The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1888-08-11
pEPreoRo MARKET.



Mart In the World.
The cattle were 80 varied in form
and character that brief description
Of my visit to the largest covered cat
tie market in the world may be accept
able.
BY the kind invitation of two Ger.
man sheep dealers went to Deptford
to witness the weekly sale of beeves
and sheep, and Of which shall further
speak.
Deptford Is q town of most intec.
esting character, ancient aud full OF
historical interest. 1t is about seven
miles from London. The place was OF
little Importance till the time of Henry
VIII, who, for the better preservation
of the royal navy, established dock
yard, and incorporated the Society OF
the Trinity House by the title of the
"Master, Wardens and Assistants OF
the Guild or Fraternity of the Most
Glorious and Undivided Trinity, and
of st. Clement in the county of Kent. "
This royal dock-yard included " space
of thirty-one acres and is now the site
of the great cattle market. The most
interesting feature of the old Deptford
ship docks is that it was here that
Peter the Great lived and worked and
learned his trade as shipwright.
This market has the most stringent
bylaws that regulate every part of the
extensive business. For instance, q
dog is not allowed on the premises,
and the cleanliness of the great en-
closure can well be called perfect. l
suppose that there are nearly 100 diff
ferent buildings in this area, aud of
every size and adaptability. The wharf
age is superb, and the largest vessels
from all countries come up the Thames
and disembark their huge cargo of cat
tie without the slightest difficulty. The
morning that l was ut Deptford one
If the Monarch line was discharg-
ing thousand American beeves. They
looked lank and miserable. am not
often ashamed of any thing that l see
emanating from my own dear country,
but must confess when saw this long
troop of tired, long-horned, faint steers
walk across the gangplank and up the
walk to the American stalls, l felt a
little chagrined. The American agent,
however, said: "Don't fear, there are
no beeves that will be sold this or any
other day like the American. 1t is the
meat that is favorably taking with all
classes more and more" l was glad
to hear this, and yet, as / looked at
the splendidly built Spanish beeves,
the beautiful black and white Dutch
cattle, the Portuguese short, thick and
well-lived animals, could not believe
what my guide and friend told me.
Yet, when the sale came off later in
the day, his prediction was positively
verified.
The corporation of London makes a
good thing in this business. Fifteen
pence on every beef and 10d. on every
sheep that are landed must be at once
paid, and then not one of these animals
ever go out of the enclosure alive.
Most of the animals are sent on COM
mission, and the commission agents are
always on hand to take every advant-
age of their position. There is little
responsibility on their part, and the
remuneration received ought to be
most satisfying. But it is not every
one who can obtain a place of this
character. Each agent has his own
stalls, pens and folds. There is 10
auctioneering; every thing is of the
most quiet character. The day that
l was at the market there were over
5000 sheep and lambs sold and over
5000 beeves, and yet every thing was
conducted in as quiet a manner as at
the most quiet of art sales. The butcher
or the dealer in meats, will go from
stall to stall and pen to pen, asking
show mushp" If the price is satisfac.
tory the number is mentioned and they
are driven to one of the many slaugh.
tering establishments, and in few
hours the clean-dressed carcasses are
on their way to London. Not hool
of any kind goes out of Deptford alive,
except those of a carriers work.
There is fine imposed upon EN-.
ployes using vulgar or profane Ian.
guage. At the close Of each days sale
there must be made Il square settlement
between buyer and seller. Yet there
is great deal of honesty between
these two parties. was with one OF
my German friends who deals very
largely in German sheep. A buyer
came up and pointed to pen in which
were 100 fine sheep. "How muchp''
"Thirty-two shillings," was the reply
(of course this was for each.) "Will
give you thirty shillings," said the Gus
toner. "ill right" said the seller,
and the bar gain was sealed by shake
of the hand-no writing, no other
agreement but the word of honor
The slaughtering houses are IL wonder
in themselves. have seen the same
kind of work performed in Armour's
establishment in Chicago, but that was
with swine. Here q huge bullock is
slaughtered and made ready for sale in
few moments. Nothing is wasted.
One large firm in London has the con-
tract for all the quits. These skins are
sent to Germany for sausage skins, or
to London to manufacture into lawn
tennis bats.
Another firm receives all the hides
OF the beeves, and another of the sheep
clrinc uLh;la tha ,a,n,;o;to a., o n 5,,oya,