The Dickinson press. (Dickinson, Stark County, D.T. [i.e. N.D.]) 1883-1927, 1883-11-17
Our Chicago Letter.
CHICAGo. Nov. l3. 1883,

Our Chicago Letter.
CHICAGO, Nov. Is, 1883.
The hopes of merchants for an ac.
tive fall trade have not been realized,
though business has been fairly ac-
tive. A considerable number of
houses are getting into trouble by
try ing to carry too heavy stocks of
goods. The whole difficulty can he
traced back to lack of Judgment in
estimating the probable demands,
supplemented by the damage by
early frosts and these followed by
wet weather which has made it we'll
nigh impossible to get about in some
parts of the country. During the
last week a number of Chicago houses
have gone to the wall, and it is ru-
mored that others are ''shinning" the
town--to use the latest and most ex-
pressive way of ,intimating that 4
house is sending to every one who
will be likely to accommodate it with
q loan for a few days.
The outlook is far from encourag.
ing, and yet, while there will un.
doubtedly be more failures it is pro-
bahle they will in the main be small,
and the next season will open up with
Il good trade. One hopeful sign is an
advance in grain, wheat especially
having taken decided upward turn.
This will probably unlock the farm
ers' bins and put cash into their poe.
kets, to he paid out for clothing, farm
implements and other necessaries,
and so the wheels of trade will re-
ceive new impetus and all will be
happy.
Our packing houses have been ac-
tive during the last week, ll2,0M
hogs were slaughtered. against 10000
during the corresponding week last
year. The summer packing, includ-
ing the month of October, is stated
at l,s6O,O00 hogs.
had the pleasure on Monday last
of going through the slaughter-house
of G. Swift & Co., where beef is
dressed for the New York market,
and will give you short report of
my observations. The house is kill
ing about l,lO0 head of cattle daily.
The animals are driven into pens sim
gly and are speared from above. The
spear is Il solid piece of iron d inch
thick and probably seven feet long.
One end is. sharpened so as to pre-
sent a blade about an inch in length.
The blow is struck imm edlately back
of the horns SO as to sever the spinal
cord and the animal falls as if killed
by all electric shock. The carcass is
handled by steam machinery and the
rapidity with which the animal is
| transformed into dressed beef is as
tonishing to the novice, though not
more so than the cleanliness with
which the work is accomplished.
After hanging in the cooling rooms
long enough to become chilled the
beef is packed carefully in refrigera.
tor cars. 1t is shipped in quarters,
and they are hung in the cars much
as in IL meat market, though more
compactly. On the floor of the cars
are placed the livers on light wooden
frames. The cars are cooled by ice
compartments ut either end. In hot
weather these are refilled five times
dueing the journey from Chicago to
New York. Only the best quality of
beef is shipped and the industry is
assuming very large proportions.
The house 1 visited was but one of
several extensive ones engaged in the
same business. l may add that q
visit to the hide cellars was inter-
esting. They extend beneath the en- :
tire house. AS stood in one room,
my companion, who is a dealer i'll
hides, estimated the value of the
hides in sight as $4,000.