New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1872-02-29
NEW ORLEANS REPUBLICAN, .rHURsDAY FEBRUARY 49, 1879

idly scrutinized the premises of that inst.
tuition at both points, and heard the state
ments of apparently disinterested persons
engaged in the butchering business, beg
leave respectfully to report that the officers
of the company, in enlarging and further
developing the capacity of their establish
ment in the parish of Orleans, on the line
of St. Bernard near the United States bar.
racks. have not only exhibited unusual
business capacity, but in the opinion OF
vour committee have consulted the true in
terests of the community.
Your committee find, upon investigation,
that the eddy of the Mississippi river,
which for years has rendered the construc-
ton of levees on the right bank barely
possibility 10 skilled engineers. has proved
an equally annoying obstruction to the
company, and that, Notwithstanding their
lavish expenditures OF money ana the use
of the most substantial materials, they have
not succeeded in constructing a wharf
which could Justly be pronounced perma-
nently safe. Many losses, to be attributed
to this natural cause alone, have long ago
convinced the most casual observer that
any further essay in that direction would
be in defiance to sound judgment. What
has proved so fruitful source OF
loss to the company seems to have
been equally disastrous to the owners
and masters OF steamboats, compelled to
land at their wharf. Your committee is
credibly informed that the loss of time,
fuel, and the thousand expenses incident to
the running of steamboats, which can be
traced to the difficulties experienced in
making landing are simply incalculable.
Heretofore your committee has referred to
the chief participants of the traffic, who, in
conducting a large business, involving the
expenditure of thousands OF dollars, might
(other things being equal sustain this loss
from their necessarily large profits, but the
persons far more seriously incOnvenienced
than either, though least able to suffer
it, are the small dealers, and these,
long ago, not to speak with too
much asperity, pronounced the location an
intolerable nuisance. Many of the most
industrious and energetic of our citizens,
with barely sufficient capital to conduct the
business of daily supplying their CUSTOMERS
suffer from annoyance, it would be weary
ing to enumerate. A ma ority, either for con-
venience or from motives of economy, have
secured residences in the immediate vicinity
of the markets in which they hold stalls.
Your committee on investigation have dis
covered that in numbers Of cases the work
of landing carcasses in the markets, cutting
them up, and preparing for the morning
business, commences at one o'clock A. NJ;
the largest purchasers secure their meat for
the day an hour later, but the dealer
has not finally disposed Of his stock and
performed the necessary sanitary duties re-
auired by law until midday. He has barely
time to secure the modicum OF sleep neces-
sary for existence when his presence is re-
auired miles away, over broad river with
uncertain ferries, to superlntend the
slaughtering for another day. At some sea
sons of the year the terrific storms which
prevail upon the river render passage
even by the large steamer owned by the
company quite impracticable, while almost
during the entire winter dense fog, ascend
ing early in the evening and enveloping the
the stream in an lmpenatrable shroud until
long after sunrise, is penetrated with untold
perils by even the most skilled navlgatOrs.
Were those engaged in the butchering busi-
ness to utterly disregard the hazard of life
and limb, the defamation of their meagre
earnings by the daily charges for ferriage,
and the hours consumed IN securing
places for themselves and vehicles
on the unusually commodous boat
of the company, must, the end,
prove ruinous. Having asC lined the
chief objections set forth by those engaged
in the business to the establishment ON the
right bank, your committee next visited the
immense buildings of the company, in the
parish of Orleans, near the line OF ST.
Bernard. The premises are approached by
an excellent road extending down the river
front. which, notwithstanding the recent
rains. YOUR committee found TO be in per
feet good order. BY a iudicious arrange
ment of lamps which illuminate the thor
oughfare from beyond the city limits, it can
be traversed in perfect safety at all hours
of the dav or night The wharf is not only
constructed of the most substantial mate
rial. and entirely firm, but it seems es-
pecially designed for landing in safety
live cargoes from both steamboats,
and steamships. A series of strong rallied
IL, u
placed on each side of the plank road lead
ing to the main buildings, enables the con-
sienee to At once divide his shipment into
lots and although just prior to the visit OF
your committe. several cargOcs II cattle had
been landed, the accommodations seemed
ample for all. 4 number of sales stables,
admirably ventilated, and also perfectly
clean. occupy place in this vicinity, and
your committee observed that all the pass
ages, which are strongly inclosed, are so
arranged that animals can be driven to the
apartments assigned for them without
being either overheated or unnecessarily
excited.
Before reaching the Slaughterhouse. all
ANIMALS, from the very construction OF the
building, must necessarily pass through the
inspectors office, where each is carefully
examined and weighed. short distance
from the scales is an immense hall, set
apart for the slaughtering of the beeves.
Here every modern improvement which In
genuity could suggest. in the opinion OF
your committee, has been provided and
constantly flowing stream OF water sweep
ing over the spacious floor removes all blood
or other refuse as fast as they accumulate.
Notwithstanding the fact that numbers of
carcases were in the apartment at the mo-
ment OF your committees visit, none OF the
revolving spectacles nor the frighttul stencil
which il, other localities have made the
word slaughterhouse synonym tor horror,
were to be observed.
Directly in the rear of this apartment,
and extending throughout its entire
breadth, is the Strengthening room for sheep
and hogs. AT one end is placed an immense
tank heated by steam train, which Is
used for scalding, and the room is filled
with tables and blocks. In addition, in
the shape of hooks, pullies and instruments,
it contains apparently every possible ap-
pliauce required for the butchering of
smaller animals. A well paved street,
running the entire length OF the building,
divides a row of private departments from
the stables. The former, which are four
teen feet square, and lighted with gas, are
used by butchers in dressing and dividing
| theilsmeat prior to sending it to market.
The stables are each supplied with a &C.
mented vat, used for sailing hides. In rear
of the buildings, extending several acres
! back and below, is the pasture, designed
| for the use of all cattle that have become
exhausted by long journeys, and for those
| which the owners contemplate fattening.
| The immense steam pumps of the COM
| pany furnish an abundant supply of water
! both for the animals and for sanitary pur-
| poses, and the entire establishment Is
! lighted with gas.
| Though possibly work of supereroga-
! ton, your committee, after its somewhat
severe scrutiny, can not refrain from APP