The New York herald., 1879-03-08

hot feed, grow extremely tender of flesh and
sensitive to the slightest alterations Of temperature
as much so as would a human being kept continually
in warm room and deprived of exercise, the neces
ity of protecting them from sudden draughts OF
chilled air other exposure liable to induce colds
have a tendency to check the development OF fat
tissues will be seem The cattle arc located in these
sheds that their launches reach that point where
the lower edges of the roofs meet and the space in
each compartment is broad enough to admit two
''strings' standing with buttocks toward each
other and with a space of perhaps three feet inter-
vening. In this intermediate space the floor is sunk
about one foot below the floor which the animals
stand. and serves az conduit tor excremeht and
urine which. falling upon the main floor. is carried
to the rear by its own gravity mainly, the floor qu
city sloping, and finds its way to the common recep
tacle. The sheds cleaned three times daily
This is done partly by flushing with warm water,
this process being facilitated by the employment
of rubber scrapers. the attendants passing between
the animals and drawing the manure back into the
channel between the strings" 1t is then forced to
the exterior of the building by means of board to
which is attached long handle and the interior Of
the shed is thus for the time being left compare
lively free from Nth. This process is repeated
from the outside. the manure having found its way
from each feeding section along the of sheds into
elevated by means of a steam pump into immense
reservoirs. from whence it is finally empted through
fumes into conveyances, boats or others. and
eventually finds its way into the lake before this city
HAY FEED.
The cattle in these sheds can never be hungry for
they are fed almost continually and given all they
want at each meal. At six O'Clock A. M. they are
given sops and also at ten A. NJ. and three and six
p. M Twice daily they are fed hay, and at these
meals they are furnished with salt There is no
time in the day that they do not have feed before
them and IL they do not fatten upon the rations pro-
vided cannot be attributed to lack of attention
in this direction on the part of the attendants
As is. perhaps, perfectly natural all the animals
brought In do not take kindly the soft feed and
utterly refuse to partake of the seaming mess But
in they not indisposed by of sickness
they eventually decide to partake OF the article
of diet and finally appear to relish it as though 1t
the most natural article Of food in the world.
They can get no other.
feeding sheds and others entirely dsinterested In the
business, when questioned to the prevalence Of
any sickness among the beasts, were unanimous and
positive in their statements that nothing OF the kind
existed. To be sure it true that now and
then when the animals were brought in, there might
be one or two, or mayhap half-dozen in drove Of
thousand fifteen hundred which would
exhibit some signs of ndisposition but they would
be nothing serious. Perhaps an animal would be
worn out with travel and would refuse to eat ont
he must come and go to the stock yards to be sold
and killed for city consuMption. Perhaps an ami
NAL unused to the new feed, would get his feet into
the hot mess and they became tender. Out he came
aso for it would be useless to keep him the herd
by his neighbors. Whenever anything OF this kind
was discovered and it always occurs when the ami
diately taken from the remainder Of the herd and
disposed of to slaughterers.
FAT AND HEALTHY LOOKING.
The testimony of all was that there no COM
plant among the CATTLE aud had never been. This
statement is most assuredy borne out by the present
condition of the cattle in the Chicago feeding Sheds
There could scarcely be finer lot Of animals
gathered together il their outward appearance is to
be taken as a criterion Of their inner condition.
They all clear-eyed plump. active and full Of
that spirit and general buoyancy that only come
of good health. In a tour covering the past
til1eries in Chicago visited. at least such as
engage in cattle feeding and often looking about
thousand head OF steers andsbuls, the HERALD
representative did not find in single instance
animal that gave the slightest symptoms OF i'll health
or debility. All alike were in prime condition and
gave every evidence of perfect health. One sell
dom looks upon more attractive beef animals
buttocks full level on top. and rounding
fat and heavy; shoulders strong nccks lying
in folds nostrils free of all diseased exudations
eyes sharp and dry and unsunken. Add to these
evidences OF good condition appetites unimpaired,
and cannot but concede that the sifed beasts in
the Chicago distiery sheds are as prime in every
essential rs 1t is possible for such animals to be. 1t
may be said that the persons feeding these cattle
the dstllery proprietors and the owners Of the cat
tleare, OF COURSE interested in setting forth the
condition Of the animals in the best possible
light. and this. OF course. may be so;
mails individually, passing through every alley in
each of the feeding sheds, as the HERALD represents
tive did, and thus has before HIM every opportunity
to discover any evidence OF disease, and finds that
they just represented, he must state the
they exist and add his testimony in favor Of their
general healthfulness.
FEW TEXAN CATTLE.
There are comparatively few Texans fed at the
Chicago distilleries. Examination shows that the
great proportion of animals natives. varied by
occasional punches OF Coloradans and Cherokees.
These Colorado steers are graded as Texans and
-
their frames. being large. will take proportion
atey more tat during the feeding soason. and are
therefore more profitable
THE "sTrLL FEED" SEASON.
The feeding season In Chicago begins about the
first of October. From that time until about the
middle of May the cattle kept on the slops. If
the market warrants theis being taken any time
the latter part OF March and the 18th Of May
they may be disposed of, but general thing they
remain until about the last date indicated. The price
paid for feeding. provided the cattle owned by
outside parties, is nine cents head per day This
paid to the distlers the slops and shed
room. The cattle furnish men to look after
the animals and feed them and also supply their own
hay. In several instances in this city the distiers
the owners Of the beef cattle. Generally where
the distillers feed their cattle they also feed
milch cows for other parties ON contract.
THE CHICAGO EsTABLIsHMENTs. >.
There are in Chicago five large distilleries where
cohol Works. the Phoenix Distiilcry No 2; shu-
fedts Dstillery, the Garden City Distillery and the
klverdale or Black Hawk Distlery. The West Side
Alcohol Works are located at the intersection of
Kinzie street and Western avenue. This company
feeding about four hundred. The animals were
driven in about the LIST of October and are now in
primo condition. They are mostly native steers.
The animals are fed four times daily slops
can be when surrounded these are. by natural
filth. In the opinion Of the feeders the animals will
take on flbm three hundred to four hundred pounds
be considered first class The rule here is to
cut out promptly any animal that may exhibit any
signs of weakness or disease. and send 1t to the
slaughter house. But disease OF any serious ma
ture has manifested itself. No Spanish fever has
ever been discovered
The Phoenix Distllery superintended by Mr.. George
I. burroughs. Is located beyond the northern limits
of the city ON branch Of the Chicago River Here
about eighteen hundred cattle fed. All in
prime condition. The gain In weight Is estimated ut
about four hundred pounds. Tho cattle are owned
by the distilling company. About three hundred
Texans. the remainder Cherokecs, Coloradans and
natives. The sanitary regulations excellent.
Care. is taken to cut out all cattle that
may develop disease; but thus far the sheds
have been free OF all complaints. There have been
fevers and no symptoms OF lung affections Tho
feeding houses kept pretty clean yet II must bo
stated that they are not In as good conditioner
not on the occasion Of the visit of the HERALD
Representatives, the necessities Of the would
demand The buildings are poor and the cattle in
many places subjected to continuous draughts OF
cold air, which liable TO engcnder lung difficult
ties. The animals will probably be shipped early In
May. They intended for domestic and foreign
markets. They will be shipped first TO the Albany
IN W yards. Feeding here Is conducted ON the
plan as described elsewhere in this letter.