The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-03-05
THE GREAT EGG BUSINESS.
An Immense Industry in Southwest Mis-.
souri, and North Arkansas.

TfvVa NV fSN 'NhN- 80
SPRINGFIELD. Mo. Feb. 26.-The egg mar
ket OF Springfield has become the most i'm
portant factor in the commercial growth OF the
city. But for the constant industry OF the
southwest Missouri and north Arkansas hen
the business interests OF the metropolis Of the
Ozarks would suffer far greater loss than II
every bushel of corn and wheat were withheld
from this market.
The territory covered by the Springfield egg
dealers is very large. extending southwark far
beyond White River into the second and third
tiers of counties in Arkansas; This extensive
region, lying beyondthe reach OF railway trans
portation, uses Springfield us a shipping point.
and the egg hauler, Is more familiar with the
slopes Of the OZarks than any other teamster.
He makes his regular Tips the year round.
load. From tho extreme southern limit Of the
Springfield egg territory 1t takes about ten
Gays f,ws the 1 ai1ieo the n r9ned di iyiG IN ,b 5hs , %1nt or
iished camping place.
his sh ffsassifiss ihr sGi;fStt Tia tSst . Void Say o. as tpanspo mnny
city people. He does not handle his eggs with
E Eaper fbS ox as Ra they a TsG Shipped pPe i~ "n the sG cars. i'' He
ilrst covers the bottom OF his wagon bed with
a layer Of hay or straw. and then begins to load
r tos ss f M Nj one !H TEe e eggs S EHsE !a iG1 in r StraiSst
rows tho long way Of the wagon bed 4ntil the
load may be safely hauled it is necessary that
the eggs touch one another. When the first
layer Of eggs has been placed another covering
OF hay is put in the wagon, and then more OF
the tender freight. After three or four layers OF
eggs have been put In the wagon the freightGrs
proceed with more speed. They walk abouton
the eggs as though they were potatoes. The
eF sSa ies sSws s@e e NE an 1r0t ege en ern ashhss a sn4ss
t tsf t Esi snS9 81 the bs. Hb5 sss fli S5rF Il t l6bff.F Mss and "a :
layer OF straw put on top OF the load. u weight
having q pressure of about 50Q, pounds is used
Is ready for histript TO the egg market at SPRING
field. The teamster, drives up and down the
Mountains and Springfield with no more care
than he would II hauling a load OF lumber;
f9s snrprising ri small small. IN a load q 100 do iSSa
eggs not more than a dozen. will be found
'rssS SmS i Eesn Of apf the eHtent fe q the s RrrIhThiiS,iHdi
egg trade may be had from the fact ct that one
WEEK n0 Mos sn Of ih sSn esss Come iSH from the Soe esnn =
try south of Springfield. and are hauled In
Wagons, Every. household throughout the
White River region contributes TO the Spring
field egg market Hundreds of families have
for months IN the, year no other means Of
necesSaries of lie which they get Of the local
merchant. During the spring and early, sum
m n@,Gi when Sls the to S@ seiI. lSsiE s @Tf OF and 5hs o GaasSt has
watch tho hens nests and make semi-weekly
v%isltsto the ncighborhood store; bringing homo
The egg market Is a very fcklo one, and the
country merchant OF north Arkansas must give
himself a considerable margin in buying to
avoid as much as possible the risk Of losing
money. Sometimes a freighter viii leave JAS
Is 20 cents a dozen, and before he reaches
Springfield the market price has dropped near
ly one-half. Again. the slow progress OF the
egg wagon may be the means OF making the
local dealer a good profit. During tho late cold
weather, when the price OF eggs went up to 20
them twice US much money as they expected 10
get for their loads.
After the weather gets warm the egg hauler's
freight Ia exposed to a new risk, His load may
spoil In transit. A slightly spoiled egg Ia trav-
cling 100 miles In a wagon viii reach Spring.
field badly spoiled.