The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-11-23
scarce and High Priced This
Year, but Promises TO Be Ten
der and sweet.
KILLING FOR COMING SEASON
uryDREDS ARE DRESSED DAILY
FOR COLD STORAGE.
THANKSGIVING Prices Will Be from
Is 20 20 Cents n POund-The
Raising of Turkeys

As the big turkey gobbler struts majes-
,,cally around the barnyard he little real
,zss how contented the old farmer feels
every tine he looks at him. The fact is.
The farmer is watching the market reports
On these birds very closely, and whenever
he sees a newspaper his heart gives leap
With 10Y as he notes that turkeys have gone
nm another cent on the pound. 1t is then
he goes 20 the barnyard and calls up his
little flock and gives them another feed.
Az however, the farmers heart leaps with
tov when he reads these reports the heart
~ the man in the city misses a beat, for
according TO them his Thanksgiving tur
key Is getting farther away from him every
dav. and as the price advances the picture
OF his Thanksgiving turkey with cram
berry sauce. which he has been cherishing
IN his mind for many weeks. will no doubt
change and a chicken or duck appear in
its stead.
There has been a great cry about the
scarcity OF turkeys this year. and as far
As the Eastern States are concerned this
shortage is true and makes the situation
of preparing a Thanksgiving dinner a
rather serious matter. but while In Indiana,
Illinois, Ohio and all of the central and
Western States the crop of turkeys is con-
siderably smaller than ii was last year ii
is sufficient to supply the demand and
is about up to the average in number. In
sections where last year 1900 turkeys were
bought this season only sixty-five were
procured. but the crop of last year exceed
ed that of every previous year. The gen.
al fc
fact that last yeari the market was flooded
with turkeys and they brought an exceed
ingly low price. The amounts that the
farmers derived from last Thanksgiving
did not pay.
Then this season feed has been high,
which also made the turkey industry an ex-
ceedingly expensive business because a con-
siderable amount of money was required to
supply flock with food; and at the same
time the risk a farmer had in raising the
birds was great. for in many instances they
died before the season for selling. The
rain which fell in profusion during the
spring and early summer was bad for
young turkeys, for during wet weather they
die of in large numbers. and nothing can
be done to prevent it, The raising of tur-
the farmer or poultry raiser who under
takes it will not find his path strewn with
roses
THE TURKEY MARKET.
Thanksgiving is really the opening of the
turkey market. and for months before
this day is thought of by the average per-
son poultry dealers and raisers are prepar-
Ing for IL, and from then until after New
Years day there Is more or less demand
for these fowls. 1t is hardly known as yet
how the demand will be this year because
OF the fact that higher prices will prevail,
Out poultry dealers say the indications
point TO a very successful year. because
the quality Of the turkeys is much above
the average, and those that are being
brought in are much better than any sold
last year There are not as many crooked
breasted birds among them, and they are
all much heavier. The meat on the fowls
THIS season will be more tender because the
majority OF them are covered with rich,
yellow fat. that keeps the meat from be-
coming stringy and gives to II a rich flavor.
Inc prices which turkeys will sell at this
'all VIII be about cents higher than they
were last year. The Eastern market quotes
them at from - 10 Is cents a pound whole
sale and from Is 10 20 cents retail As the
local market is controlled entirely by the
East the above prices also prevail here.
"hen turkeys are sold to the consumer at
such figures as now being asked il means
mat the farmer is getting from to cents
pound for his flock This seems as
though the poultry house is receiving quite
q margin, but when IL is taken into consid-
erauon that the commission man kills and
dresses the birds and must also find the
stores 10 retail them il will be easily seen
that MS profit is low, for he must also pay
MS Workmen from the amount he gets.
" course, the way for a farmer to really
make any large sum from the sale of tur-
Ae's Is Ior him 10 have his regular retail
customers and to sell directly TO them, for
ne Kills and dresses his birds he will re-
GeNe two profits for them.
me poultry houses here have been killing
turkeys night and day for the last three
weeks Tor the Thanksgiving trade In fact
me buyers for these concerns 60 through
'ne country during the middle of the sum-
4De. ana ensage fowls for Thanksgiving.
anu many weeks before others plan their
einher for that day the turkeys are being
N''ieu and put in cold storage. awaiting the
P."lhg OF the market. Ii is seldom that
'o'e THIS day turkey is ever sold, and
- closely has Thanksgiving day and the
'-'Aey become associated that one is rarely
'"oIsht OF without the other. There is
-O'iiills more appetizing to the small boy
nan 20 see the large Thanksgiving turkey
out OF the oven TO be basted with
= "o' gravy that steams and smokes as
- poured over the baked fowl. The
:, '''a mat arises from it has a fascina-
''o" which keeps him in the kitchen all
."'IHihs' anxiously waiting for the dinner
DC served. This and Christmas are the
my TWO days in the year which the cook
permit him 10 get in her way without
seiolng him upstairs. and no doubt the
'~soh Tor the tolerance on her part is be-
e"use everyone is in better frame of mind
OH these two occasions
KILLING THE TURKEY.
Inc killing of the Thanksgiving turkey
an interesting sight, and at this time
" year there is no buster place than the
=, ushter room in a large poultry house
Ane men In this department work all kinds
:. hours. for no matter at what time a
'Aipment OF turkeys is received they are re-
suired to stay and slaughter until every
cue Is killed This is done to save the ex-
''Ase OF feeding. and because they are