, 1877-04-22
STOCK:YARD SMELLS.

:: The Packers Hays an Interview viii
the Health Commissioner,
: And Promise to Remove the Cause Of ,
Serious Complaint.
! In response to an invitation addressed tt
them by Health Commissioner DeWolf, severa
proprietore Of slaughter-houses south OF Thirty
ninth street met in his office yesterday after
noon to confer with him about the stinks which
are so offensive to the people. IN the. southern
section Of the city. There were present Joht
B. Sherman, Superintendent Of the Stock
Yards; Mr.. Black, Of George Armour &; Co.
Mr.. Higgins Of the combination Murphy
Botsford, and tile Chicago Packing Company
Samuel Allerton, Mr.. Latcher, Mr.: Kicker, and
j Mr.. Brannock. These gentlemen represent all
but q few Of the establishments near the Stock.
Yards, and what they do the others will inlorse.
| Commissioner DcWolf called their attention
to some things the Department was trying to
do In their ncighborhood. He had asked the
| City Council to cleanse the west fork of the
South Branch, In which was deposited the Or
gnnic matter from the packine-houses. The
] Aldermen had told him that It was useless to
| spend money in cleaning it until the deflement
was stopped. II this was arrested, and the ac-
cumulation of organic matter ceased, he did not
know but something would be done. The Mayor
and some OF the Aldermen had talked with the
| City Engineer, and learned that the first move
! would, cost $500, 600. The fork could not
be drained into the lake. Tho water from it
t13 HpnJ In bali 41a4
If the accumulation was stopped the packers
could bring to bear pressure on the Council
which would result in the cleaning OF the ditch.
There was ground for complaint against the
Health Department on account of the stencil,
aud nothing being done to remove it. What ha
proposed Vas that all the packers whose drains
ran into the fork ct the South Branch should
close them up, aud construct Others SO that ail
Tue organic matter would run into the Stock
Yards sewer, which eInpticd into a smalI canal
running to the South Branch, and to hare three
or four carch-basins il line near the mouth so
as to catch -,
All TIE ANIMAL MATTER
coming down. This was perfectly feasible and
not expensive.
A1r. Sherman remarked that each house had
two or three catch-oosinS.
Commissioner DeWolf said they were per-
fectly worthless He had examined them, and
saw the blood pouring into tue creek. Catch
basins amounted to nothing unless they were
properly constructed and watched.
Mr.. Kicker stated that not quart OF blood
got into the ditch in year from his place.
Commissioner Wolf said the catcl.-basins
proposed should be taken care Of by some re-
sponsiblc person-whonl, 1t had not been deter
nnncd-whether oneemp1oyedb by the packers, or
BY the parties owning the ground through
which the sewer ran-thc 'Stock-Yards Com
pany.
ten times what it cost to look utter the catch
basins. 81 80
Commissioner DeWolf remarked that, by
having catch-basins all over, no one kept them
in order, but by concentrating them they could
be attended to, and the olIense now complained
steps should be taken toward having the
fork cleaned. The Corporation Counsel had
said shat the owners Of the ground where the
basins were located Should be held responsible.
This was the packers business, and he suggest
ed that they should designate some one and paV
him to do the work under the direction Of the
property y-0Wners.
Mr.. Allerton approved Of the plan. The To- !
all the matter. What kind Of basins would be
Commissioner DsWolf replied that the idea
was to have them constructed Of masonry or Of
good plank. Plank saturated with grease would
prepare the plans for them. Three basins,
properly made, ought to be sufficient, the last
one to have It's surface seyed, which would pre-
vent the escape OF any particles The basins
should be cicansed daily and the, sieve washed.
Mr.. Sherman inquired US to the quantity of
accumulation in rWcnty-four hours.
Mr.. Brannock answered that in the busy sea-
son twenty-five loads a day could be taken out. j
Commissioner DeWolf did not believe any Of
the gentlemen appreciated the condition OF the
South Fork. He had seen bubbles rise up two
feet und throw out two or
THREE BUSHELS or MUD. i
Mr.. Sherman remarked that none of the
packers lived in the vicinity (Smtles.1 He |
rying out the plan Of the Department..
Commissioner DeWolf went on to say that
he took a iftcen-foot pole and showed it into |
the South Fork, and did not touch bottom. A /
great deal was said about the stinks from |
did not come from there. They CAME |
from the vicinity Of the Stock-Yards. He had |
been corresponding with Prof. Johnson, of |
Yale College, and that gentleman had informed
but this year, fertilizers were worth nothing
Two years ago Prof. johnson thought Of Or
gnnizing company to clean out the fork for |
the deposits, but to-day there was no money
Mr. Black thought the Professor was mis-
taken. Fertilizers we're worth more than they
Commissioner DeWolf did not expect to have
he creek cleaned for nothing. The only thing
% do was to have reservoir and pumping
sfr. Kicker Remarked that the fork was the
oulcst place that ever existed.
Commissioner DeWoif coincided with him.
t a cow drank the water she would die. ~<>f
Mr., Allerton thought the connections should
,e made with the Stock-Yarls sewer and the
atch-basins constructed.
Mr.. .Brannock said ho hauled out lot Of the
natter, aud Mr.. SherWin gladly took it away to
uake a fertilizer.
After some further talk, all the packers agree
ng to tie proposition, the Commissioner said
&c would have the plans ready by Wednesday,
he packers will hare meeting at the Stock
'ards Saturday, and commence the work as soon
$ possible.>
This imDroyement when made will be a. real
enetit, and lessen the stink considerably. 1t |
lill doubtless be some time, however, before
he supplemental scheme Of clearing the South
'ork is carried out.
RAIDING BEARS. 1: