The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1880-06-16
FARM AND HOUSEHOLD.

IA. 3 Allen In Harper's Magazine for June
Until within few years past scarce pound
OF fresh beef or single fat bullock was ex.
ported from Amenca to Great Britain, as Ii
had been thought, up TO that period, these
products could not be plscsd there in a nj
condition for the consumption CT the fastidi-
Gus islanders. Moreover. for some time the
value of meats of all kinds had been so near
alike on both sides OF the Atlantic as to pre-
clude the idea OF expectation at profit.
But prices then began 70 advance rapidly in
Great Britain ana the nelghboring countries
of Europe, from which she had long drawn
supplies for her wants over and above her
own productions, while depres.
sion took place to some ex
tent in America. This prompted few of
our enterprislDg dealers in fresh beef and
fat builocks to make toe experiment of ex-
portafion thither. This, at first, owing to
the imperfect refrigeration of the compart
ments on board ship for the preservation of
fresh meat, aud lack OF comfortable accom-
mediation for live cattle, together with some
other causes, more often resulted in loss
than profit. But the pioneers In this bust
ness perseverei with the customary Ameri-
can pluck, rapidly Introducing one improve
ment after another. till the expectations
increased during the pest fiscal year, ending
June 50, 1879, to 81 OBS S32 pounds of fresh
beef. valued at 81 $50, 0s0: and 136, 720 bull
locks valued at IS 3T9, Goethe whole
product being S13, 262, $50.
Had it not been for the British orders in
Council, prohibiting considerable importa-
ton OF live cattle, on account OF supposed
diesease, American expectations would have
been much larger, and we have every rea-
son to believe they will be soon doubled, il
not trebled. They certainly will, If nothing
untoward occurs in this new business. In
fact ii promises so largely and probably in
the future, that ships are now fitting up ex-
pressly for the transportation of fresh meats
and live animals OF all domestic kinds, not
only to the United Kingdom. but also to
France. Belgium, Holland and Denmark,
and in due time the expectation will prooa-
bly, be extended to other parts of Europe.
The introduction of fresh beef from Amer
lea in % England met at first with great
opposition on the part of many there, and
especially of the butchers, who, like the
silversmiths of Ephesus of old, saw their
craft in danger" Provoking accounts Of
this have appeared in the English papers;
but the following from a correspondent Of
the London Times, being rather amusing, l
copy it to show the American reader how ne
was treated by his butcher and grocer:
Some time since large quantities of
American beef began to be imported, Just at
q time when English beef was reaching al
most famine prices. L know family in
this town, of good position, who, after much
anxious thought, and weighing all the
chances of being poisoned. etc, timorously
resolved one day to try this American beef.
Unfortunately the servants heard of the
great experiment The ioint-a fine one
was duly served; the family ate and liked it.
They are still alive.) But would you be.
lieve il, sir, not one of the four servants
would touch il? Let rs not be too hard on:
the servants. 1 would not try it myself for
more than a year after the first importatIons-
Everybody knows that we can get as good a
Joint in New York as in London, but fear
the voyage might inlure il.
"A few weeks ago we had undoubted evil
dence of our butcher sending Us American
beef, charged at the price of English. l had
paid him all winter elevenpeDce per pound
all around, after which l went to American
stores and got similar joints at eightpence-
halfpenny per pound. / had been charged
fourteenpence per pound for best Wiltshire
hams when, in fact, the same were subse-
QUently found at sevenpe1ce per pound al
American stores"
In addition to the above paltry trick oil
selling 60 ID American beef at the exorbitant
price then ruling in English, the butchers
resorted to the still more reprehensible one
of selecting any which happened to be OF an
inferior quality or slightly damaged on the
voyage across the Atlantic, and offering such
at lower prices as the best American. To
put an end to these nefarious transactions,
the importers decided on having public sales
OF their meat. This brought it directly tC
the knowledge of the people, who upon
trial found il equal to their own. 4 steadily
increased market sprung up for it, and now
fresn American beef, mutton, pork and
poultry sell as freely abroad, aud at as high
prices, as the choicest European.