Daily Republican., 1884-04-12
EDITION,
CHICAGO DRESSED BEEF.
Its Advent Into Wilmington .
Falluse-The Refr1geratOrsC Clos.
ed ON Account Of Slow Sales.

luo ADVENT AntO WlISnuD8uOm =
Fsilure-Tho RefrIgerstOrs Clos
ed ON Account Of Slow Sales.
Some time ago mention was made OF
the advent of Chicago dressed
beef into this city, and = graphic
description given Of the large refrige-
rator constructed by Messrs. Sawdon
and Gould, on Tatnall street,
below Thiro, who at the time were
handling large quantities of this ar
ticle.
At first the meat met with ready sale,
and this firm were handling 1t very
extensively. Ere many weeks after
they were established another refrige-
rator was built on West Front street
beyond Madison, by the Swift Chicago
Dressed Beef Company, which was
erected ut considerable cost The Tat
nall street refrigerator was run for
some time very successfully, but many OF
the butchers fought against the new en-.
terprise until they succeeded In poison
ing the minds OF the people, and as a
result the sales Of Chicago beef began
to fall off, while those handling 1t were
forced to purchase other cattle in order
to retain their customers, a. the people
began to turn up their noses at Chicago
beef.
The new refrigerator entered upon the
field when the demand for beef was on
the decline, and their business at best
was very disc0uraging.
A few days ago one Of the owners not
hearing favorable reports from the
manager, paid a visit to this city, and
after holding consultation with man
agner Brown, decided to close the
place up, which was done and the key
turned over to business man near by
for safe keeping
Whether or not the place will be PER-
manently closed remains 70 be- = ten, hut
it is stated that another effort will be
made to make the ,ling 60.
Learning Of the above circumstances
Q REPUBLICAN reporter investigated
the affair, and discovered that not only
had Swift's place closed its doors, but
Messrs. Sawdon g. Gould had also dis
continued the sale of this meat, and
turned their attention TO killing their
own cattle, because the sale of the ex
ported beef would not justify them in
it.
1t was also learned that after the
meat left the refrigerators it was expos
ed to the air by remaining on the
butchers stalls, and, on account of its
slow sale, very often became musty,
which made it unsaleable, and 1t was
returned to those from whom
1t was purchased at considerable loss to
them.
The proprietors Of these two estab.
lishments have expended considerable
money in erecting the buildings and
placing expensive refrigators in the
sam Q, together with all the appurte.
nances necessary for conducting the
business.
In other cities, where this meat is
handled, they have met with success,
and all reports 60 to prove that the
venture has been paying one, but
why itsswould not 60 in this city Is a
mystery, unless it was through the
combined efforts of the majority of the
butchers who were opposed to its sale
and fought desperately against it.
The one great advantage in its favor
was that 1t reduced the price Of choice
beef 10 a considerable extent and when
purchased soon after its arrival was
very palatable
The disc0ntinuance of its sale here
will no doubt be regretted by many,
who, while they did not purchase it,
were enabled to buy other beef at q i
much lower figure.