Omaha daily bee., 1899-11-26
nA y C Lesson II a y C
.~ Merchants Alphabet Club
OUR GALLlNACEOUS COBBLER
Fist Flaming Harbinges Of Approaching
slaughters Of Innocents.
WARM WEATHER THREATENS TURKEY TRADE
Estimated that from Ten TO Fifteen
Thousand Birds Must he Eaten to
Attest Popular Gratitude on
Thanksgiving Day.
WARM wweATH:R THREATENS TURKEY TRADE

But few premonitory symptoms OF the
annually recurring slaughter of the innocents
have yet manifested themselves, but the
observant traveller along the public thorough
fares escapes not occasional sad and solemn
reminders that the Thanksgiving season of
feasting is approaching. Here and there
along his path, protruding from between the
rough bars OF poultry crate, peers the
crimson and purple head OF what Bill Nye
has termed the polygamous gobbler. It's
very color is suggestive Of the coming blood
she'd and the plaintive tones OF its in
quisitive lameutaton seem to bear some
relation to its approaching fate.
AS one approaches the cramped quarters OF
the Grated birds, the gallinaceous creature
stretches forth sidewise its suggestive head
with look of anxious, inquietive pleading
in It's wde-open eye and a seeming air OF
proud dlsdan mingled Herewith. Pride is
the chief characteristic OF the turkey
gobbler when upon his native heath, and
this characteristic is reflected in the cry to
which he then gives utterance, the strident,
unctuous alarm which w. 8. Gilbert, the
librettist has woven into classic association
in the gobble song of one Of his operas. But
in his ante Thanksgiving state of captivity
and its consequent uncertainties, his proud
musical shrek that lie handed out in smooth
and softening cadeuces which appeal to
humanity with distinct pathos. The writer
Of the gobble song never derived his inspira-
tion from the pleading utterances OF the
Grated bird the annual pilgrimage of which
Is made cityward in recognition of Thanks
giving, and yet the performance OF that
pilgrimage appears to be the chief end of
the meleagriS gaopayo.
The turkey, originally wild in North
America, appears to have been domesticated
by the Indians some time before Thanksgiv-
Ing day was invented for his destruction,
and in spite OF the ravages committed an
nuelly upon his species by the devoutly
thankful, he lives on in apparently undi-
minished numbers. The November influx
of turkeys cityward has barely begun, and
but few crates Of the succulent bird are yet
to be seen along the walks in the commits
sion house district.
supply Required in Omaha.
How many are consumed in Omaha each
Thanksgiving season?" was a responsive in
quiry Of one of the leading commission men.
well, / should say one to every ten peo-
pie, and placing the population of Omaha at
100000 l should say that $1,000 are con-
sumed annually at Thanksgiving. Some
families of four five persons dispose of
turkey without overlooking, while many
are compelled to go without one. / think
one to every ten persons is a fair estimate
for an average year. There are seven or
eight commission firms handling turkeys
and poultry generally, and / do not, Of
course, know how many they each sell each
year, but have sold as high as 10000 pounds
of turkey in one day, the day preceding
Thanksgiving This would mean about 1000
birds.
"Of course the weather has a great deal to
do with the trade. 1t takes cold weather
to sell turkeys, or any other poultry. The
number to be sold for the coming Thanks
giving will depend very much upon the |
weather. The turkey raiser does not easily |
let go of his stock until it gets cold, as the |
weather not only affects the sale, but the |
price Had 1t been cold recently there |
would not be a turkey in those crates out !
there, for many people like to buy birds |
alive in advance. They think they save |
something by it, and l guess they do.
Come from Nebraska and Kansas.
Where do they come from? Why, most
Of those we get here raised by the farm
ers of Nebraska, although large numbers
come from Kansas. They are gathered up
Dy the grocerS ana dealers In small towns
and cities and shipped here to us for sale
on commission. There Is no way to tell
whether the crop is large or small, except
by the quantities in which they are shipped
to us. The start made this year, being so
early, indicates that there is not likely to
be any shortage, although one cannot tell
until near Thanksgiving day.
predictions are often made as to the
supply, but they are unreliable. For in
stance, it is said in market reports that
there is shortage this year of ducks and
geese, but ducks are coming into our mar
ket without any apparent falling off and |
do not see any reason to give credence to the
scarcity. You know there is not
much demand for ducks and geese at
Thanksgiving, but they are wanted for the
Christmas season. while the demand for
chickens abates wonderfully in the fall and
does not revive until after the holidays
NO, | do not know of such an enterprise
anywhere as turkey farm l have heard
or farms whereon the chief industry was the
raising OF chickens for the market but the
does not. as far as have heard
seem to have extended to the turkey. who
must raise himself by his own industry and
The sweat of his crimson brow"
Another dealer said that he thought 10, 900
would cover the number OF turkeys sacrificed
In Omaha for the Thanksgiving season.