New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1870-06-04
FRESH MEATS BY FAST TRAINS.

To the Editor Of The Tribune
SIR: An article in late number of The
TRIBUNE speaks of the transportation Of fresh meats by
vessels. While there are so many contingencies con-
nected with running vessels for this purpose, we shOd
consider the best mode of getting fresh meats carried
over the iron pathways already laid through the green
praires into the midst OF the innumerabe trade OF the
West. Bright healthy quarters are brought thrOuSn
from Kansas or Northern Texas in three or four days by
fresh train supplied with cars arranged1Or per
feet publication and extraction OF all atmospnesric
moisture and securing conditions OF the air surrounding
the meats TO be kept similar TO those that exist on ln
high plains of South America, where cattle saugheTed
for their hides dry in the open air without sp0ng Inc
natural atmospheric pecularltles eAlst 70 sone
extent on our own Paelno sope, % on %ef from the
ground detected from the flies and from the Immediate
eyaporaion OF the earth keep several days These prn
cpes applied so that every hour from the time the car
"A closed the air dryer and purer with speed
OF l6 miles hour win bring fresh meats from the
When the Southern Pacific has ~ miles more OF LUCK
laid it will reach the Indian Territory lS5 miles from
New York A train run at l6 miles an hour VIII
reach Ncw,York in three days and 10 hour, hours
tram with no stops except at large cues ana
Now Il there any difficulty in keeping meats this short
time with proper arrangements and little refrigeration
tor time enough TO run 200 or 800 miles frther
south west over the Southern Pacific the Missouri
River Fort scott and Galveston Roadf let some through
soient number of freight cars These being clean
and unncmbered inside will carry much goods Of any
cattle cars" be- available for freight both ways
and from them road could realize about double tle
car AnY shpper would paw the usual freight per head
have his meat delivered in New YORK III two OF three
DAYS without any shrinkage the heavy expense Tor
feed and attention now incurred IN running STOCK 70
Tho expense of refrgeratng OF thirty head for
three days would not lie equal 20 the fret feed and lot
tage bill the ordinary carload Of sixteen head at a
ayover station II fast meat train that would go right
through put on, shippers could well afford to pay
advance IN freight per head especially these very re
mote from market For instance there Is no better meat
the world than that OF the SOuthWe when killed on
grass but by the time this live meat reaches
the Eastern market In the usual way, u Is very mueh
srunken and price quoted from four to six cents
per pound less than the average. This depreciation
amounts car OF 5000 pounds to from g ~ to 81 CO.
The road that puts the fast train VIII ma wholesale
butchers in the cities the route ready To use twenty
every other day from the far West That woud pay
at least 500 freight per and secure over 100000
worth OF through freight, beside an immense amount
that would, IN short tme be switched IN from Other
to carry goods of perishabe from Western
TO New York in two days The Wholesale butchers
convenient point miles southwest for this train, aud
deliver his meats in fifteen hours similar facllltes
would produce similar results elsewhere. . .
New-England either would be especially bene1ted by
the road that undertakes this method they being the
furthest from their supplies Less than half the rolling
tona number carried To the car. While we have men
who willing to invest in vessels projected for the
fresh meat business may we not hope soon 10 see the or
ganiZatOn of a system much more feasiDlci
There is little doubt that the price Of meats in orr
great herds Of the Southwest arc brought to within
three four days journey OF the consumer for as yet
there has been no fair opportunity for the stock coming
from that country Some individuals are prepared u
dressed Texas cattle this Summer, from junction
City on the Kansas Pacific. They have put up lee at
point have Strengthening arrangements IN readiness
and propose to fresh meats to Chicago az soon rs
grass cattle arrive from Texas One put up for their
Use has made two successful trips from Kansas City TO
NewYOrk with 80 head OF dressed cattle at trip ana
this by our present slow freights Give us fast meat
present manner Of shipping stock at an end.
Granville. H., May a. 1870. TIL. r.