The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1885-07-22
WILL THERE BE WAR?
The Butchers Object to the City's
AbattOir, and Propose 10 Erect
One of their Own--BOth
Sides.


toir on the property donated for such
purpose, the question as to whether or
not the city had legal right to compel
the butchers to slaughter there, has been
agitated to a considerable extent. The
impre ssion among the butchers seems to
be that the city has been somewhat DOM
ineering and dictatory in the matter.
There are few, however, who will doubt
that the council was looking to the best
interests of all when the matter which has
caused the commotion was decided upon.
Neither the health commissioner nor
aldermen had personal nor selfish mo-
tives in acting as they did. If the city
has erred in the matter, it has been in not
comforting with the butchers as to the To-
cation as well as the schedule of prices.
The butchers feel that they have not been
consulted as they should have been
The abattoir was first brought up five
years ago, at which time the council ap-
propriated 50. 500 for the purpose. Then.
as now, there was stern opposition TO the
location and roads leading to it. SO great
was this opposition that the propositions
finally dropped out of sight, and the ap"
preparation went back to the city Treas
ury. An understanding was made with
butchers by which they were to keep
their slaughtering establishments clean.
and use care in preparing fresh and ana
| duteIated beef
| Health Commissioner Craig immediate
| ly served official notice upon the butchers,
emphasizing the councils demand that
pTecaution must be taken in establishing
cleanliness about the slaughter houses
Complaints, however, came in from resi-
dents in the vicinity of these slaughtering
places, showing that the city's request
had not been needed The matter ran
along until this spring. when the CONS
plants began coming in again. This
prompted DR.. Craig in issuing the follow,
lowing circular
Rock ISLAND H., April /, 1885.
The following rules will hereafter be
strictly enforced regulating the slaugh,
tering business within one mile of the
limits of the city of Rock Island:
l. All buildings used for the purpose
of Strengthening animals for food must be
provided with some receptacle for catch
ing the blood and other offal.
,. All offal must be removed from
about the Strengthening places within
twenty -four hours from the time of kill
ing.
3. Offal must not be deposited at any
; place within one mile of the limits of the
: city of Rock Island, in such manner a:
, to create nuisance in the locality where
, such deposit is made.
4. Suitable sewers or drains must bt
made to carry off bloody or dirty water tC
place where it will create no nuisance
5. Slaughtering places must at all time
be kept in such condition that the sur
rounding soil and air will not becom,
. polluted with decomposing animal matte
, and offensive gases.
6. No unripe or fly blown meat, no
the meat of any sick, diseased or over
heated animal shall be exposed or Offered
for sale at any place within one mile o
e the limits of the city of Rock Island
T. Should any butcher or owner of an
slaughter house. licensed by the city o
Rock Island, permit, upon his premises
4 any sick or diseased animal to be killed
. skinned, cleaned or cut up, or subjecte,
to the same process of treatment as
e given to meat prepared for sale; he sha
be deemed guilty of violating the preced
II ing rules. &. G. CRAIG,
Commissioner of Health.
q Later, Mayor Murdoch, Marshal Eek
hart, Health Commissioner Craig an
Alderman Larkin of the health committe
. of the council made tour of the slaugt
tering houses, and were accompanied b
the board of health of South Rock Islan(
=, The slaughtering house was found in
miserable condition, and DR.. Craig say
one of the members of the South Roc
:; Island board lost his appetite at sight {
the building and surroundings. A
agreed in cOndemning the place as nu
sance, and one that could not be east
abated. From appearances it would
. impossible to put it in sanitary conditio!
The result of this visit was the revival (
:. the abattoir question, and the bringing
- it before the council by Alderman Lark
upon the proposition of Mr.. Davenpo
to donate the two acres of land for it,
With view of obtaining the
y BUTCHERS SIDE
'e of the question, an ARGUS reporter callt
Is upon Judge Wilkinson this morning, wi
a. has been engaged by the butchers
IL counsel in the event Of legal proceeding
al Judge Wilkinson said the butchers oil
Is jected to the city's abattoir on account
lie its being located where it would be sui
~ ect to overflow in times of high waite
as it was to be situated on ground six
IS ten feet below the low water mark The
IL would be great difficulty in driving Gait
rs to it, and another reason to the objection
d, is the butchers do not believe there is ju
lie tice in restricting their trade any mo
II than any other The judge said he d
not think the city had legal right
ID regulate the butchers business or comp
rs them to slaughter according to certa
restrictions and prescriptions. tt
butchers sent their objections to Il
d council and that body had overrult