Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1920-02-06

IS IMPROVING IN
SOUTHERNSTATES
The Atlanta Journal News Bureau,
623 Riggs Euilding.
nv THEODORE ylLEER

WASHINGTON, d. C.-FarmerS
in Georgia as we'll as other southern
states are not only rapidly increas-
ing their production of hogs, bu+
they are also rapidly improving the
quality of their hogs, is the striking
result of an investigation by the fed
eral trade commission under senate
resolution introduced on July 26tn
last by Senator William j. Harris, of
Georgia. The report of the commits
sion has been sent to the senate.
The investigation shows that farm
ers in certain sections of the south
are receiving from 1 to cents per
pound less for their hogs than other
sections, but the commission reports
that this is due to the soft and OILY
quality of the pork products rather
than discrimination.
The Harris resolution adopted by
the senate, said, Resolved, That the
federal trade commission be. and is
hereby, directed to make an immedl-
ate Investigation of the methods of
purchase and prices paid for cattle
ard swine by persons and corpora
lions engaged III the meat packing
Industry with particular reference TO
tile determinations, if any, operat-
irg to the disadvantage of live stock
producers in the southern states, ana
to report as soon as practicable to
the senate the results Of such inVes-
tigatiop."
Oily Pork
The methods of purchase ana
prices paid for hogs in most of the
southern states was found 20 be more
or less like those prevailing in other
b11f Wo n
parent that in a certain section CT
the southern states the prices paid
for hogs during the year ending July,
1919, were considerably lower than
in the north and west.
The repor~ says that the regions
in which hog prices were found to
be lower were practically identica!
with the section of the southern
states which produces. preponder-
ance of soft and oily pork, the
northern parC of Florida and the
southern parts of Georgia and Ala
hama.
"soft and oily pork" the report
continues, has a lower market
value than firm pork and is actually
sold at differential under the firm
product" Reporting on an analysis
Of a large number of sales the con-
mission finds that "the bulk of soft
and oily pork products invariably
were sold at prices ranging from 81
to S. per hundred weight under
northern and western products most
similar thereto.
1.-THE quality of the products" the
report says, appears, therefore to
be the chief cause for the lower
prices paid for hogs in the specified
regions of Florida, Georgia and Ala
bama.
Cattle Not Included
From the best study that could be
made of the various accounting rec
ords it appears that the lower prices
which these producers receive for
their hogs are due not to discr1m1-
nation, but rather to the fact that
the great majority of their hogs
produce soft and oily pork products,
which must be sold in a restricted
market and at prices substantially
lower than the prices paid for firm
pork.
In answering the inquiry of the
senate, the commission found it nee
essary ito confine the report partic-
ularIy to conditions surrounding the
hog-raising industry in that section
of the southern states which pro-
luces soft and oily pork"
"a survey soon showed" the re-
port adds, "that regardless of the
particular circumstances which gave
rise to the question of discrimina-
ton, cattle could not properly be
involved in the complaint, nor could
all sections of the southern states
with respect to hogs"
1t concludes that while at pres
ent the great majority of hogs rails
cd for market in the specified re-
gions of Florida. Georgia and Ala
bama produce soft and oily pork
products, having lower market val
ue than firm pork, there are indica-
tions that the farmers in this section
are gradually adopting methods of
breeding and feeding that are enab-
ling them to produce hogs of bet
ter quality. Not only are these farm
ers improving their methods OF