Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1900-08-22
EGGS IN COLD STORAGE.
How They Are Kept by the Million for Use
in the Winter Months.

How They Are Kept by the Million for Use
Ia the Winter Months.
Half million dollars Is large sum
of money to be invested in 80 small and
apparently Insignificant thing as
eggs but that Is SO approximately
the value Of the eggs being placed IN
the cold storage warehouses Of Kansas
City last spring. The season Is now
at It's height, and before the close about
10000 cases, each containing thirty
dozen eggs. will be laid away for next
winters use. This Is q much larger
quantity than was ever stored mere
before. Last season about $4,000 cases
were stored In Kansas City ware
houses. The increase Is remarkable
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 increase Is that outside dealers and
spectators are looking with more IA
vor on Kansas City as storing point
and as q market where they can dis
pose Of their holdings most satisfactor-
ily.
There are many Interesting details
In egg handling which are but slightly
known 10 the average consumer OF
poached eggs and omelets. Few people
realize the Number of different hands
mn egg passes through On its journey
from the nest where 1t was laid In the
farmyard of the country to the dining
room where 1t Is eaten, in the city. The
Importance Of eggs for use in the arts
and their commercial Importance out
side Of their value as a food product
are interesting. Gambling eggs Is an
important feature Of the storage sea-
son. 1t is a simple process Of holding
IN egg to the light In n dark room,
for the purpose Of determining its
quality. Handlers, who store eggs,
have learned by experience the neces-
sity for eliminating all except the
largest, cleanest and freshest eggs from
cases which are to be carried in ster-
age for several months. Charles A.
Moler, head candler ut 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 be-
fore the light q workman examines
each egg by holding 1t up to the light.
If the ray shines through the egg clear
ly 1t Is oil right as fur as quality is
concerned. Cleanliness and size are
two important conditions to be reckon
ed, and eggs must meet all the require
ments before they will be accepted for
storage. The attention paid to Gambling
has increased each season. A few
years ago the only Gambling rooms In
Kansas City were small inciosed spaces
In the rear of commission houses,
where only one man could work ut q
time. Now many men consider egg
Gambling their regular trade, and ex-
perts are we'll paid for their care and
efficiency. No one can tell whether
they have sighted their work until
next winter, when the eggs are taken
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 candled and
selected and packed In new white wood
cases, they are placed In storage rooms
where temperature Of 81 degrees
Fahrenheit Is maintained. They are
held In that temperature until token
out next winter.