The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1905-02-25
"Demand for Hoqs."

Dear Mr.. Wilson-Ir reply t. your
request l will give you as briefly as
possible my ideas as to the reasons
from a standpoint Of profit, why more
hogs should be raised in Texas.
For the sake Of argument, we will
concede that supply and demand
governs the profit to a great extent
that is made on any commodity. The
demand, that is to say the consump.
ton Of pork products in the State of
Texas, is over S20,O 00, 900 per annum.
During 1894 the hogs raised in Texas
and sold to the packers was less than
53UO,OOo, and while it is true that
quite a large amount of hogs products
are killed and consumed locally, still
the greatest part of the consumption
IS by the packing houses.
According to these figures it would
appear that some one other than
IeXans are raising the pork products
that we eat. Now, what are Texas
armer here for? Are they here to
eat the products of the Nebraska hog
ralsers, to support the hog industry
mere, or are they here for the purpose
OF making money to support their own
INDUSTRY! AS long as the packers
have to ship finished pork products
from the North to Texas. then so long
VIII the Northern hog raisers and the
railroads eat up the possible profits
OF the Southern hog producer.
NOW, let US consider the possibilities
on the other hand. Here we have the
nneSt State in the Union for producing
IoSs. his statement may be dis
puted, and still, in the face of prob
able dispute, I make it.
We have climate so much in favor
OF raising hogs for market that in that
respect alone We excel all others We
nave no severe, long winters like the
northern "hOS-prOducing States, con.
Sequently the fattening process is both
quicker II cheaper, for the reason
that IN a cold climate food is con-
Sumed by the animal to keep up the
animal heat, n he has no chance to
make flesh while this goes on. In
this we gain, because our winters are
so short and mild that all our food
put into the hog will go to make Iesh.
We are not troubled with cholera to
any extent, while the industry ia
crippled IN other States by that dread
disease every year or two. We do not
have to invest heavily in shelter
houses as do the Northern farmers.
and we are not at the expense of serv.
ing food hot in the winter as thew are.
1eXas Will produce any grazing foods
tfat any other State will produce. and
considerably more than most of them.
Land is cheaper here than in the
North, n We can afford to have
larger pastures. 1t is true that all
IeHas IS not a good producer of In
dlan corn, but where that will not
grow the kaffir and maize varieties
Will. Then, again, On account of our
climate, u percentage of deaths
among the little pigs is small COM
pared to other States, and On the
same account our labor EXPENSES in
taking care of them CORRESPONDENCE
less.
Now, if we have these ~dvantaee
over other States, n I believe every
leXan Will admit that we do have
them, and II, also, the hog has been
the mortgage litter of other States.
now much more will he do for us?
Iaklng all these advantages into con-
sIderation, and the fact that the pack.
ers are calling for three times the
number OF hogs for 1905 that were |
furnished them in 1904, and it seems |
10 me We have every reason to say
mat more hogs should be raised.
Ihere are other reasons. too, that
effect not only Texas, but the country |
as a whole The demand for pork
AAoS DSSh SlcdUllE |
larger and the supply of hogs offered
steadily less in the past few years,
Inc stocks of provisions have Deer |
steadily falling behind, and at the
time SO have the number of
The natural sequence is that
prices must remain more or less
with every probability of an
for some time to come. The
boV are some of the reasons WHY
hould raise hogs, and now sup
pose you see If some one can give some
reasons why they should not be
'alsed, so that We can have both sides
the case to consider. Yours very
c. w. MATTHEW'S
Secretary and Treasurer.
Last year the crop raised exceeded
~ nearly 1000. 600 bales the non
needed for this years
.uyers concluded the price could be
-ofced down below 6 cents a pound
we were presented with the spec
acle OF an effort to price a crop of
I, u 900 ale at over 500, 600, 900
ess than the price at which a crop of
/ ,o0o, 600 bales sold. Because the
olanters have raised 1000 900 more
}ales than will be consumed during
he present year buyers proceed upon
he theory that they should be paid
100, 900 600 less than they would have
'een paid had their crop been 2.OO0.-
100 bales smaller.
A Mfssissippian says that the d.
erslhcatlon of crops creates pros
'erlty as surely as an overproduction
4 cotton begets poverty and want. and
nat corn and peas generate hogs lust
IS certainly as dogs do f1eas. You
n1gnt do we'll to make a note of these
70 statements. They are both true.
The resolutions passed by the bank
rs and the various cotton exchanges
1 the south are resulting in an
Weakening on the part of the bankers
merchants to the necessity for
heir cooperation, as never before in
he history OF the South.