The Mankato Free Press

Pork Packing.

Probably there is no point in the whole Northwest, so favorably located for a Pork Packing establishment as this city. Situated in the heart of the hog raising section of Minnesota, and having unsurpassed railroad facilities, it is a matter of wonder that long ere this the attention of pork packers has not been turned to this point. Besides, the hogs raised in this section are free from disease, it being commonly stated in the business centres of the country, that Minnesota's pork is the healthiest raised.

It will be found that in the counties represented in the Southwestern Minnesota movement, there were last year nearly 52,000 hogs of all ages. If we add Scott, Le Sueur, Waseca, Freeborn, Steele, Dodge, Olmsted and Mower counties to this list, 51,900 hogs more can be added to the above number.

All these counties have direct communication by rail with this city. At a very low estimate, this same section, representing nine twentieths of the whole hog product of Minnesota, will report this year 150,000 hogs of all ages.

Thus it will be seen that the supply of hogs which might be brought to this point, is practically unlimited. The writer heard a gentleman of large experience in railroading, say within a few days that he believed it would pay to bring hogs from a point as far east as Rochester to be packed here. The packing establishment at Sioux City, will come as far as Lake Crystal the coming winter, for its pork. Cannot the advertising committee of the Board of Trade be authorized to insert an advertisement in the Chicago, Cincinnati and St. Louis papers, inviting the attention of capitalists and pork packers to this promising point. Surely the expense would not be heavy and in the opinion of many it will be money well spent.