The daily intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Territory [i.e. Wash.]) 1876-1881, 1878-07-25
Thursday, July 25. 1878.

A late issue of the Boston GL0Je gives
an interesting account of new indus
try that has recently been successfully
instituted on the Atlantic sea board.
For some years past an extensive COM
merce has been carried On in the ship
ment of fresh dressed beef across the
ocean from our Eastern States to Eu-
rope, in closed compartments in vessels
specially prepared for the business. 1t
is but lately, however, that the expert
ment has been tried Of shipping the
beef on foot, to be slaughtered in the
shambles of Birmingham aud Smith
field. Says the GIoJe:
Steamers enough can hardly be OBJ
tanned to satisfy the increasing demand
of shippers. Nothing in Ocean
traffic can begin to compare with
this new enterprise which has
flashed upon us SO suddenly, and
yet three years ago the first
shipment Of cattle to foreign ports
had not been made. Shipper after
shipper has been obliged to forego an
ocean trip for the same reason that he
was unable to find steamship to carry
his living cargo. Now, long before a
steamer leaves her European port, ev-
cry foot between decks. for that is
where cattle are placed, is engaged. So
rapidly has this particular line Of busi-
ness increased that several passenger
steamers have been converted into
freightsrs, with accommodations fo- car.
rying two or three hundred head OF
cattle. There are about fourteen steam.
ers every month sailing from this port,
which carry all the way from $50 to
500 head of cattle each, besides large
number of live hogs, generally con-
signed to the same parties.
The shipment of live cattle from Bos-
ton this past week numbers nearly
eighteen hundred head, while the week
before there were two thousand four
hundred carried over to Liverpool.
Of oil the steamers plying between
this port and Liverpool the Lcyland
line is the largest, fastest aud most sui.
table for carrying cattle. and perhaps
description of these great ocean barns,
as it were, may not be out Of place in
this article. The steamers are over
400 feet in length. 40 feet beam, and
about 5000 tons burden Between
decks the arrangements are somewhat
AS follows. A line of stalls are built
on each side the ship, running its full
length. These stalls are eight feet
wide and ten feet long, and each &C
commodities four head of cattle, allow
ing two and one half by eight feet for
each head. The shippers calculate that
there will be by this arrangement
about one hundred and forty cubic feet
of space allotted to each steer The re-
msiniDg space left forward and aft of
the boilers is utilized for stalls. In
front of each stall is trough for the
purpose of feeding the cattle. The
stalls are built facing inward, this being
considered much the best position for
the cattle, rs we'll rs for the keepers.
who are in this way able to perform
their work much moro expeditions.
These ships are fitted with what is
known in sailor phrase as BOBBY matches,
thus atfording air and light to the 400
or 500 head Of cattle on the deck below.
In addition to this there are arrange.
ments fore aud aft by which aeontinual.
current of air is sent through the ship.
The cattle are treated with the best of
care, there being from twelve to fifteen
keepers. whose duty it is to care for
the dumb animals. Their food is made
in Chicago. and sent to the sea board at
the same time with the cattle trains.
thus avoiding any delay in Boston.
The manner of getting them aboard
ship is rather an ingenious one. A
passage way about eight feet wide ex-
tends from the cattle cars to the gang
plank of the ship. This passageway is
walled up on the sides with bales of
hay to the height of seven or eight
feet. The sight of this hay somewhat
Treasures the bewildered creatures and
they arc easily driven through the pas.
sageway down the gang-plank. which
is also walled up on the sides to the
deck, AT the foot of this gang plank.
and at right angles with it, leading
down to the stalls below is another
passageway, after passing which the
cattle are quickly secured by their
Keepers and tied 10 their respective
places. This part of the work.
although not particularly dangerous, is
very difficult and requires considerable
headwork. The keepers are generally
green hands ut the business, and 90
more for pecunisry considerations than
for any particular love for the business.
their pay being about SEQ for the trim.
They are all furnished with a free
storage passage back ON the same
steamer. when she returns. From
Liverpool the cattle are driven TO mar
kst. where they are sold at prices vary.
ing from $3.50 upwards. and some ship.
pers have been known TO make as high
as $4,000.
To give some idea of the number of
cattle sent over by the steamers from
this port. the following figures have
been obtained: The lberian, Nav Is.
sailed with 434 head: Bulgarian, June
!. with 4l6; Bavaria. June 5, with 400:
lllyrian. June Is. with 43l; Istrian,
June 10. with 44S; Bohsmlau, June -.
with sci, and the Iberian, June 10,
with AS.
The first shipment of live cattle was
made three years ago by Mr.. Rodick,
on the steamer San Marcos, from Con.
stitution wharf. and consisted of sew
onty-five head. l, was prephesied tina,
Mr.. Rsiick's undertaking would prove
failure, but il was successful beyond
his most sanguine expectation. Since
'hat time the business has continued to
crease until IL has rcachad lis nrasant