, 1885-10-09

Sacred to the Memory OF Old Three
Fingered Smith.
The Dressing and Packing of Beei.
The dressed beef trade is a comparn-
lively new branch of the general meet bus
mess, dating back only about four or five
years. Even now it is carried on by only
four or five firms in Chicago, but it is rap
idly growing. The distinctive feature Of
the business is the employment of exten-
siye refrigerator appliances, through the
aid of which dressed beef and other kinds
of meat are sent all through the east and
across the sea, and are made to arrive as
fresh and sweet as il killed and prepared
for market on the spot. AT first consld-
cradle opposition was encountered from
local dealers at different points, who found
themselves undersold by a foreiin article
equally good with that offered by them
selves. New York dealers and butchers
were particularly savage for a time against
the introduction of Chicago dressed beef
in their market, but even their opposition
is slowly dying nut. The influx of
Chicago dressed beef into eastern
markets has already lowered the
price of the home article about
3 cents per pound, and, therefore,
the nsum are not greatly increased
even if the butchers and dealers are.
Neither is the quality of the meat injured
by being subjected to this refrigerator
process. All kinds of meat are exposed
TO i~ce-cooling influences in the summer
months before being taken to market, and,
Of course, the presence of ice in a refrig-
orator car is no more deleterious than ice
in packing houses or in butcher shops.
About the only effect of ice on fresh-killed
meat is to cause a shrinkage OF u per
cent in weight, some say 3 per cent.
This refrigerator meat is now sent to New
York. Boston, and through New England,
Pennsylvania and the seaboard cities, be-
sides the heavy trade which is carried on
across the ocean. To carry on the bust
ness successfully involves an immense out
lay in the way Of cars, cold storage houses,
etc. at all the principal points to which
it is forwarded, but 50 long as it sells
readily there is a percentage Of profit
left
s. 4
1t is altogether surprising to what an
extent ice is entering into commerce as an
indispensable factor. Not alone in the
meat trade, but in the dairy trade as well,
is its influence felt. Butter, cheese and
eggs, poultry, fish and fruit, as well as all
kinds of fresh meats, are sent out into
storage and kept until wanted for sale.
And other countries are catching on to
this idea, as well as ourselves-Australia
and New Zealand, especially The re-
frigerator mutton which comes to London
from the latter country forms no ineon-
siderable item in that citys weekly sup
ply. But America eclipses the world in
the amount of refrigerator meats fur
nished. as she does in many other re.
spects-
The process of killing and dressing beef
at the stock yards is not Us expeditions
and wonderful as is that Of killing and
dressing hogs, but is still very interesting.
The feature most noticeable is
the Two methods used in Kill
ling the animal at the start.
One is by use of the rifle, aud the other
the lance. In both, the animals are driven
singly from the yard into a narrow box
stall open at the top A dozen of the
stalls are in a row, and over their tops are
laid some some loose planks IN which the
slayer walks with rifle or lance in hand.
n the case Of the rifle the exccutioner
puts a ball into the animal BRAN at short
range. which kills instantly. Not a groan
is heard, not a muscle moves. TIE ani-
NAL falls like a lup of lead and is dragged
from the stall into the slaughter house,
where the throat is cut and the process
of dressing completed. Three or four
men are engaged upon one carcass, and
in about fifteen minutes the beef is ready
to hang up. When a lance is used it is
driven by an experienced hand straight
into the spinal cord Just behind the horns,
and the result is equally fatal, the animal
never knowing what or who takes its lite,
Thus the minimum of cruelty is secured
and there are no i'll aimed or misplaced
blows struck The process is so quick
and successful that Inconsistencies is pro-
duced in an instant by both methods.
OF course the animal is properly bled
subsequently, but of this even it knows
nothing. j. W. b.
The Doctors Endorsement
DIR. w. d. Wright, Cincinnati, o.,
sends the subjoined professional endorse
mcnt Il have prescribed DR.. Wm.
Halls Balsam for the lungs in Il great
many cases, and always with success.
One case i'm narticular was giVcn IN by