Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1886-11-26
OUR MEATS.
EFFECT OF CALIFORNIA CLIMATE
ON MEATS.
therefore Better than ANY
Other, and Why

California that it is not surprising our East
ern friends doubt our ruthfulness now and
then. Californians all bear testimony to
the fact, that not infrequently incredulity
is apparent in the countenances of stran-
gers who ask for and receive information
concerning the advantages this State pos
sesses for the home-seeker. Probably
if the claim should be made that because
of climate our
FOOD MEATS ARE BETTER
Here than east of the Rocky Mountains, we
would be put down by many Eastern in
quirers as dramatically demented. Never
theless, it is true, that in the matter of ami
NAL food California has claims superior to
those of the East. One of the Oldest and
most experienced butchers and dealers in
meats in Sacramento, man of unques-
toned integrity and great carefulness in
speech, and whose vocation for thirty years
has been that of an expert in meats and
the furnishing and curing of them for
tables here and at the East, was asked by
a RECORD UNION representative, recently,
how our meats compare with those at the
East.
They are better" was the reply.
why SOP"
Because of the California climate"
You don't mean that ?"
But do
"wHY ARE THEY BETTER ?"
Because they are healthier"
Come, now; that is reasoning in a
circle"
Perhaps it is; but let us see. What
stock is liable to be healthiest, that housed
up or that running free in the air where
the weather is the reverse of inclement2"
"Why the range cattle of course"
Well, that's the kind we have in Cali
fornia and Nevada, and especially in the
latter State, for it most largely supplies US
with cattle for killing"
"Then you mean to say the meat of
beeves that are unhoused is best?"
Certainly The beef cattle run out here
the whole year round. If they get any
shelter all they need is that of shed-roof
or tree. You know our cattle are never
put up in the winter"
Are they at the East?3
"You know they are; and stock must
be put up there good part of the year,
and it is fed ON hot food, also, in many
cases."
DO OUR ANIMALS GEL As FAT
Probably not; but that is not always
essential, Still, they will average fairly
with those of the East. They have some
extraordinary fat cattle there. In "a l
helped butcher six head in Missouri, of four
year-old steers, the average weight of
which was 1,644 pounds. But that was ex-
ceptional, of course"
50 In what respect is our meat better ?"
of &c -
growth That shows in the color and fiber
of the fesh-but only experts, probably,
notice it. l think it is firmer, and believe
the tint of the flesh is lighter, somewhat.
l know this, that all our beef cattle are
healthier for the reason | gave, so the meat
must be better for consumption by human
beings"
How about keeping qualities ?''
Yes, that's another thing. We can
keep meats better here in hot weather, than
they can in hot weather at the East"
"Why is that? ?"
Because in these valleys the air is clear,
pure and dry, and our nights are cool. The
heat Of 100 degrees is not so great here, you
know, as so east of the mountains.
SEE HERE, NOW,
There is beef on the hooks to go on the
blocks tomorrow Well, it was Killed last
Thursday and this is Monday. Here are
quarters to be cut up tomorrow and the
beef was killed Sunday morning, and this
is Monday evening"
but it is November"
Yes, that is true. In the winter they
can keep meats at the East far better than
we can, for we have it moist then. But in
summer we can discount them. They will
kill at 6 or in the evening and send the
meat TO the cutters block next morning.
OF course the refrigerator changes that, but
then they don't all have ice as they want.
Then, too, you must remember that though
this is November here, it is not cold. To-
day was autumn warmth. 1t is fact, that
at the East we used to bleed calves the
evening before we killed them"
"What for?"
To draw off the blood in order to cool
them; to get the animal heat out"
so, then, at the East meat is eaten
sooner after killing than it is here?"
Yes, generally. Summer before last
(1SS5) did not have to get ice into the
shop until June 18th or 10th, and l quit
using it September 18th. So you see only
about three months did l have to use the
refrigerator at all. Last summer (1SS6) I
used it longer. 1t varies according to con-
ditions.
swILL AND STILL.