The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1874-10-03 00:00:00

I THE RAILWAY REFRIGERATING VAN.

The 'Standard gives the following account of the trial of
this novel and useful invention

A trial was made on Monday on the Great Western
Railway of a "refrigerating van," the invention of
Captain Acklonn, for the transport of dead meat in a
purer and colder air than in the ordinary close trucks,
so as to preserve the freshness of the carcases, and de-
posit them at Smithfield or wherever else required in
almost the same state they leave the farm of the pro-
vincial cattle dealer. The van does not differ much in
appearance from an ordinary railway waggon, anti the
patentee claims that it can,be built at little more ex-
pense and filled on occasion with any class of mer-
chandise for which an artificially cooled temperature
is not required. The peculiarities of construction are ex-
tremely simple and easily understood. The body of the
van consists of a double panelling of galvanised iron
net-work, with the space between filled with two
couches of Modorous absorbent felt, the outer one four
layers thick, and the inner one, an inch apart from it,
but a single laver. The mesh of the external panel is
much larger than the corresponding mesh inside, in
order to permit free ingress to the heat and atmosphere.
The inner panel alone forms a ceiling to the chamber,
and is covered with the felt, but with an interval of a
couple of inches between its surface and the arched
outer roof. The object of this arrangement is to admit
the passage of a current of air when the van is in
motion. Underneath is a tank from which water is
driven by a forcing pump, to a covered galvanised iron
gutter, running round the edge of the roof, between the
panels; the outer felt is lipped in this gutter, so that
the water is bound to percolate through it to a metal-
lined groove below, which returns the drip to the
tank. The atmosphere coming in contact with the
saturated felt causes evaporation and lowers the tem-
perature within, while the single inner layer of dry
felt preserves the meat from moisture ; and as a
curious fact, the warmer the weather is the quicker
the evaporation, and consequently the cooler the
interior. The carcases are strung up on a row of
double hooks inside, as in a butcher's stall, sad it is
stated that one van can carry those of 171 bullocks or
eight tons of dead meat. _ . _ • • •

The trial may be pronounced satisfactory, although
the van is still susceptible of improvements, the ther-
mometer suspended waiiin it having registered only 62
degrees Fahrenheit, while that of the outer atmosphere
was ten degrees higher. The heat in an ordinary closed
vehicle, on the plan of those at present in use, would
of course be considerably higher. According to Cap-
tain Ackloin'e system, which is based, as we have said,
on the well-known property of evaporation to produce
cold, the day, which was chill and sleety now and
sgain as the train to which the van was attached ran
through Wiltshire on its way to Swindon, was an un-
fortunate one for the experiment. A tropical sun-
shine would have been much more to the purpose.
Three gentlemen, who submitted to be locked up in
the van between Reading and Swindon, declared that
the ventilation inside was excellent, and the air per-
fectly free from dust, in fact, quite like that filtered
through a respirator.
The advantages which Captain Acklom sets forth as
pertaining to his van appeal both to the palate and the
pocket. He undertakes to supply provisions sound
and sweet to the salesman, even in the heat of the
dog-days, and to carry fish and newly-killed meat two
or. three days, if m-cessary, untainted. Poultry, milk,
vegetables, and fruit can also be transported in all
their freshness in this felt conveniency. There is an
additional advantage which recommend itself to rail-
way shareholders, but is not of very serious interest
to the general public, to wit, demands for com-
pensation for damages to delayed consignments will
be materially reduced. The London butchers may
not look upon the introduction of these refrigerat-
ing vans with favour any more than they (lid upon
that of the tins of Australian preserved mutton. If
the graziers can send dead meat to town in good con-
dition they will not be likely to run the risk of the
loss of flesh and other ills that accrue to stock in the
railway journey and the subsequent trudge through
London streets; they will be tempted to add a butcher
to their establishment, and do their own slaughtering
on their own premises, making profit out of the
hides, loofs, offal, and the blood, which is invaluable

for nine hundred dollars, and when my citable burn
down you make me a new one. I not want a new
shtable, - I want nine hundred dollars." The agent
reasoned with Shinliit, but all to no purpose. IA hen
the stable was nearly finished Shmidt went to consult
a lawyer, thinking that he could still get the amount
of the policy, besides having the new stable. The
lawyer, however, informed him that the company had
a right to make good the loss by building a ,-ew stable,
and expressed surprise at the idea of bringing a suit
against them. "hut," said Shmidt, "I insure for
sine hundred dollar, and dis feller put up dens shtable
for seven hundred and fifty; I do not understand de in-
surance business." Finding that he could rot compel the
payment by law he became disgusted with the insurance
business altogether. Calling upon the agent. Shmidt
said,---•• Mr. Agent, I want you to stop dem insurance
on mine frow. I do not pay any more monish dat
way; I not understand dis insurance business." Agent
(surprised) : "Why, Mr. Shmidt. you are doing a very
foolish thing. You have paid considerable on this
policy already; and if your wife should die you will
get five thousand dollars." "Yaw, dat fuih vat you
tell me now," said Shmidt. " Ven I pays you on my
shtable, you say I get nine hundred dollar if it burn
down. So it was burn, ana you not give me mine
monisli. You say, 'Oh, dat was an old frame slitable,
ish not word anydings. I make you a brick shtable
and you no pay me my nine hundred dollar. Ven mine
frow die, den you say to me, 'Oh, she yeah an old
Dutch voman ; she not word anydings ; I get you a
new English vife r And so I lose mine five tousand
dollars. You not fool Shmidt again. I not under-
stand dis insurance business."—A no ricau