The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1884-07-10
Western Dressed Beel for the Eas'.

The trade in dead meats is rapidly
increasing. Its progress and success;
interest every breeder, farmer and
feeder in the West; everything which
helps to supply the eastern and foreign
markets with cheaper and better meats
increases the demand. Several eastern
butchers have naturally opposed the
sale of western dre< sed meats as it in.
terferes with their profits, and lowers
the price of meat there, and some news
papers have joined the cry without in
vestigation. A representative of the
Prairie Farmer has been through the
largest of the Chicago establishments
devoted to this business. Attached tC
the rear of the immense slaughter house
is continuous series of stalls, each
about four by ten feet. Doors at either
end communicate with the yard on one
side and the house on the other. Be.
yond the first row of yards is an outer
range for the reception of stock. We
found the yards filled with stock, all
choice, plump, fat animals weighing
900 pounds to 1900 pounds each. Moth.
ingis visible to excite nervousness in the
cattle. The outer doors of the stalls are
opened, one animal driven into each,
and the doors securely closed. A plank
walk extends along the top of the stalls,
upon which passes skilled workman,
who strikes the animal insensible with
a single blow, either with ''spear" or
a hammer. The ''spear' is a long,
heavy iron bar, with chisel blade
at one end. Raising this above the
animal he instantly sewers the spine at
its junction with the skull. If the ham
mer is used, a single blow in the fore
head is effective. AS the animal falls
the door is opened into the slaughter
house and the carcass is drawn in. A
finishing blow is given with a heavy
hammer to make dOubly sure that no
life remains, and the next instant man
thrusts a long, sharp knife through the
breast, opening the great artery direct
ly above the heart. An attendant
catches the spouting blood in large
pan and empties it into barrel. An
other skillful hand strips the skin from
the head and sewers it from the neck
The carcass is then elevated by chains
and a steam windlass Here it is
skinned, dressed, and cut in halves,
which are run OF to the rear portion of
the room where they hang until the
animal heat has escaped, after which
they are suspended in the cold-room.
A moments observation shows that
everything is done with the utmost
order and regularity. Passing down
the long floor from one carcass TO the
next, the workmen acquire perfect deX-
terity, never making false or useless
motion. The skillful are paid from
800 to 1925 per month. Absolute
neatness prevails. So thoroughly is the
place scrubbed and cleaned every day
that no taint or unpleasant odor is per-
ceptible any time of year.
There is no waste product. The
cheeks are canned, the horns and hOOfs
steamed and pressed flat for making
combs and various other articles; the
shank,bo are sold to cutters for
handles. Sausage cases are made from
the entrails. The suet, marrow, and
all loose fat are melted at low heat,
and the strained oil sold to makers of
oleomargarine, the greater part being
exported. The blood, ofal and rem
nants of flesh and bones are made into
various valuable fertilizers.
Above the cold-rooms are lofts filled
with ice, by means of which an even
temperature of thirty-siS degrees is
maintained through the year. 1t Is
claimed that meat can be kept ut this
temperature fof an indefinite period
without injurious cnange. The ears in
which it is shipped are supplied with ice
which keeps a uni 'Orm temperature.
About 5000 beeves are thus slaugh-
tered daily in Chicago for this trade,
and this amount will lie increased to
1000 as soon as the facilities now in
progress are completed. Largc num-
berS of sheep and swine are also killed,
preserved and shipped. If the business
continues to increase rs it has during a
year past, similar establishments will
be erected at Kansas City and other
points.
The advocates of this system claim
the following advantages: Superior
healthfulness, as the animals are
slaughtered before they are fevered by
long railroad Journey; and better
flavor is acquired by hanging unfrozen
in uniform low temperature. Onc
refrigerator car will carry the dressed
quarters of as many animals as wOulG
fill two cars when alive, and in the
latter case they would require care,
yardage and feed.-Prairie Farmer.