Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1897-02-05
FOOD FOR FIVE MILLIONS
The Great Mass Daily Consumed
by the People Of London.
Tons Upon Tons Of Fresh Meats and Game
Required to Ftl the Hungry ston-
ecAs Of the Dweliers In the
Werld's Metropolis.

ocaS OF the DWollerD In the
Worlds Metropolis.
There are within the limits of the
metropolis no fewer than 5000, 900 hu-
man beings each Of whom has every |
day to be provided with food. To set I
forth fully the particulars ON this
point would be impossible, and we !,
shall only glance at one or two Of the |
staple supplies, respecting which We
have been able to secure something
like reliable information. In spite Of
the growth Of vegetarianism in recent
years, the vast majority of the resi-
dents in these islands still believe In
'the roast beef of old England" In
London this is especially the case; and
when you come to think how many Of
the millions of this vast metropolis
eat meat at least once day, some idea
may be formed Of the extraordinary
resources that must exist to meet the
demand. These resources are to .
large extent beyond the sea- Not only
does London itself not furnish any Of
the cattle killed for consumption. but
those sent from the provinces and from
Scotland and Ireland only 60 to form .
fraction of the meat consumed In Lon
don. The larger proportion comes
from the United States, Canada, tho
River Platte, New Zealand and Aus
tralia-either dead or - live cattle.
The latter are landed 1t Deptford and
1t Birkenhesd, at which places they
are killed.
Live cattle from abroad, intended for
the London meat market, are, a. We
have said, landed At Birkenhead and
Deptford. Practically, all the cattle
arriving 1T Deptford are from the
United States and Canada; none from
European ports arc admitted 1T the
present time. There 10 splendid &C.
commodstion for the largest steamers
at the Deptford jetties, and last year
4So of them discharged cattle there,
being IN increase of 126 - compared
with the previous year. The, total
number Of animals landed at Deptford
last year was 237,645-174,s43 being
beasts, and 90, S02 sheep. immediately
on arrival, the cattle are examined by
the government inspector to sea that
they are free from disease, then they
are run into sheds, where they remain
till their time Of pole-axing comes. No
animal is allowed to leave Deptford
alive; slaughter houses exist here, not
in twos and threes, but in whole
streets-and all the meat Il, Of course,
sent to London.
Another of the feeders of Smithfeld
meat market 10 the Metropolitan cat
tie market 1t Holloway. The cattle
disposed of here come from all quar-
ters of England, Scotland and ireland.
There are At present, and have been
for some time, orders of the board Of
agriculture in force prohibiting cattle
from Canada, the United States and
all continental countries, but last year
toll was received ON 40,S22 Canadian
and 27,2os United States sheep. The
total number Of animals entering
Holloway market last year was:
Beasts, l04, 1913; sheep, 010,436; calves,
s,9O7. and pigs, 5o7. The very small
number of pigs is accounted for by the
fact that the pig market was closed
for the greater portion OF the year
owing to the prevalence OF swine
fever.
II London had to depend for It's meat
supply solely upon the number Of live
cattle that arrive, its wants would be
but inadequately met OF late years
there has sprung up an extraordinary
trade in frozen and chilled meata- So
far a. beef 10 concerned, America. OF
course. leads the way, and some idea
OF the steady growth Of this trade, and
the proportion which the supplies OF
American refrigerated beef-which
II simply chilled. not frozen. rs is gen
orally supposed-bears to the total Of
supplies OF meat of all descriptions
which comes into the central mea,
market, may be CLEANED from . state
ment made by the chairman Of the
Hammond company. In 1857 the pro
portion was only per cent; ten year.
later It was 0per cent; and last veal
the proportion was 20 per cent Thil
this means that one joint of beef out
Of every three consumed in Londor
and immediate district il American re
frigerated beef The quantity Of thi'
beef sold in the central meat marke'
for eight months to the end Of Angus
last year, exceeded that sold during
the corresponding period Of the pre-
yjous year by 24,7la, 920 pounds Blu
beef is only one thing. The importa
lions Of frozen mutton and lamb dur
ing 1894 show the highest aggregate
yet reported from New Zealand, Aus
tralia and the River Platte, and thes,
classes of meat seem to be steadily in
creasing in public favor. - they vel
deserve to Go.
Then there II Leadenhall market
No statistics - to tho quantity dis
posed of 1T this market are available
but of meat alone it 10 very consider
able, and to this have to DO added tn,
poultry and the game. OF poultry, w
J. Gordon. In his interesting book OF
"HoW London Lives" says the Grea
Eastern company alone brings to tn,
metropolis over 1900 tons per anuum
Game also arrives in very large guam
tities and some years ago, according t.
the same authority, . well-knowl
salesman estimated that there wer
shipped from Lesdenhall alone II