|
|-------+---------+---------+---------+---------+----------+
| |
|Total of all kinds, 1,927,203. |
+----------------------------------------------------------+

Of the total number of beeves which came into the New York market in
1863, those whose origin could be ascertained were furnished from their
several States in the following proportions:--

Illinois contributed 118,692
New York " 28,985
Ohio " 19,369
Indiana " 14,232
Michigan " 9,074
Kentucky " 6,782

Averaging the weight of the cattle which came to New York market in 1863
at the moderate estimate of 700 lbs., the metropolitan supply of beef
for that year amounted to 189,392,700 lbs. This, at the average price of
nine and a quarter cents per pound, was worth $17,518,825.
Proportionably with these estimates, the average weekly expenditure by
butchers at the New York yards during the year 1863 was $328,865.

It is an astonishing, but indubitable fact, that, while the population
of New York has increased sixty-six per cent during the last decade, the
consumption of _beef_ has in the same time increased sixty-five per
cent. This increment might be ascribed to the great advance of late
years in the price of pork,--that traditional main stay of the poor
man's housekeeping,--were it not that the importation of swine has
increased almost as surprisingly. We are therefore obliged to
acknowledge that during a period when the chief growth of our population
was due to emigration from the lowest ranks of foreign nationalities,
during three years of a devastating war, and inclusive of the great
financial crisis of 1857, the increase in consumption of the most costly
and healthful article of animal food lacked but one per cent of the
increase of the population. These statistics bear eloquent witness to
the rapid diffusion of luxury among the New York people.

From the table of classification by States we may draw another
interesting inference. It will be seen that by far the largest
proportion of the bullocks came into the New York market from the most
remote of the Western States contributing. In other words, New York City
has so perfected her connection with all the sources of supply, that
distance has become an unimportant element in her calculations of
expense; and she can make all the be