The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1914-07-27
IMPORTING MEAT
FROM URUGUAY
PorterhouSe Steak is Plentiful and
Cheap on the South American
PampaS

retail as an imminent fact, the beef
eaters OF the world are getting some /
what worried, especially those who
happen 10 be domiciled in the United
States. Argentina is supplying some
of her product, but when the enor-
nous total of Uncle Sans consump-
ton is taken into consideration the
quantity imported is not even as
much as the proverbial drop in the
bucket. Where can we look for more
meat? This is the absorbing ques-
ton at present.
In this connection it is interest
ing to note an article in the July
number of the Monthly Bulletin or
the Pan american Union, Washing
ton in which, under the title Of IRA
quay as a Cattle Country, some in
teresting details as to the live stock
industry of this rich little repub-
lie of South America are given.
Something over a hundred years
ago the hacendados (ranchmen) oil
Uruguay complained to the govern
ment that over 100000 head of cat
tie were being killed annually for
their hides alone. The carcasses
the rolling pampas for the vultures
to devour Beef in Uruguay was so
plentiful that it was something of a
nuisance evidently. OF course that
day has passed, but they still have
cattle enough down there to convert
some 100000 head into 13,000,O0O|
pounds of jerked beef in one year,
most of which is sold to Brazil, Cuba,
Porto Rico and other tropical coun-
tries. Think of the juicy tenderloins
of 700, 900 head of cattle going into
jerked beef.
Again there are many thousands
/ of Uruguayan cattle annually con-
! verted into extract of beef. But
| few people know that the first great
factory for the production of beef
extract was established at Fray Ben
tos that was ever known to the
/ World This little city which is on
the Uruguay river is about 100 miles
above Buenos Ayres the cosmopoli-
| tan capital of Argentina, and that it
| is still doing business, in the extract
lime, tat the same old stand" al
though the stand has grown enor-
mously' larger since the time 1t be-
came the pioneer in the beef-tea in
dustry. The worldwide reputation
OF this concern is perhaps largely due
to the high grade of the cattle of
Uruguay, as well as to the cleanly
and scientific manner of the prepara-
ton of the product. The writer of the
article in the Bulletin states:
FRAY Bentos has been called the
greatest kitchen in the world. On
some days $500 head of cattle are
slaughtered, then treated so as to
get the finest meat from them, the
bones and the ribs, the intestines,
| tails, sinews, hoofs and other parts
bring reserved for their various uses.
But this special meat is subjected to
scientific preparation; it is cooked,
to be sure, in a real Kitchen; and
with the best possible care and at
lists, laboratories, engineers, and
| authorities on technical matters, all
engaged in cooking the beef so as to
turn it out in the most acceptable
form as the well known and popular
extract. The company is organized
with a system of help to the employ
ees, for improving their physical
material and moral welfare. 1t
maintains an almost model city
around its factory, and has repu-
tation for enterprise and fair deal
ing which gives it an enviable place
in the business world.
Of more interest to the people OF
i the United States, however, is the
fact that Uruguay has upwards of
/ 100000 head of cattle and 10000
/ 900 sheep on its fertile plains, and
! that it will very soon be taken into
serious consideration as source of
meat supply for the great republic
of the north. During the first four
months of 1914 the United States i'm
ported meat to the value of S1,23O,-
/ TSP from Uruguay If the months of
March and April may be taken as a
criterian the annual Importation will
amount to about 5000 600, and the
trade is as yet in its first stages.
With the rise in price of refrigerated
beef Uruguay can be depended upon
as being an important factor in the
markets of the world, and instead OF
converting its fine cattle into jerked
beef now new refrigerating plants