The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1894-11-26
FREEZING CHAMBERS.
Provisions for Storing Perishable
Supplies in London.

The London and India Docks Joint committee
have just acquired land in the neighborhood of
Smithfeld meat market for the erection of ex-
tensive freezing chambers. This is another in
dicaliOn Of the growth of the trade in meat I'M
ported IN a frozen condition into this country
from the most distant parts of the world. 1t is
not so very many years ago since couple of
old hulks fitted up with refrigeratlpg machinery
Sufhced for the cold storage of the East and
West India Dock Company. The joint commit
tee have now under one roof al the Victoria
Dock tWentY-one chambers capable altogether
OF holding IN rigorous frost, even un-
der the iiereeSt OF summer suns no less than
100000 carcasses OF sheep. During the first
six months of this year between 400 900 and
100000 sheep and lambs pass4d through these
chambers in addition TO over At, 900 quarters
and pieces OF beef, Ond ga 600 sundrY pack
aees-dairy produce and other thngs--alto-
gether considerably over SOC, OOO.packages.
With what rapidly this most important trade
has been developing OF late NAV be shown by
the comparison OF few figures. During the
first six months OF 1890 the carcasses coming
into London chiefly from New Zealand. though
largely also from Australia and the River
Platte, numbered 926,034 During the same
period OF 1892 the lumber was 1,085.656, and
for The first SIX months of this wear it had risen
10 1,455 4S3 Notwithstanding The vast stor-
age capacity at the docks, the committee says
that "the necessities OF the trade require the
provision OF accOmm 0dation at the central
meat market" and they are about immediately
to commence clearing he ground for building
or six floors. including basement and having
altogether a cubical capacity OF $4,000 ieeI.
These refrgeraJing chambers are extremely
Interesting structures, with ceilings and walls
and floors or especial construction for eXclud-
ing heat.
There is one such establishment on more
limited scale at Smithtield alreadv Ii belongs
to the corporation. ana Is in the basement OF
the market Its walls and its roof are insulated
by an inch OF hair felt between two thicknesseS
of deal boards joined very closely, and with an
air space separating this Insulating material
from the building. The floor Is rendered i'm
passable TO the warmth or the earth by two
layers of deal separated by stratum of finely
powdered charcoal. This new building of the
dock companies viii be of similar construction.
and MeSsrs. j. & L. Hall of Hartford have con-
tTacted for retrlgeratlng machinery on what is
known as the hydTocarbonic acid system, 20 be
erected ID the basement, by which all the sever
ity OF an arctic winter, II need be, may be pro-
duced under any conditions of outside tempera-
ture. This is effected by the circulation of cur
rrntS OF brine, which. as most persons are
aware, may be reduced to an extremely low
temperature without freezing.
OF course for the purpose OF meat storing
very great degrees OF frost are not required
much of II, indeed, being only "chied."
Arrangements Will be made by which the tenn
peraIuTe of The various sections OF the building
may be regulated TO requirements, one depart
ment of IL being devoted to butter, ETC., in
which the committee now do large business,
no fewer than Al, 600 packages having passed
their chambers In the DOCKS during The first
half of this year. Extensive provision will be
made for this and the rest OF the building is
estimated to be capable OF storing form go. 600
10 $4,000 carcaSses at one lime. Special ar
rangements are made in the plans for Ventiat-
ing every part OF the building and for cha ng-
ing the air very rapidly If need b., 80 that In
the event of a carcass going bad from any cause
the risk Of It's tainting the rest may be obviated
Mr.. Donaldson, the committees engineer, is
responsible for the plans OF the new building
ana will have charge Of the work throughout
London News.