Evening star., 1926-12-10
|NDUSTR|ESL LINKED
BY REFRIGERATION
Electric Chilling Apparatus
Has Big Effect on Many and
Varied Lines.
BY j. C. ROYLE.
Special Dispatch to The Star.

Special Dispatch to The Star.
NEW YORK, December 10.-Prac-
tically every great line Of business
endeavor in the United States is linked
with all other lines. even though
their activities may seem far apart
and unrelated. This has become ap-
parent with the improvement in fresh
meat demand. Beef requirements
have been heavy. and both fresh pork
and dressed lamb are moving better
at steady prices. Some packers at
tribute this directly to improvement
In electric refrigeration.
Packers are Interested ia tncreas-
Ing the sale Of fresh meats" said Ell
mer j. Focke. Dayton packer, today.
THE margin Of profit in the packing
house business Is narrow. and a quick
turnover is essential. Every ham or
piece Of side meat put in pickle Is out
Of the market for two or three months
and the money it cost is tied up. For
that reason packers are interested in
stimulating demand for fresh meat" "
Fresh Pork Sale.
Since 1900 the amount of pork sold
creased from 25 to 81 per cent, the
gain having been made, for the most
part, since recent development In
electrical refrigeration.
when electric refrigeration be-
comes generally used in meat mar
kets and homes" Mr.. Focke contin-
ued, "the packers will be able to brand
their fresh meats and carry on broad
advertising campaigns to increase
their use. They can depend on their
products being properly preserved un-
til they are consumed.
There is still inadequate refrigera-
ton in many homes and in some none
at all Here the packer is helpless,
but the electric refrigerator is doing
much to pave the way for the pack
er's freshmeat program"
Electric refrigerator sales seem
likely to be about four times as large
this year as in 1925, but the advance
made in the industry has attracted
many new concerns to the field and
intensive competition is cutting prof
it's. There still is a large field for
mechanical refrigeration. according to
experts. The 1926 sales are now fore
cast at over $780, 900 units, as COM
pared with $4,000 in 1925.
Sound Production Basis.
The industry is getting on SOUND
mass production basis, but large sums
are still being spent for experimental
purposes and in organizing sales
forces. On the other hand, prices
have been reduced 10 to 20 per cent
un those of year ago. Produc-
~ facilities of the four larger con-
ferns are being increased and in fu.
ture this will allow further cutting OF
costs. Refrigeration experts assert
that an immediate. market exists for
1000, 900 electric refrigerators at pres
ent prices and that a market for o.
OOO, 900 will be developed within flve
years.
The electric refrigerators undoubt-
edly have had a strong effect on the
current consumed in the United
States this year. The total used Is
running approximately II per cent
higher than a year ago. This means
that consumption for the year VIII TO-
tai at least 10000, 100000 kiiowatt
hours, the largest amount ever re-
corded. 1t also means that refrigera'
ton has had also an indirect bearing
on the coal, oil, building material and
heavy electric machinery industries
and on the non-ferrous metals.
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