Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-12-16

establishment in the city that handles
Washington dressed beef exclusively.
Mr. T T. Keane was born at Newcastle
West, Ireland, twenty-seven miles from the
city Of Limerick, In 1872. He came to this
country when he was sixteen years of age
and entered the employ OF his uncle. He
was in the live stock business for about
five years In 1867 Mr.. Keane established
business at the Center Market, and is one
Of the largest handlers of beef in the city.
Mr.. Keane, although not serving in the
civil war, nevertheless saw a great deal
OF 1t. 1t was he who induced the farmers
OF Maryland and Virginia to raise better
grade of cattle, and In this respect Mr..
Keane Is entitled to much credit from the
community, and from the people of Virginia
9nd Maryland for the benefits which have
resulted from his successful efforts in that
direction.
This house is the only one In the city that
handles native beef exclusively, buying,
slaughtering and preparing for the market
nothing but Virginia and Maryland cattle
Mr.. Keane has always been a stanch be-
lever in home dressed meats, and will not
handle any others. The house stands as
representative OF home industry, and the
producers of Virginia and Maryland owe
their success in a large measure to Mr..
Keane's efforts in their behalf.
Besides supplying the Washington mar
ket with meats. this concern also ships
great many cattle to New York. and while
some OF the beef may not be quite as tender
as some of the western dressed beef. 1t
nevertheless has that beef flavor which can
not be found In the western product
This business has kept pace in modern
methods with all the other sister branches
Of the business. T. T. Keane buys only
the best of stall-fed cattle, and VIII
handle only meats that are in the pink of
condition. Their large abattoIr at Benning
is an important factor In the handling OF
their meats. all cattle being slaughtered
and dressed there. under the personal su-
pervision OF Mr.. Thomas T. Keane, who has
visited all Of the large packing houses of
the west and studied their methods of pre-
pairing cattle for the market, the best of
which he has introduced into the Washing
ton establishment Mr.. Keane gives his IN
divided attention to every detail of the
work at Benning. and It is to this careful
attention to every minor detail of the work
that he owes great deal of his success
At the abattolr everything Is kept scru-
pulously neat and clean, and each animal
undergoes a careful and strict examination
before being slaughtered. The concern
handles about 10000 cattle 5000 lambs
and 5000 calves each year, all Of which
come from the blue grass valleys OF Mary
land and Virginia.
This company is the only one in Wash
ington that stands a competitor OF the
Big Four packing houses of the west,
namely, Swift, Armour. Morris and Ham
mond, and have been able to successfully
compete with those firms only by hard
work, perslstency and close attention to
business. and by giving to the trade the
hRC at hah l1 f,r -.
have many competitors IN Washington. WHO
have tried to handle inferior class OF
cattle. but have been unsuccessful The
Big Four have gradually forced the smaller
butchers OF the city into buying their meats
so that now all other concerns with the
exception OF Thomas T. Keane handle
western dressed beef.
Mr.. Keane takes Just pride in hand
ling his own meats, and the display on
the stands of the company In the Center
market attests more strongly for this pride
than words could express. Since 1899 the
frm has established wholesale branches OF
rs business on a .arger scale and today II
sells AS much beef as any western firm does
In this city. 1t aims to give the best meats
possible to the trade, and has built up en-
enviable reputation in the District for the
exceHency of Its meats. II has dspelled
the false Idea which existed In Washington
some time ago that good beef could NOT IA
procured in this vicinity and the concern
shows conclusively that II can give to the
trade as good beef as can be found in New
tOIh VI ELSEWHERE w nile New York beef
Is heavier. the quality is not better
People are willing to pay a littie more for
good article than to pay a smaller price
Tor an Inferior one. This has been the ex-
perience OF this firm in its retail business
from the fact that II is supplying many OF
the best families. hotels and majority Of
the storekeepers in Washington with its
meats. and these patrons will not now al
low an inferior article to be palmed off on
them by dealers.
Mr. keane Is ably assisted by his Sons
who have taken an active part in the man
agement of the business and have been of
great assistance to their father Mr
Michael A. Keane attends 10 the managerial
part OF the business. making contracts and
assumes the general nagement OF the
business at the Center market and to him
is great deal of credit due for the success
OF this branch. Another son, Mr. Thomas
r. keane, has charge OF the retail stand
al the market, and is steadily increasing
the display Of their meats and interest in
the business. Mr.. j. c. Keane the young
est son, has been in the business for sew
eral years, and is assisting in the whole
sale department. He is also learning the
buying or live stock, which Is a most i'm
portant part OF the business. Mr. Keane's
reputation as buyer OF live stock stands
second to none In the country. and the
many hattering offers from western con-
Germs to become a buyer for them have
been fatty refused Mr.. Keane preferring
10 devote his entire time and thought to
the welfare OF this large and progressive
business, which Is a credit not only to him.