money would be made out of it. Here
are the yearly average export prices of pork
running back over Il period of twenty
three years 1870, 15.4 cents; 1879, H.
cents; 1880, 90 cents; 1850, SO cents;
1890. Z 4 cents. and in 1893, 1913 cents.
SO it appears that the price has increased
considerably in the last thirteen years.
This increase has been steady. and it IS
a guarantee that hog growing will be prof
table. Georgia could well raise couple
of million hogs year for packing. mat
would require two and Il half million acres
more to be planted in corn than the farmers
grow now. In the west corn pays better
fed to the hogs than sold by the bushel
Georgia's razorbacl is not the packer 5
ideal. but the breed could be quickly
changed. With the increase III the number
of hog eaters, Tie market price of the hog
must advance unless more people go to
raising pork The corn area cannot be en-
largcd in the west TO any extent. hence
the soufT's opportunity for a profitable in
dustry is all the better
Sometimes First A ftcr First.
From Vogue