The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1872-07-22
Life i'm Chicago.
Boston Globe Chicago letter.

There are two peculiar institutions in the
southern part of the city which whenever
the south and southwest winds blow begin
TO manifest themselves. One Is the Npaey
slough, and the Other The rendering cStaE-
liShn.e.;i. In The commencement of Chicago
this slough was Il little branch of the South
fork, and was mlvigablc. Now it is closed
at The mouth bya railroad bridge which does
not turn, and there is no current whatever
through it except after Il very heavy rain. a
couple OF Wcking-ilouS@s have settled OH its
banks, and have filed it up literally with
ofal to the depth of about nine feet. When
the summer sun shines upon this mass it
begins to Sccthc and stew, and fumes result.
and people shut their doors and windows.
and passengers in trains going by wonder
what is happening, and persons a mile or
more OF snuff the odor> borne on the breeze
Now and then several barrels Of carholic acid
are poured in, hut they produce only tempo
I1lry effect, killing The flies and na@@ot>. but
not Graduating the evil. Those vino live IT,
the ncighborhood have lost all faith in
churches or in Providence. They find their
only relief in getting very drunk, and they
do it very calmly and solcrly. Their
whole souls arc wrapped up. in this r;attrI
They vote for that man Tor alderman who
promises to remedy this trouble; and since
neither Greeley nor Grant have expressed
themselves positively concerning the lralcy
s!nlai. t'tcv take no interest in either. This
slough Is IKE cause Of infinite deaths. The
c!jiircn perish in swarln>, AMI cholera a,.:'
kindred diseases dispose OF the mon and
women. The Board of Health write CON-
m,incatons about it. and thus uaci!l their
c"n>cicnccS. or 20 ANA look ut it and say that
really something must he done.
This rendering establishment is the place
Ia which nearly all the ohal of the city is
sent. There 20 The thousands of animals
which die at the >tock-yal1lS, aud the dogs,
lad meats. condemned fruits and vegetables,
&C.. which are picked up in the city. They
IRE allowed to be ont in TIC open air, cy.
posed to the sun, ard in tie course of time
give off Il smell which makes the surround
ing country ulinlabltahlc, and which reaches
fur northward into the heart of the city.
We watch the wcather-cocks now with
III anxious eye, and when the wind shows
signs Of shifting to the south it is time to lcs
down the windows and TO begin smoking.
The only remedy thus far suggested is to
pace great rows 0! trees between lis ant;
the smell, it being claimed that the leaves of
these trees will take up the carhouic acid
and other noXiOus vaporS and emit the very
best kind of oxygen. But this is generally
looked upon as too scientific and uncertain,
and it Is thought best to trust to the illusions
OF hope, and TO fancy that some day things
will be different. 1t is also claimed by the
creators Of these stenchcs that they are not
unhealthy. roy admit that they are not
pleasant. but they assert that they are not
mortal, for the men in their establishments
live as long aud have rs good health rs the
average. If it is not bad ior those who are
nclr, ii cannot be lad for those at Il distance