CO-OPEKATIVE SLAUGHTEE-HOUSES 61 



These numerous factories had naturally considerable diffi- 

 culties to contend with at first. It was difficult or impossible 

 to find enough men who understood the technical management 

 of a factory, and at the same time had sufficient mercantile 

 experience. Experience was also lacking as to the best method 



■y of^^building a bacon factory ; many of the first roofs, being 

 "built of wood, were perished by the constant condensation of 

 moisture, so that they had to be replaced in other and more 

 expensive materials ; some of the factories were too small or 

 did not receive enough pigs, whereby the working expenses per 

 pig became too high. During the first years these co-operative 

 factories had, therefore, to buy their experience, and sometimes 



-7 pretty dearly, and the annual general meetings were often 

 stormy and brought proposals for winding up. Only two, 

 factories, however, closed down. The large factories showed 

 very fair results, and when during the nineties prices in the 

 bacon market improved and more pigs were sent to the 

 factories, all opposition from within co-operative circles ceased, 

 and all agreed that the co-operative factories had improved 

 the production, and secured the farmers a higher return for 

 their pigs. The competition between co-operative and private 

 slaughter-houses was very keen during these years. In 1890 

 there were of the latter kind 14, besides 3 joint-stock factories. 



7 Four private slaughter-houses had to close down during 1890 ; 

 they suffered in the competition because, unlike the co-operative 

 factories, they could not rely on a steady supply of pigs, while 

 co-operators were under an obhgation to send to the co-opera- 

 tive factories all the pigs they bred. Since 1890 there has been 

 a certain amount of joint action between the co-operative 

 factories, for such purposes as the collection of statistics of 

 prices obtained in England, the quotation of prices for pigs, 

 the joint purchase of salt, saltpetre, etc. 



The most important of the private curers was Philip W. 

 Heyman, a merchant in a very large way of business, who 

 owned several bacon factories in Denmark and South Sweden. 

 In 1890 he elaborated an extensive plan for the amalgamation 

 of all bacon factories and all pig breeders into one large joint- 

 stock company, to be called ** The Danish Bacon Factories." 

 All factories were to be transferred to the new company at 



