Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1885-01-12
the time were not adapted to it. The
proposed appointment was largely
political move, but nevertheless cred
liable to both men, each fully sympa-
thizing with the other.
THE SLAUGHTER PENS OF
CHICAGO.
Chicaqo, H.. jan. 9. 'S5


Among the chief institutions of
this great and growing city, is the
Union stock yards, the leading cat
tie market of the world. The re-
ceiving pens and yards extend from
thirty-ninth to forty-seventh streets,
distance of one and one fourth
miles by one-half mile in wid:h. The
slaughter and packing houses ~
an equal extent just west of the
yards. Here is, therefore, terrific
ry one mile by one mile and quar-
ter filled up solid with this business.
There are also many packing houses
outside of this area.
The daily receipts are something
to astonish one who has not made the
subject study. During the year
1884 there were received as follows:
cattle, 1 ,878,944 head calves, 52,-
3o6; hogs, 5,324,25a; sheep, 1885,
$50; horses, 1859. Total, all
kinds, S,O73, ,O41.
The cattle received here remain in
the yards only one or two days. In
that time they are generally either
slaughtered, re-shipped, or sold for
stock OF feeding purposes. About
100000 cattle are slaughtered annu-
ally for city use, and much larger
number for canning purposes. Dur
ing the year 1884 there were 394, Jos
head of cattle put up in cans by only
three firms. When stock is received
in such poor condition that it cannot
be sold for beef or feeding, it will
sell just as well inside of tin can
and nice label, as the prize steers
from the fat stock show.
So there is a way to dispose of
whatever is dumped by the trains.
Even the mangled and the dead have
their own special use. The render
ing factories are no small item in this
vast business.
Shipping in the carcass has become
in late years great industry. 1t af-
fords great saving in freights and
in the condition of the meat itself.
To large extent, the eastern cities,
and even the foreign market, is now
supplied by meat from the slaughter
ing houses of Chicago. The firm of
Swift Bros. & Co. is devoted en-
tirely to this branch of the business.
The number of cattle slaughtered and
shipped by this firm during 1884 was
400,l63, the largest business of the
kind in the world. Hammond & Co.
come next with 14O, 900, and Armour
& Co. with 100000. The business
of Swift Bros. & Co. has rapidly in
creased of late until now they slaugh-
ter from 1900 to 2700 head of beef
cattle per day. They have also add
ed convenience for slaughtering sheep
and hogs, all of which they ship in
the carcass, sending out two solid
freight trains daily loaded with their
meat. The meat is shipped in re-
frigerator cars SO tempered by ice
and salt that summer and winter
alike the temperature is kept at about
thirty-eight degrees. The packing
rooms are also tempered in the same
, way.
The firm of slaughterers doing the
largest business of all kinds is Ar
mour & Co. Their capacity for hog:
is $4,000 per day. When running tt
the full limit three men will accom-
, plish that amount of "sticking," o.
1900 hogs to the man, which tn,
boys and girls will figure out to b,
more than one hog for every SECOND
t during the ten hours of work.
: But / have not room for descrip
: ton of the methods and appliances
, for slaughtering, and dressing th'
: meat. At some future time I ma,
give the readears of the MoNITol
some account of that bloody, ye
necessary and interesting, branch o
the business.