Democratic Sentinel, Volume 19, Number 32, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 16 August 1895 — EGGS ARE A BIG ITEM. [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

EGGS ARE A BIG ITEM.

World Owes ■ Large Debt to tha Modest but Industrious Hen. The magnitude of the egg produet of the United States is vaguely understood by those not directly in the trade. The leading cities of the country sonsumed 600,000,000 dozens last year. Laying them end to end, they would form a line 170,454 miles long. In other words, they would stretch around the world over seven times, and would go around it once forming a band fourteen inches wide. The product handled for daily consumption last year, at an average price of 17 cents a dozen, makes a total

of over $100,000,000, while the value of the wheat crop was less than $300,000,000. Eggs are used in many ways that the general public seldom thinks of. If the hen should stop laying, not only would the gourmand suffer, but the arts would come in for a large share of hardship. The number of eggs used by photographers, artists, painters and paper-hangers, bookbinders, and chemists, and in the mechanical arts in general, is something enormous. Even the poor, despised bad egg has come to be a necessity for certain uses other than those of the stage. A few years ago, it was discovered that the yolk and decayed parts made the finest preparations for finishing leather. When properly worked up, the bad egg is barreled and sent to France, Germany and other countries, to say nothing of large quantities used at home. It has become indispensable to morocco and kid dressers, as well as to glove manufacturers.

In the early days of the commercial history of eggs, farmers employed primitive methods for the preservation of eggs in store for the winter months, when the supply is almost cut off and the market price abnormally high. In January the price often used to run as high as 50 and 60 cents a dozen, while in the spring and early summer the supply was a drug and dear at from 4 to 8 cents. The eggs were packed in oats or sawdust and also in preserving fluids. This process was far from satisfactory. The preserving fluids had a tendency to weaken the shells. A process came into use by which the eggs were dried by artificial heat and ground up into the shape of meal for packing. Such egg meal ffiund favor with bakers and was practicable for use on ocean vessels. The cold storage system of preservation was hit upon, and it has assumed vast proportions, millions of dollars being expended In plants. Notwithstanding alleged discoveries by which eggs can be manufactured, no process has been found successful up to date. No egg has ever been manufactured except at a greater cost than the production of the natural one.