Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1884-1886, 1885-12-27
A POULTRY ABATTOIR.
HOW FOWLS ARE TO BE SlAUGH.
TERED HEREAFTER IN NEW YORK.
Unhealthiness of the Districts Whore the
Batchsrs Ply Their Trade-A Change
for the Better Cleanliness and
Ventilation.
New York Sun.


Tie latest Improvement: of the sanitary
department OF the New York board of
health is the establishment Of an abattoir
| Tor Strengthening all kinds of fowl For
many years the department has endeavored
| to establish such an institution. but its sue
ceis was considered almost impossible, in
view OF the determined action CT those
butchers who persist in killing fowl On their
premises, in direct violation Of the law The
main purpose OF an abattoir Is to Danish
these nuisances to one small spot, where the
health of the many thousands would not be
impaired.
The filth and unhealthiness Of tie lower
tenement house districts, where the butch
ers ply their unhealthy trade, has become
almost proverbial The mere mention Of
the words Ludlow street. brings up be-
fore our imagination q narrow. dingy
street, bordered by low, tottering tens-
rnents, in the Easements and cellars of
which are butchers and fruiterers, whose
rotting merchandise has given such just
cause for the sanitary raids Of Dr. Edison
and his able staff. Refuse and garbage
adorn the street from one end to the other.
In the houses the fowls are slaughtered in
bedrooms and kitchens, where tho health
officers are not liable 10 look for traces of
the violation Of the law. Every other
house contains petty slaughter-house,
some large tenements having two or three
butchers and other nuisances.
A HORRIBLE PLACE.
The uncleanliness which must be created
by this horrible practice can well be
imagined Walls smeared with blood and
floors covered with feathers and dirt are
everyday sights. The streets, likewise,
give abundant evidence Of tho filthy
slaughter. Feathers. heads and feet can be
found at every step Before the recent
Jewish holidays the sanitary officials gave
ample notice that these violations must
cease. They advised the butchers to estab-
lish a poultry market. where the trade
could be carried on in accordance with the
requirements of the law. Their efforts
seemed 70 be in vain, however, and it was
finally decided to enlist the sympathy of
some charitable Israelite in the cause, who
would invest sufficient money 10 test the
practicability of the enterprise
Mr.. Jacob Fleischhauer. a wealthy retired
butcher, was consulted, and the chief OF
one OF the sanitary divisions, for
mally requested him to undertake the task
which the health Of many thousand inhabit-
ants Of that neighborhood demands At
the suggestion of the health department,
Mr.. Fleischhauer decided to locate the
abattoir along or near the river front, as
far as possible from the crowded districts
yet convenient or near the river front. stu
ated for the butchers Mr. Fleischhauer set
to work upon the new enterprise, an
building was leased and fitted up at q cost
Of $40, 900 1t is a large four story house
with deep basement The floors through
at,ff ha inf h,,il h. b.
SO that all refuse matter can be easily
washed off and carried away
THE CLEANLY ABATTOIR.
1t is the intention to concentrate the bust.
ness of keeping and Strengthening fowls in
this place The four large lofts are pro-
vided with large galvanizet iron coops,
which will lie let out on the storage plan
for the use Of butchers These coops have
been constructed on the most improved
style, and will add greatly to the cleanli-
ness of the abattoir. A wide elevator shaft
in the front Of the building is the means Of
lowering the fowls from the coops on the
upper floors to the basement, where they
are slaughtered. 1t is here where all the
slaug entering takes place, and the arrange
mants have been SO far perfected that
within almost five minutes after batch of
chickens arc slain no trace of the operation
can be seen.
The sewage and ventilation are perfect,
tho atattoir having been fitted up under
tho supervision Of the board Of health. The
largo coops have holding capacity Of q.
600 fowls weekly, and all accom- nodations
are afforded to the butchers, who, had it
not been for Mr. Fleischauer, would have
been virtually driven ont OF the business
The sanitary police have now determined
10 abolish all "home Strengthening" and Of
Tenders will be closely watched and heavily
fined when detected. 1t is estimated that
the new abattoir will save the butchers con
time AMI money. The coops will
lie hired out on the storage plan, SO that in
stead OF keeping the fowls in filthy cellars
who-e stencil is almost intolerabie. they
can be cared for at every place Of slaught-
ering until they are required for tho trade.
The butchers bring with them their Shoch-
tim, AMI they are charged u fraction of a
cent por caput for the privilege Of slaughter