The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1869-08-21
f. T
Preservation Of Meat and Fruits,

A discovery of the utmost Importance,
not only to the South, but to the world, is
about to be brought into practical a~pplica-
ton. We refer to Lieut.. Fry's process by
which decay can be arrested in meat, as
we'll as in many kinds Of vegetables and
fruit, and the articles so operated on can
be preserved for years, if necessary, with
out any material loss to their n%utritive
qualities or natural aroma. We have seen
samples of beef, obtained in Poydras Mar
ket two wears ago, which have not under
gone a particle Of decay, though never sailed
nor subjected to the action of foreign chem
ical agents. BY simply placing this meat
in water it will reabsorb the moisture
which had been expelled from it, and it
practically becomes as fresh as when origi-
nally taken from the SHAMELESS.
The cost of preparation and preservation
under this new process is far less than that
of sailing and packing, as heretofore prac-
ticed, and the virtues of the meat are much
more effectually retained. In fruit, such as
bananas, pineapples, ETC., which in their
natural condition are most perlshable com
modities, this process is equally effective, as,
without adding materially to their cost, it
will render it possible for such articles to
be transported from the tropics to the North
with entire safety, and thereby greatly
cheaper them to consumers.
At a single point in Texas, one hundred
and fifty beeves are slaughtered daily for
their hides and tallow, the meat being thrown
away as yalueless. Under such circum-
stances. meat can be obtained at an almost
nominal price, and if it can be preserved by
Fry's process at a cost Of say one tenth Of a
cent per pound, and transported in closely
compressed bales at a much lower rate than
meat can be taken to market in any other
condition, the advantages Of this discovery
will become at once apparent. CUBA all
nuallv consumes immense Quantities OF
ierked beef, brought principally from South
America. This beef is almost as t~asteless
as wood shavings, and if any more savory
and equally cheap substitute could be intro
duced it would at once command the mar
ket. On the ierked beef sent annually to
Havana a profit of a single c-nt per pound
would amount TO over 500. 000. This
single fact shows the importance and value
of the trade foreshadowed by this new dis
covery.
It being demonstrated that decay in wood
could be prevented by the ac ion of super
heated steam, Lieut.. Fry extended his ex
periments to other articles. From these
experiments he discovered that beef par
TALLY desiccated in a vacuum, at a temper
ature removed from the poiLt at which fer
mentation takes place, and yet below that
at which it cooks-by merely dying the
albumen-will remain perfectly sweet du-
ring the hottest weather and through every
change in climate. The cost of the appa-
ratus is trifing; the raw materi ! is album
dant, and may be had almost for the ask
ing, while the product cannot fail to have
a commanding value in Cuba, in China, aud
indeed in all portions of the world where
cheap meat is one of the pressing necessi-
ties of the people.
Though as yet in its incipiency, we look
to Lieut.. Fry's discovery as calculated to
immensely enlarge the boundaries of our
trade. To Texas it will prove an exhaust
less mine of wealth, and to the world a bene-
faction of the very highest value.-[N. 0.
Times.