New-York tribune., 1907-04-09
MODERN POULTRY FARM
Largest in America" Found in
anthracite Coal Region.

'Oue-half mile to Americas greatest poultry
farm" So reads the sign which confronts tho
traveller when he alights from the train at little
village IN the mountainous anthracite region OF
Pennsylvania. As VIC traversed the winding road
that led 10 the farm. my guide told me all about
the remarkable rise OF the poultry industry. lie
said that the American hon. under the careful
guidance OF the poultry fancier had developed
possibilities wealth producer that were form
erly uuheard Of Think OF selling eggs at IS cents
each,' lie said which Is more for egg than
dozen ordinarily sell for
In reply to my inquiry, n he sold very many at
that rate he said Yes indeed. sell hundreds
CT dozens at that price every season. We send
Ing out this week orders 10 Panama Australia.
South Africa Canada. and to people in all parts
Of tho Union These orders are FOR Matching puT-
poses. We do not get so much for table eggs. but
We supply the latter In large quantities. We have
a contract for furnishing a large hotel in New
York 600 dozen every week We also have a con-
tract 10 supply a big firm in New York with 5000
dozen every week 10 be rstailed in its grocery de
partment This is doubtless the largest contract
attempted In this country. more, in fact than
any firm could possibly provide from the eggs
laid by its own hens We have buyers out who
gather large portion OF the supply from the
farmers OF the neighborhood"
The farm consists OF eighty-two acres The
buildings and yard of the immense plant cover
over thirty-hve and the amount OF floor
space under roof is little more than $4,000 square
feet In addition to being the largest it is one or
the hest equipped plants built in this country
or abroad IL is lighted by electricity. heated by
and watered by a system OF pipes which are
fed by immense living well on the premises
Everything about the place is conducted on a
wholesale basis. There is root and vegetable
store house, where thousands of bushels OF beets
carrots. turnips. cabbage, etc. stored away
every fall for winter This house is built be-
low the level of the ground protect It's contents
from frost
In one of the buildings there is an immense food
cooker. which will hold 1000 gallons II is two
stories high. being loaded from above and emptied
from below Several barrels of fresh meat and
bones are dumped in at once the door bOlted down
and a pressure of seventy pounds OF steam turned
into IL for thirty minutes. at the end OF which time
the entire substance, meat bone and ALL reduced
TO soup. Mule meat is used almost exclusively I'm
making this broth. The farm is in the centre of
the anthracite coal district so that aged and lame
animals those killed by accident, are easily OBJ
tainabe. The soup made from the flesh OF the
mules is used to mix with the food of the young
fowls.
Water is never mixed with their food from the
time they leave the incubators until they are sent
to market. They get plenty to drink. but the soup
from the meat Of the mules is considered better
for them In their food. Great quantities OF bread
fed TO the growing fowls. They consume from
COO to 1000 loaves daily. Shell is purchased by
the carload and ground by machinery on the prem
ises The food is carted about the place on a
little tramway When the track runs through the
trestles. not to injure disturb the young
fowls.
The killing house where the poultry is dressed
for the market, has floors that incline toward the
wall. that all water, blood etc, may be
easily drained off after days killing. In the
height OF the the go to work at 3
o'clock in the morning. The live birds are brought
10 the killing house in the Of the tranway.
The arrangement of this house is as complete as
1t is possible TO make II. 1t has long picking
benches which extend the entire length of one side
OF the building Each operator has a window 10
afford him plenty of light. There are scalding
vats feather bins. cooling troughs. dripping racks
packing benches feather presses billing desks ice
breakers, platform and hanging scales, and nu
merous other little cOntrivances so that thousands
OF birds can be turned out with speed that seems
incredible.
Inc manner In which the eggs are taken care of
Is departure. The farmers wife generally gath
eIs then In her apron, puts them away In any sort
Ol receptacle that happens TO be empty and close
AT hand. and after they have accumulated suf,
clently to make 1t worth while, packs them In bran
OF sawdust' and takes them 70 the village store
a new and plau Is In erra thio ~.