New-York daily tribune., 1861-01-05
IMPORTANT INVENTIONS.

We have carefully examined the specifications u
two patents recently for the curing of meats and pres
eryaon of food, issued 70 the Hon. Daniel T. Somes
of Maine, a member Of the present Congress- This
desirable object has been the subject of much dscus-
sion and scientific research. Millions Of dollars have
been expended in France and elsewhere in the pursuit
of some feasible method for its accomplishments The
most scientific minds have devoted labor and time to It,
but all theories and modes yet devised have proved TO
be mpracticabe and has been left to Mr. Somes to
solve the problem which be has done by studying the
laws Of Nature and bringing them entirely under bis
control All great desderatums are usually reached
by the simplest means, and 80 in the case Of this won
derful and ingenious arrangement Chemical combina-
tiOns have been resorted to and tried repeatedly but
without avail. All experiments with chemicals prove
them worthless The old system OF ice-pa king, there
fore has been mostly resorted TO, but this Is very
pensive, especially in tropical regions.
The thing needed in order to cure meats and preserve
them is temperature from 40 degrees TO 80 degrees
Fahrenheit accordng 10 the kind OF meat as they will
not otherwise " take tee salt we'll and uniform
throughout the year. To accomplish this purpose is
what many have tried and Mr. Soes has hnSIy sue
ceeded in doing.
TO secure this uniform temperature Mr. Comes, un-
der his fret patent, exclvates or siaks sna 70 me
mean temperature of the esrth, with walls erected
and extending above the surface, forming packing
house where the meat is prepared sated and packed,
and remains until cured and ready for market.
This packing house, being left open beneath the roof
around the walls at the top, is free from all obstruc-
tion 20 that the constant upward radiation OF caiorc
intensifes the cold at the base leaving the carbon "
great extent witch s the great preserving and cnr-
tive element Of the animal and vegetable ms
process Is intended particularly for those eoun-
ies where the cost Of building great the climate ex-
tremey hot Gnd consequently the second patent no 40
well adapted.
The second patent consists in app yng the same pria
!, L.. -uftA. and IL
intended for colder climates and where the cost Of
buildings not 70 great. 1t Is building constructed
above ground in such manner rs 10 exciade warm or
damp atmosphere from without, thereby securing uni
form and Interchangeable temperature within through
out all seasons. Tlis has many advantages over the
other being less expensive in construction and In the
process and operation Of packing Is constructed "
y series Of walls with compartments or air chambers
between them. The roof and doors are built IN the
same manner. The roof projects over the walls sone
distance further than the OF an ordinary roo and
is raised above them in order to leave an open space
all round and beneath the caves, from which aperture
the radiation of he calonc escapes The peculiar con-
struction of the building thus excludes all obnoxious
clements while lie operation Id efect the same W.
that of the first patent The value of this invention rs
beyond etima,ion but os epproximated when ii s
known that the meat packers of Baltimore pay up-
ward of thirty thousand dollars annually for ice
alone; that in Southern California, South Am
erica, aud elsewhere, beef Of the very best quai-
~ invariably thrown away and left 70 rot or the
cattle driven 10 more northern climates before
ing. while the animal sells only for q nominal price
above the value of the hide, horus and hoos; that in
Texas where the best beef cattle raised they
worth about twelve dollars bead only, simply because
il has been heretofore found impossible 10 salt and cure
meats in tho+e exceedingly warm climates. In wine
growing regions they expend four times much az is
needed 10 and prepare their wines for the mar
ket these inventions apply equally to this purpose
These inventions of Mr.: Somes have been tired and
exrerimepted with until it il perfectly clear that they
accomplish all be claims Of them. They can be applied
to their purposes at very small expense above the
construction of an ordinary building, and commend
themselves 10 every careful and consdeae mind; aud
while they reflect great credit upon the nventor and
cannot fail prove Of unlimited value TO him, be has
conferred upon the world discovery which must
prove OF immense service TO every climate and all
classes of people. We heartily commend them 70 tho
attention Of all scientific and practical persons.
National lntenseDceT.