The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1888-01-14

What a Stranger Sees on Strolling Through |
One of These Peculiar Establishments in |
South Australasia CHASTITY Business.
Perhaps almost as much ghastliness |
clings about the Australian meat-freezing
factory, says writer IN the ST. James
Gazette, as about the Chicago pig-killing
yard. Yet visit to either is not without
its interest The freezing factory stands,
necessarily, in somewhat isolated posi-
ton, for the conditions of its existence are
not such as to commend themselves to |
those living in the neighborhood, since the
sheep are not slaughtered on the runs, but
in the factory yards; The machinery
necessary for the freezing process is very44
expensive aud elaborate, 30 that compare
lively few factories exist in the colonies.
Each, however, does very large bust
ness, and during the active season the
number of sheep killed per day is enor-
nous. When the scheme first obtained
footing in New Zealand, squatters and
farmers were SO sanguine about the success
of the experiment, that many of them were
induced to enter into contracts to send
shome" certain number of sheep annual
ly At first the speculation caused a
loss; for the meat, owing to imperfections
in the methods employed, and prejudices
at home, did not bring the price anticipat-
ed. But soon the tide turned. The CON
tract system is still in vogue; but it is also
open to sheep owners to send their mutton
home independently and on the chance of
getting good price. As the sheep are
they should be sent down to the factory.
This is, OF course, a tedious process in
parts, as flock Of say, a thousand sheep
may have to be driven many miles before
they reach railway station whence they
can be conveyed direct to the factory.
Sheep move very slowly, and five or six
miles day is as much as the most active
Arrived at length at the yards of the
factory, they are slaughtered, and the pro-
cess of freezing begins. The scene is
rather a horrible one to a visitor. In the
yards outside are dense masses of sheep
awaiting their turn in more or less fright
ened amazement; in covered shed are the
slaughterers at work literally in a sea of
blood Assistants stand beside them to
skin and clean the animals, and before
many minutes are over the unfortunate
sheep is a mere empty carcass hanging
from the low roof. The carcass is then
slipped on hooks, which are attached to
small wheels running upon grooved rails
in the roof. Along this miniature trolly
line they are shot into the cooling depart
ment. The process is the exact reverse of
Turkish bath. The first room is of
moderately low temperature, and the first
stage of the freezing begins This is per-
haps the worst part of the whole affair
One after another the bodies are rolled into
the room and hung in long lines from end
to end No idea can be conveyed of the
sitting sensation experienced in this grew
some chamber. Passing into the second
room you will find less to upset you. The
air is cool and even chill The carcasses
have been exposed for twenty-four hours
in the first room, and are now hardening,
as you may perceive if you feel them
The process Of petrifcation has begun.
As you advance into the apartment this
phenomenon is more manifest To the rap
Of your knuckles the mutton gives back
hard ringing sound, and you may gather
that the freezing is almost complete After
closing behind you the door of the third
and last room, you find yourself in the
Artic regions. The roof is low, and a
dense mass Of white is all that is discerni-
bic at first, for the light is dim. Presently
you make out pendent forms shrouded in
white linen coverings; and as you pick your
way through the narrow passages you get
an idea Of the vast number collected here
1t is the store room, and probably contains
ten or twenty thousand carcasses. They