The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1885-07-23

Is fRll or nleS, the SOllQ ana semi sOllQ
matter is thrown out upon the ground or
old loose boards, where it lies or soaks in
the ground, decomposes. is partially
eaten up by their scavengers, which we
afterwards eat in the form of pork. Oc>
casionally when they try to keep clean
they scrape up some of this refuse and
throw ii Zone man generally burys his)
in the slough. They have neither drain
age nor water in proper quantities. 1t is
impossible to keep slaughter house in
proper condition without plenty of water
and good drainage.
Some four or five years ago this mat
ter was agitated, and an appropriation
of 50, 500 was made to partially pay ex,
penses; the butchers objected so strenu-
ously that the matter was dropped. Since
then whenever butcher was spoken to
By me about the filthy condition of his
premises, his reply has invariably
been, we do the best we
can, let the city build US a
slaughter house, if they want US to do
better When the city wants to build
them a slaughter house they object they
want 1t at ali other times.
This year | did not bring the matter
up; l had experience before; | knew it
would bring me much annoyance, work
and i'll viii and probably result in tizz!e
IN the end, owing to the disposition OF
So many to please some personal friend,
| regardless OF the welfare OF the city, But
Knowing it to be right, | joined in with
the members of the city council, when
they showed a disposition to bring about
thi. refo m, and | am enlisted for the
war, OUt first move was to call together
/ the butchers 10 meet with US, in order to
work harmoniously together. Little
! differences seemed to be reconciled and We
separated with the understanding that
they were to appoint permanent COM
mittee Of three to cooperate with US. Did
they do it? No; but they went and hired
Judge Wilkinson to fight US, and now
/ they have the cheek to say that they were
not consulted.
They have done all they could to defeat
I tbs measure; they have made mountains
Of every mole hill; they have even
reached China by crossing mud puddle;
/ t4ar could not kill seven beeves q day on
.es, than fifteen acres Of ground three
weeks age, now then cau do 1t on two, Just
vua; We offer The city building was too
I -ma..-l0XS0-thcir switch abattolr is
Feurv large, though il is 30X45. There
Is ua good drainage at the city site, al
/ t.1u-h the stream never goes dry; theirs
! understand has no running water in dry
Uc8'Der. The only reasonable grounds
I objection are the low lot and the road,
au4 these objections are greatly magnifed,
/ but the city is meeting them fairly. PTl~
vare business places, such as the glass
factory, the plow factory, the shoe faCto-
/ ry G!lmore's slaughter house, etc, are
upon about the same level. Neither the
health commission nor myself have the
slightest disposition to injure anybody or
their legitimate business. We think this
improvement will be of benefit to any
honest butcher. 1t will protect him
against unprincipled competitors and
will likewise protect the public.
Everybody should be protected in their
right to pure air, pure water and pure
food This is all we are fighting for, and
We think all good citizens should be with
US. Considering the trivial objections they
have made, the intense opposition to the
movement, which they should be first to
favor their desire to erect side-shsw of
their own where we can have 20 legal
jurisdiction in order to kill the city abat>
toir; the health committee and myself, as
well as the citizens generally are COM
PEELED to believe that they do not want
their stock to be seen alive, which is the
only time meat supply can be properly
inspected. The question is, shall twelve
butchers and a few personal friends, or
1000 citizens govern the action Of the
council
Very Iesp't,
G. G. CRAIG, N. D.,
Com. of Health
That the city should have ar abattoir no
public spirited citizen will doubt; and the
only right and safe way Of running such an