The Portland daily press., 1890-09-16
THE NEW REFRIcERAToR.
Reception by the Portland Beef
Company.

The new refrigerator building Of the Port
land Beef Company, on Commercial street,
foot of Maple, was formally opened last
night. This is a branch Of Swif's great
Chicago beef house and is the finest refriger-
ator east of Boston. The building Is built
entirely of Southern pine and Is constructed
in the strongest and most substantial man
ner possible. j. Ii. Veasey Of Chicago,
Swift's carpenter. superintended the con.
structioD and the work was done by local
carpenters. The entire building is about $50
40 feet. In The front about twenty-five feet
is occupied by the offices and the delivery
room, finished In polished ash, with plate
glass windows. Electric bells and speaking
tubes connect every part of the building
with the main Office. Beyond this are the
two refrigerator boxes, each 6S IA feet
Four hundred tons of ice stacked above
them keeps the temperature In the boxes
down to about thirty-six degrees. The walls
are made Of many thicknesses Of spruce
with canvas and paper between and are alb
solutely air tight From the ceilings are sus-
pended six iron trucks, upon which run the
pulley hooks sustaining the fores and quar-
ters of each animal bearing the same num-
Der that they bore when shipped from Chi
cago. When wanted for local dealers the
meat is run into the delivery room and their
weighed ON overhead scales, which make
lifting unnecessary. Each refrigerator box
has the capacity of eighty carcasses. but one
Is to be used for the starage of salt and fresh
provisions and pork products.
The second story is fitted up with a coat
room, closets and storage room. The rear
of the building is arranged for stable, hav-
ing large wagon house and stalls for eight
horses.
The Portland Beef Company was estab.
lished here ten years ago and is under the
efficient management of Mr.. Ii. B. Peters.
1t was he who last night welcomed all who
came. In his own words he kept open
house, with Grimmer's Orchestra to
entertain all. The establishment was quick
ly filed by visitors as soon as the doors were
opened. On the second floor Caterer Robin
son was on hand and had two tables ar
ranged bearing toothsome samples of the
company's merchandise This room quickly
filled up with street crowd of hoodlums,
men who looked and stared at the food as If
they never had eaten square neal There
were at least two hundred in the room when
finally one, more merry than the rest,
sampled lambs tongue. and as IL it were
a signal the entire assemblage pitched into
the viands and fairly glutted themselves. 1t
was the most ludicrous sight one can imagine.
Manager Peters allowed them to proceed un-
til he was sure they had had sufficient for
their welfare. Some of them had stored In
their pockets rations for days to come. He
then allowed the police, who were present,
to clear the room which they did with a
relish. The tables were then reset and the
more modest visitors were welcomed to
sample and taste, and were served with
coffee at will.
While inspecting the refrigerator In which
the beef is stored, Mr.. John p. Hobbs, Of the
Falmouth Market, got his eye on the finest
"critter" in the establishment. and alth ough
the signs of mo sales tonight were visible
he made Mr.. Peters promise to send it to the
Falmouth Market the first thing this morn
Ing. 1t will be the first delivery from the
new building.
During the evening telegram was re-
ceived from Mr.. Swift expressing his regrets
at not being able to be present at the open
ing