New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1855-12-04
A VISIT TO A CHICAGO PACKING
HOUSE.

We presnne that Chicago is the mort rapidly grow
Atlantic eide, is business-in vested capital employed
at 20 g eat profit 1t is the principal emporium for
the whole North west; and the amount of railway
business done here exceeds all that peon could be-
lieve Of it Many of the merchants own considerable
vessel property which vessels principally freghted
with lumber for the supply Of the vast interior Of the
State from the various ports the Michigan shore;
and as eighs ule enormously high this season, there
will be some considerable balances to credit "Pfo6t
and Lots with.
Chicago is rapidly increasing in wealth, notwith-
standing that Der imports are uniformly heavier than
her exports This apparent anomaly is obvisted in
the fret place by the amost unprecedented enhance
nent OF real estate and second by the continual ad-
dtop to the capital in circulation mace by the many
bush Gee men coming b, reside here. Chicago manu-
fsctu,es almost netbiDg except st the American Car
Works now in process of construction after the recent
coIfsgrstion-s very extensive manufsctory-to-
peher with two three tanneres and here and there
a EN- ali machine shop. We can see no manu- acsur-
ing industry Travel and the transport OF goods seem
70 supply the main part of the revenue OF the city,
and this induces the conviction in our minds that
there is natural limit to the future development OF
Chicago which it would be unsafe without so ne far
tber manufacturing industry, TO attempt to transcend
While spending a few days among this purely COM
mercial CO immunity, friend proposed to US to pay
visit to one of the beefpackng shments Of the
city. This is branch of industry which has grown
up bese within the last few years, and alreaoy Chica-
go has oistanced all competing cities in the number of
beef cattle slaughtered during the season. Both for
quality Of the article and the skill in preserving the
bareIed beef Chicago ranks far ahead Of Cincinnati
.Iok~a md uyskh fho fantI
which her rich and exp .nsive praries afford her for
the fatenipg of cattle, should say that there could
be no definite limit imposed upon her supply Of pro-
vhions to all purchasers.
Having recently escaped from New-York-vhere
every succeeding European mail dins US with the
shock of war and the demolition and reconstruction Of
armies-it seemed to promise great deal of pleasure
here in the midst of these peaceful prsiries-to de
vote half day to the inspection Of the process that
transforms the belo wing herds into the casoes Of bar
relied beef that sustain the fiery vaor of those distant
embattJed hosts. walk of two miles southwark,
along the Rock Island railway track, and then a
dsropsl walk weetw ard, of the same length along
plank road laid down upon the prairie and we arrive
a. the wife bes,ipg village of Bndseport-duriog
the walk II rouoh the village we witnessed 10 less
than three mstrimor isl renconters-then turn down
.p.vly.made street, where the pedestrian sinks at
every step to the knees in the softened loan Of the
nrsrje. and We have reached the packing house. 1t
il new. substsnti ally. built, square stone buiding
owned BY the Nessrs. Hough Brothers, two energetis
Western msn with all the open hospitality Of their
country. The buildiVs fronts upon creek, which
communicates is directly with the Lake; and there is
snscions dock for the storage OF their nnumerable
packed barrels, they ssne IN one CONTINUOUS stream
from their house.
When stp.ember month begins 10 wane and cooler
days are ushe ed in the droves begin 70 assemble to-
,ether their fstted herds, and the roads leading to
Chicago are .uddenly alive with believing drovss
We rill ,eeet dpe herd from the many that We see in
tsrd, movement around us, and watch its progress
,brouph the various stages until II s rolled 10 the
doci rsu,forped into Extra Mess Beef" We have
.l;sh,eS then. mon drove Of some 800 head raised
we viii suppo,e in La Sails County, and con Isc.sd
,ome time mast 70 the Msssrf. Hough, ct the rate Of
ave Solls,s mar hundred weight for the beefthe ofa
b4ipp river in BY much wbooping and ch .sing. the
dro,.rs have broagh the bewidsred herd 10
Al. .trony b,sh wal Al inclosts the yard the wide
s.,s ia awning imam. the cate thras' in and there
,pr,r.d To remain Wills to collect their wandering
sepss.
Tbs following morning their slaughter comusacss
V.f so1.n po,, SeIlo Is with poles in their hands
pJe.ep Mt Themselves in the yard, apd detashing sbost
DIV from The herd, drive .bsm into . closer yard.
This ia a parrow nclosure sepsrsted from the main
yard by gate, and communicating BY means Of
siSipr doors with four ecss pens, where the animals
are uipssly roped for TIE slaughter Having driven
their sstaefnts the INHALER yard, the Men continss
their p.nuh and further ds'an four Or Eve Of The
sthe ips hrutss into ss>A Of The fcu close pens.
door Il nov withdrawn fem within, powerful negro
presents. AlnssE, and lsssss css Of he sssas; two
men shsa Assl upep sAe vinllAs, md b spits q We