Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-09-15
EXPERT HAM PACKERS.
How the Hams Are Given Their Gaudy
Canvas Coats.

From the Wichita Eagle.
One of the most interesting Of the many
speciality departments at the Dold packing
plant is the canvas division. This was espe-
cially so on last Friday, when over 10000
pounds of ham and bacon and other sweet
pickle produce were handled and made
ready for shipment next day. Few realize
the expel tness required at every step in
getting these special branded and trade
marked lines ready for shipment. The can
vas rooms are on the fourth floor just over
the wholesale market and the smoke
houses, and on the extreme west end of the
main building. There are from fifteen to
twenty men and girls and women in this
department, and each has his or her little
part to do. Different sections of the coun-
try and different customers order their
stuff put up in different devices, according
to the demands of the local trade For in
stance. there is one line of bacon sides put
up in what is known as fancy wrap an
white wash" First, the trucks, holding
about a hundred hams Of the various
brands. are sent to the first wrapper. This
is young man whose nimble hands and
fingers move like stroke of lightning He
throws the ham onto table, and with two
sheets of heavy wrapping paper deity
turns 1t over, and with two quick moves
has the ham securely folded in the papers.
Then he lands it the sacking table,
where it is showed by another man into the
canvas sack ready waiting. 1t Is then
placed in front of a line of women and girls
who "over-top it, or sew up the open end
1t then goes to the big watts of red or yell
low wash, where it is dipped in solution
of flour and specially prepared paste, and
then hung on bar above the tank to drip.
A man with a wide brush assists in this
dripping process by carefully smoothing
down the ham until dry as possible.
While this brushing process is going on
small boy is busy with a basin of tepid
water, in which is given bath the big
highly colored Autograph labels with the
various trademarks. While still damp the
label is pressed upon the dripping ham, the
solution carrying the necessary adhesive
ness. Then it is carried to the racks to
remain until completely dried out and ready
| to go below into the shipping force depart
ment. The process of sewing up the can
vas sacks is a very interesting one. For
| this purpose a special gasoline engine is
provided as power to run the hgh-geared
sewing machines. and this machine in
| charge of an expert seamstress Miss Car
| RE Killer. is capable when pushed to its
| highest speed of making 5000 stitches a
minute Miss Killer is among the most ex-
pert i'm the plant. and in a rush she has
| frequently reached a total of 1000 canvas
sacks put together on the power machine
| in day and 1000 a day over-topped.
| Like a great automatic machine this de-
| partment is governed. Not a word is
| spoken. save to give or receive some direc-
| ton or instruction, and from the very ma
| ture of the work for shipment it must be
| done in a hurry and promptly and hence
| the degree of efficiency is among the high
| est about the works. Great care not to
| bruise the meats tear the canvas is used.
| as is also the absolute cleanliness. Over
| the big central beam in the main room Is
| this painted sign: IAN meats must be kept
| of the floor. ALI tables Strengthened out
| and same put in proper place at night