Rocky Mountain husbandman. [volume] (Diamond City, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1877-06-14
LIV { ST CK.
AMERICAN BEEF IN EUROPE.

ton of what we had said, we give the f0l-
lowing extract from a special correspon-
dence of the Scotchman of May I'd. The
wonderful proportions to which this bust
ness has grown within the short space of
of one year, has not only caused much news
paper comment in the old country, but it
has created a considerable stir and uneasi
ness among the Scotch farmers, whose prin-
cipal product is beef raising. The Scotch
annn's correspondent writes from New ! ork
City. His visit to America is fer the pur-
pose OF examining her agricultural resources,
and he is unrestricted as to time and means
TO apprise his readers of these facts. His
visit will extend from Canada to Texas. He
says:
Considering the great interest felt in the
matter in England and Scotland, it is rather
surprising to find that the newly o%peneden-
terprise has attracted very little attention
here. 1t has received but scant notice from
the newspapers, and in private ~cireles it has
seldom been a topic of conversation. Bust
ness men in New York seem to know that
such a trade has been begun, but little
more, and politicians have been so busy
with election affairs OF late that no other
eraniums. Almost all the interest that has
been shown on the subject is confined to
those immediately connected with tex
porters, butchers, cattle statesmen, and farm
ers. In that circle, however, a keen inter-
est lis manifested. For some time Mr.. East
man Now YnrE wac a10na in fhn trade
but now there are nc fewer than seven firms
engaged in the experiment. Considering
the ready sale and the favorable reception
that Mr.. Eastman's first consignments met
with, it was only natural to expect a large
and speedy extension of the trade, but there
can be little doubt that it has already been
overdone-tilat too many have Embarked III
the business, and that some of the firms
may eome to grief before things reach their
Level. A very considerable amount of cap
ital is required by the exporter. He has to
erect the refrigerators in the ships himself,
and besides having to pay a heavy premium
for space in the vessels, he has to erect re-
trigerators at his killing yard; and, there
fore, unless a very substantial return can be
had from the British markets, his books
would very soon show an ugly balance on
the wrong side. All the lines sailing be-
tween England and Scotland and New York
and Philadelphia-eight in number-carry
meat, and now it is very seldom that a
steamer leaves tise Hudson for British ports
without having on board several tons Of
both beef and mutton. 4 +
1t will thus be seen that about 1O.5OO
quarters of beef, weighing from $50 tc
200 TBS. each, now leave New York and
Philadelphia every week for the British mar
kets, and in addition to this about 1000 car
cases of mutton are exported to the same
markets weekly. Both sheep and cattle are
brought into the stock sales either by the
farmers themselves or in consignnlents 10y
stock agents-the latter system being the
more general-and then purchased by the
exporters-cattle alive and sheep dead. At
about two hours to allow the natural heat
to escape, and then 1t is hung In the refrig-
orators in the yard until transferred to the
retrigerators in the ships. Large perma-
nent refrigerators have been erected at the
Jersey City Stock Yards, and Mr.. Eastman
has built and fitted up a large building for
himself in New York City, while u new
firm has leased an old slaughter house in
Jersey City with the view of going into the
export trade. Other firms than those men-
toned are engaged in the export of sheep,
but the mutton is all conveyed across the
Atlantic In nalne of these firms, as in this
Wnv II can he carried almost free of NIL cost,