HOGS FROM THE CALI FORNIA P ACKER'S STANDPOINT 



The opportunity for hog raising in California, say the dealers in swine and hog 

 products, was never so good as it is to-day. In fact, there never has been a time that 

 anywhere near the number of hogs was raised in California that the market demands. 

 One large dealer in San Francisco states that fully 500 per cent more hogs than can be 

 secured could be handled, for there are packers and slaughterers in this State 

 equipped to handle hogs to as good advantage as some of the Eastern packers. With 

 the increase in the supply there will be an increase in the facilities, although at 

 present, as stated, the facilities and demand far exceed the supply. 



The opportunity for hog raising must be considered from two points — that of de- 

 mand and that of supply. That the demand is good is illustrated by the fact that 

 during a year's period and every year 10,000,000 pounds of Eastern pork products are 

 sent to San Francisco alone to make up the shortage of hog products in this State. 

 One provision firm in San Francisco imported from the East over 3,000,000 pounds of 

 hams, bacon and lard during the past year. 



The question of supplying the market particularly affects the hog raiser. It is 

 estimated that fully one-third the hogs now raised in California are raised on 

 dairies. Hogs are a valuable adjunct to the dairy and skimmed milk can be turned 

 to no better use than as a food for hogs. With the rapid development of the dairying 

 industry in California and the supplanting of the "dairy process" by a more modern 

 "creamery process," hog raising affords usually a satisfactory solution as to how the 

 dairy man shall dispose of his skimmed milk at a profit. 



In years gone by, when California (and especially San Francisco), was not 

 equipped for the taking care of pork products as it is to-day, then Eastern pork 

 products, cured in cold storage, were given the preference over California pork prod- 

 ucts. This gave the impression throughout California that the Eastern pork products 

 were superior to Californian. To-day San Francisco, as well as other points, is well 

 equipped for handling pork products. The Eastern products are cured in cold storage 

 and it takes from thirty to sixty days to produce good ham and bacon. 



California, with its resources for the raising of grain, were this grain put to hogs 

 as Eastern farmers do their corn, would produce as good, if not better hogs than the 

 East produces. Our hogs a e fine-boned and have a good territory to run over, which 

 has a tendency to harden the meat when fed on grain. This produces a better and 

 firmer pork than the coarser-bred and heavy, thick-fat Eastern pork products. The 

 raising of hogs and the feeding of grain to them will give a greater revenue than of 

 handling grain in any other way, for there is always a ready market for grain-fed hogs 

 at all times. 



In former years when there was not a market in California for hogs, very little 

 attention was given to hog raising, and what few hogs were raised were largely hap- 

 hazard alfalfa and from acorns. The acorn-fed hogs are worthless. The pork prod- 

 uct from acorns is soft and oily, and this is one reason why some people are still 

 of the opinion that Eastern pork is superior to California pork. Where California hogs 

 are fed on California grain the pork produced is as good as, if not superior to, the 

 Eastern produced pork. California pork products bring within one cent per pound or 

 as much as the Eastern products. 



***** 



A SAT ISFIED SE TTLER 



The California Promotion Committee: 



I am writing these few lines to let you know that I have arrived in 

 California. I had very little trouble in getting work and have not lost a day since, 

 and hope to get a first-class position in the near future. 



I am greatly pleased with the country and have not the slightest desire to go back 

 East again. 



There is another Kansas family coming to California next spring, and they will lo- 

 cate in Oakland. 



The climate suits me O. K., and will do all I can to induce my Eastern friends to 

 come out. 



The State has been badly misrepresented by some people, who expected to live 

 off the fat of the land and not exert themselves any in doing so. I have endeavored to 

 interest none but the best class of people in your State — people who are honest and in- 

 dustrious citizens, and they are what you want. 



With best wishes for your success, I remain, yours truly, 



(Signed.) W. H. GRIGG. 



366 Fifth street, San Diego, California, Nov. 17, 1904. 



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