National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1884-12-13
THE PROVISION KING.
Philip ID. Armour, OF Chicago, In
washington-IIis Brancb Establish
nent in This city.

Philip ID. Armour, OF Chicago, In
washington-IIis Branch Establish
nient in This city.
During tho week reporter Of tho RE-
PUBLICAN, whilo going through Center
market in search of ofitems,,hsd pointed lout
to.him stout, good -natured loooking man,
of about 80. dressed simply, with head
and face that resembled Rev. John Z.
Nowman's. lie was tho center Of group
of strangers, and the party in their tour
through the market attracted unusual at
tention. THAT solid-looking man now
ta liking docs the largest meat business of
any man living, or that ever lived before
him. All the butchers in tho district to-
gether hardly kill in year as many cat
tie and hogs M are killed in his establish
ment in day"
Inquiry soon developed that the mighty
man was the famous Philip ID. Armour, of
Chicago. and 1t was not many moments
before the reporter was conversing with
him, introduced by Mr.. Bert Scannell,
who represents him here In Washington,
and is in charge of the branch establish
ment, which occupies three entire build
ings of the Center market Wholesale
stores. The tour Of inspection of Center
market ended at these stores, and hero
surprise followed surprise in the oxbibi-
tion of the variety and amount of pack
ages of lard, canned and salt meats,
tongues, and provisions, and in tho vast
quantity of fresh beef stored in build
ing by ITSELF the immense storeroom
being kept near tho freezing point by
stores Of Ice on the upper floors, tho cold
air therefrom coming through an in
genious arrangement Of fues that entirely
mr. q mr. ntefu In art ,la II.
ness was in command.
This" said Mr.. Armour, "is ono Of tho
great number Of our stores. We now ship
meat and provisions direct to every city
of large size in the country, and to-day
fresh beef Is selling from to cents less
that would be demanded If these stores
were not in existence. So with lard and
other provisions. We sell to this branch
on an average of eight car loads of fresh
meat week in addition to our regular
shipments oflard and canned meats and in
the latter business we have but just COM
menoed in Washington"
"Do you send your best meat to Wash
ington2"
"Our dressed beef is all of primo
quality, and to Washington is sent more
of that article than to any other city OF
like population in the country. We find |
it in hot weather with our present refrig- |
Grating cars a very hazardous thing to |
ship fresh meat further than Washington
and New York. In time improvements
may be discovered that will enable us to
ship fresh meats In the hottest weather to
any distance. At present our provisions
and canned meats are sent all over Europe |
and into Africa"
Tho public of Washington has felt the
benefit of the competition in meat as
much as any city in the union, aud while
we at first had to contend with the inter-
ests of many local butchers, to-day these
are all disposed to be friendly. The name
Chicago beef is a guarantee of excel
lence, and this the dealers, who are as
bright as any dealers anywhere, all
know. They have noble market here.
well arranged and very commodious, and
the city has right to be proud of it,"