The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-06-24
EGGS IN COLD STORAGE.
How They Are Kept by the Million
for Use in Winter.
(From the Kansas CITY Star }

lfroNn tne haNsls lily SIlr.J
Half million dollars is large sum
of money to be invested in SO small and
apparently insignificant a commodity as
eggs. yet that represents approximately
the value of the eggs being placed in the
cold storage warehouses of Kansas City
this spring. The season is now at its
height, and before the close about 120.-
600 cases. containing thirty dozen eggs,
will be laid away for next winters use.
This is much larger quantity than was
ever stored here before. Last spring
about $4,000 cases were stored in Kansas
City warehouses. The increase is remark
able for the reason that few dealers made
any profit in their venture last season,
while the majority lost 81 to So on every
case stored. One explanation of the in
crease is that outside dealers and spec
ulators are looking with more favor on
Kansas City as a storing point and as a
market where they can dispose of their
/ holdings most satisfactorily.
/ There are many interesting details in
! egg handling which are but Slightly
known to the average consumer of poach-
ed eggs and omelets. Few people realize
| the number of different hands an egg
passes through on its journey from the
nest where it was laid in the farmyard
of the country to the dining room where
it is eaten in the city. The importance
OF eggs for use in the arts and their COM
mercial Importance outside of their value
as food product are interesting. Cand-
ling eggs is an important feature of the
storage season. II is a simple process
of holding an egg to the light in a dark
room, for the purpose of determining its
quality. Handlers. who store eggs. have
learned by experience the necessity for
eliminating all except the largest. clean
est, and freshest eggs from cases which
are to be carried in storage for several
months. Charles A. Moler, head GAMBLER
at Armour's. has from ten to thirty men
working under his direction throughout
the season. The Gambling room is long
and narrow, with benches fitted up around
the wall. At short intervals electric lights
are strung from the ceiling
The room has no windows and the lights
are SO constructed that only ray of light
is admitted. Standing before the light
workman examines each egg by hold
ing it up to the light. II the ray shines
through the egg clearly it is all right
as far as quality is concerned. Cleanliness
and size are two important conditions 10
be reckoned. and eggs must meet all the
requirements before they will be accept
ed for storage. The attention paid to
Gambling has increased each season. \
few years ago the only Gambling rooms in
Kansas City were small enclosed spaces
in the rear of commission houses, where
only one man could work at time. Now
many men consider egg Gambling their reg
ular trade. and experts are well paid for
their care and efficiency. No one can
tell whether they have sighted their work
until next winter, when the eggs are TAX
en- out of storage. The overlooking of
one decayed egg may cause the eggs OF
the whole case TO decay, and one case OF
bad eggs would spoil dozens.
After the eggs have been candleA and
selected and packed in new white wood
cases, they are placed in storage rooms
where temperature of 81 degrees Fair
enheit is maintained. They are held in
that temperature until taken out next
winter.