The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1871-09-01
THE CHE.iP MEAT PROBLEM.
Texas Beef Retailed on shipboard from
Philadelphia-A New Departure for
the Butchers.

The arrival of the steamer Fire Fly, at Phil.
adelphia, with cargo OF fresh Texas beef,
brought under patent refrigerating process,
has already been mentioned. The city retail
| butchers did not purchase the cargo, and an
| nouncement was made that beef as fresh and
| firm and sweet as the most dainty appetite
could ask would be sold at retail on board the
Fire Fly at five to fifteen cents per pound. The
following description of the lively scene which
| ensued Is given by the Philadelphia Bull
| letin:
When 1t. became known that fresh Texas
| beef was being sold on the steamer at half the
rates charged In the street markets, great
| rush OF people of all colors was at once made
| to tske advantage of the rare opportunity OF
obtaining good meat at such very low rates.
Captain Townsend at once transformed por-
| tion of the fore-deck into q well-appointed
meat-stand, and secured corps of carvers,
| who are now, and have been since this tempo
rary meat shop was opened, industrlously en-
gagged In attending to the host of customers
constantly pressing forward for the cheap
Texas beet. The scene this morning was an
Interesting one. Rich and poor crowded for
ward to be served, calling for quantities from
pound to quarter, and while waiting were
prolific In their encomiums upon its good quail
| ty and Its cheapness, and their riddance from
| the 'butcher monopoly" which they were COM
PEELED to support for so long a time.
The Philadelphia North American of the 25th
instant devotes an editorial column to a his
tory Of the enterprise and the plans for Its
future prosecution. 1t says:
The refrlgeratipg process involved is o
patent, and has worked with the utmost satis-
faction. The meat is sweet and tender and
Juicy, and wants only in those characteristics
that belong to stall-fed or highly prepared
animals that are sought by connOisseurs at ex-
treme prices. Those used were an average Of
interior herds. The hides and horns were
sent on the same ship with the carcasses, on
deck, and found ready sale at private terms.
The temperature there, when killed, was 95
degrees. AS the first shipment was In lts
nature experimental, nearly week was al
lowed to elapse before an organized effort was
made to market 1t. This It was calculated
would remove any prejudice that existed, or
show the failure of the enterprise decisively.
The point Is settled, and 1t Is so settled that
while this beef has been disposed Of at between
five and fifteen cents, according to quality, we
may look forward to sales at still lower prices.
Now large receiving refrigerators will be built
there and here. Philadelphia butchers will
leave here on the return trip. An United
States inspector will be sent out to certify the
qualify Ol lQe meat. lQc CaLtl6 Will DC HCdlL-
fed OH their receipt, before being butchered.
the poorer portions salted, and only the best.
shipped. And the ship running between the
great refrigerators will not be detained at
either port. It is intended to add mutton TO
the cargo, and to bring red fish, red snapper,
pompano and other choice varieties OF fish.
And should the demand warrant, the endless
oyster-flled bayous OF Barataria and the whole
coast, and the countless hocks of ducks that
waste along the streams OF southeastern
Texas, where they can be and are killed by
the boat load, will also be sent forward. The
next cargo is to be expected in about forty
five days from the day Of departure here. 1t
may be sold by the cargo on arrival, or stored
and retailed TO large dealers. 1t will not be
retailed again as In this instance.
The foregoing account indicates that one
first difficulty in the way Of bringing fresh
meat, preserved by the Teller process OF re-
frigeratlon, from Texas, was encountered in
the opposition of the local butchers. This was
promptly overcome by converting the steamer
into retail beef market, and so efectually
that the retail butchers appear now to have
embarked in the enterprise. Ifit be true that
fresh, wholesome meat, of good quality, can
be proftably retalled at ten to fifteen cents per
pound, the new departure" in transportation
will be welcomed with a cordiality verging on
enthusiasm