The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1880-08-07
SLAUGHTER HOUSES.
Investigator into Their CONDITION

couDcli ~ tne last neetlngs 10 lnVestlghtc
into the report of the Board of Health, re-
specting the filthy condition of slaughter
houses in this city, andespecially
the condition of that owned by
Mr.. John Dietz. who desired the investi-
cation. as be felt himself personally attack:
ed by the personal remarks which appeared
in the Union. Alderman Browne presided
and the other members of the committee
were Aldermen Lundy and Rinck. Mr..
William: J ackson. appeared Tor Mr.. John
Dietz, and City Attorney Corbett, and
Mr.. John T. Kenworth by represented the
Board of Health. The sitting was held in
the council room and there was large
attendance. Most of the medical faculty
| of the city were present. and
nearly all the butchers. whose in
terest were deeply concerned. were
there Over thirty -four witnesses had
been summoned and they with a number
of persons drawn thIther by the interesting
revelations which they expected to hear.
made up considerable number who list
I CuSa 10 inc pEOCcSuIbkcs
| Some discussion took place between Mr..
Jackson and Mr.. Corbett as 10 the limit
that the investigation should take, The
| former held that only what v as IN Mr.
Dieiz' petition should be entered upon, and
the latter held that the Investigation should
take in the slaughter houses generally.
The com mittee decided that though pro
badly the city council did intend to
make the investigation general, it would
be we'll to confine the present inquiry into
the condition of the COW and calf named in
the petition and TO what had reference to
them.
Dr. Craig of the Board of Health was
the first witness called and stated as pre-
| viously that he and the other members OF
the Board had visited the slaughter house
of Mr.. Dietz on two occasions, and had
found the place 10 a filthy condition, and
hogs we're feeding on the offal. One hog
had two tumors hanging down. He saw
the unborn body Of calf so far
matured that its body was COW
| cred with hair. The witness went on
20 detail other matters connected with the
place. but Mr.. Jackson objected Oh the
ground that it would be making scape.
goat of Mr. Deitz to have bis slaughter house
held up only. Mr.. jackson said the petit
ton was with reference to the COW and
calf and it should be adhered to. Mr..
Corbett again wanted the investigation to
take wider view. and again the commit
tee held that the investigation be limited.
DR., Craig further said be had seen man
named Ysger there and conversed with
him about the COW which bad the calf.
He said it had been killed He made
further inquiries after he saw the place.
Mr.. Vincent had told him about the COW
with the tumor and the unborn calf, Iboth
being dressed as meat,
Mr.. T. Vincent was the next witness
He had told the members of the Board OF
Health about the COW with the swelling on
her head as large as his hat. It had been
killed and dressed, and he had been told il
was buried He did no, tell DR. Craig
that the meat had been buried till after
the report of the Board of Health had been
published. He saw an unripe calf there
on Christmas morning. Others DO their
butchering there besides Mr.. Dietz, and
be did not say that Mr.. Dietz killed the
calf, The witness also spoke of what was
customary regarding the calves.
Mr., Fred Yager. working butcher tes-
tilted to the killing of a deceased COW
one in question-but the meat he after.
wards buried The witness said he had
worked at the business six or eight years.
the offal of the COW had been given TO the
hogs. the head of the animal had about 8
bucket of matter in it. Ii was customary
to give hos cfall. and it was also custo
mary to kill cows with cs.f
1Ir. John Dietz was next sworn, be
owned the slaughter house, bur had not
seen the animal 10 question killed. Other
people besides bin used the slaughter
house. 1t was the custom to feed hogs on
offal. He thought it right, it was custo
mary. A diseased COW might be killed
for the hide. He believed offal of the
animal was good for the hogs. Hc did
not himself write the letter TO THE
ARGUS therefore there was q mis-
take about tho key. A friend
wrote the letter for him, it was
Robert Koehier, clerk of the Board of
Health FL also spoke of the custom of
skinning unripe calves for the hides. these
skins sell for % to SO cents each The
hogs were general property, purchased
from farmers. and offal he considered Was
good feeding as they ofton got from far
mers He believed that COWS with calf
neas!s fall TINE were good beef.
Mr.. Joseph Z ,sanfcld, dealer iD bides.
testified that nnripe calf skins were known
by the name of SUNK, and sold generally
for % cents
Messrs. Thomas f. SCHNEIDER G.. F.
Wagner, Frank Buncher and A Treman,
testified as witnesses and experts. that it
was common to buy COWS with calf, to kill
them, and the beef was considered good i,
but knowingly they would not buy COWS in
this condition. it was not humane. The
calves were skinned if the shair was long
enough, They considered sthe meat of
deceased COW as fit for the hogs as the
offal and more so. Unripe calves are fire.