The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1915-11-05
ADVOCATES OCALA
PACKING HOUSE
LIGHT POINTS OUT REASONS
WHY WE SHOULD PACK
OUR OWN MEATS

Mr.. w. A. McRae, commissioner of
agriculture, writing on the cattle in
dustry of this state, stated some very
interesting facts. According to the u.
S. census Florida's population has in
creased AZ per cent in ten years. The
number of cattle in the state in 1914
was 100000 less than ten years ago, a
loss of 20 per cent. With the popula-
tion increasing and the number of cat
tie decreasing, what will be the prob
lem on this industry ten or twenty
years from now?
Cattle have been shipped out of the
state in the last year by the train
loads, bought by western farmers to
be fattened for market The western
farmers buy our cattle cheap, fatten
them and make a good profit when
they market the cattle. If it pays to
ship these cattle 1000 miles away to be
fattened, why would it not pay to fat
ten them here? Florida can fatten a
steer IS cheaply as any other state
We have the proof in Marion county.
There are now within six miles of
where am writing about 700 steers
being fattened for market when ma
tive range cattle are poor in the
spling. This is done by half dozen
farmers. It pays them. Why then
ship our cattle out of the state to be
fattened?
$50 per head is the average price
raid for steers being shipped. The
hide on each steer is worth about ST;
they are selling beef at about A cents
per pound dressed. Dressed beef is
sold in Jacksonville at from 1312 to
IS cents per pound. Note the differ
ence.
We have $13,Ooo,o00 invested in
the cattle.and hog business and not
large packing plant in the state.
Tampa imported 100000 lbs of pork
products in 1914 and Marion county
farmers last year could not find a
market for carload lots in the state
and shipped to Moultrie, Ga. There
will be 1900 head of hogs for sale
within six miles of Reddick. The far
mers want to know what they are go
ing to do with them.
What is the matter with Florida?
Millions of dollars for state and
county hard roads. Many thousands
for state and county fairs. There are
half a dozen farmers in Marion coun-
ty who could start packing plant in
Ocala in connection with the ice
plant and the profits they would re-
ceive on the cattle they are fattening
would pay for the investment in a
year. They could borrow the money
from the banks. They need not put
up a cent of their own. They could
make Marion county the leading cat
tie county in the state Marion coun-
ty can fatten every beef steer that is
shipped out of the state. 1t would be
the best paying advertisement we
could find.
Mr.. Chambliss, Mr.. Mefert, Ed
wards Bros, Taylor Bros. and others,
put packing plant in Ocala and
begin operations this fall. You can
do it. You have the cattle and the
money or can get it. The packing
plant at Moultrie pays; so would one
in Ocala.
Railway officials estimate that 600,-
900 visitors will come to Florida this
winter. Gentlemen, tell these people
that 0cala has packing plant. Lo-
cate in Marion county several hun.
dred live, wide-awake stock growers
/ A packing house will help do it.
The Moultrie packing plant adver
tises Moultrie. So would a packing
plant advertise Marion county anc
Ocala. Gentlemen, try it. It is /;
crime to neglect such an opportunity
Q Tiki