The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1934-10-30
- O n T l N u E II
from page ono'
Big Packing Plant
Ready to Commence
Business in City

machinery purchased. Now 1t Is q
packing plant which saves everything
but the "squeal" as the gigantic pack
ing houses in other centerS are al
legged to do.
During these years local business
men have frequently discussed the
need for packing plant. The As
ISOLATION of Commerce has tried to
interest big packing firms in locating
a branch here. Many of these same
businessmen do not yet know that one
of their fellows already has construct
ed an establishment such as they
have dreamed about.
They may have to see 10 be con-
WINGED and will be welcome to 10 so.
Gussner expects to hold open house
soon, at which time everyone will
be invited to inspect the property.
Indications are that within very
short time the plant will be providing
Bismarck and its area with all tie
federally inspected meat 1t can con-
sumo. Application already has been
made for federal inspection and fav-
orable action is expected in the near
future. Thus the sanitary facilities OF
the plant, its method of operation and
the fitness of animals slaughtered
will be kept up to the high standard
demanded by the government.
The packing plant proper is two
and halt story concrete building
with 5000 feet Of floor space. Of which
500 square feet already are in use.
Adjoining it are cattle pens large
enough to accommodate $50 steers,
200 to 800 hogs and 200 lambs. In the
past they have been used partly for
yard-feeding of grain and, temper :
arily at least, some feeding may con-
.inue to be done there.
System Carefully Set Up
To get an idea Of the plant and its
equipment one can do no better than
to follow an animal from the pen to
The meat cutters block.
AS he begins his last short walk,
the steer is placed in killing chute
heading into the packing plant at its
northeast corner. II he 5aiks-and
some of them do-he is touched light
" with an electric prod which always
gets results. It moves steers which
have refused to bulge, 10 matter
how hard their tails are twisted.
Brutal methods are barred. ii for nc
other reason than that bruised and
misused livestock produces damaged
meat.
Standing on a platform above the
chute Is man with an iron nallet
who deftly knocks the "critter' Oh
the head and the latter falls against
a trap door which lets the body gently
down upon the killing floor.
There the head is removed, along
with the skin and hoofs, the animal
Is dressed and the carcass split In
half. These "sides" then are carried
on an overhead rail into a pre-cooler,
where the temperature is kept at 80
degrees, the freezing point. This COOL
er. IL by % feet In dimension. will
hold 200 sides"
Having been thoroughly cooled, the
curing or aging process Is ready to
begin. since freshly-killed beef IS not
prime for the table.
Through trap door in The pre-
cooler, the carcass is lowered into a
storage refrigerator below. This car
Be kept at temperature Of % de.
grees and is II by &c feet in dimen-
sion. Separateds from It oy !. bi.
refrigerator door is a huge freezer. IL
by II feet, which will he kept at Il
degrees below zero. Before being placed
IN the latter, the sides will .e reduce.
to quarters. This sharp freezing
process prepares meat and poultry fol
long-storage facilities.
It IS essential that poultcy, partic,
ularly. be frozen by this method INC
1t is OF particular value when meat
are to be stored for longer than mer,
aging periods.
Huge Storage Capacity
In addition, there is the cold Stor
age section Of the plant which is a
by 20 feet in dimension and thre
stories high. It, together with tn
other refrigerators, will permit tn
storage Of approximately 1000 car
:asses without crowding.
When properly aged. the meat
ready to be taken from the cooler
loaded on trucks and delivered to Bis
narck butchers or to any other mea
store in this area.
The coolers are the heart of tn
packing plant and constitute tn
main essential difference between
md the so-called slaughter house.
Hogs follow a slightly differen
course. They are driven 40 an In