The Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1885-1886, 1885-11-04
IRE ABATTOIR.
1t Is Completed and Ready for Opera.
Observation-Disclosures First
Strengthening.

The city abattoir in the extreme western
limits of the city is now completed and
was occupied for the first time this after
noon. Though the institution which
promises to be subject of so much pride
to the city has been described several
times 10 these columns, a brief review OF
it and its appointments. now that opera
tions have fairly commenced, will not
prove altogether uninteresting. The adj
vantages of the site, now that the struc-
ture is finished. are more apparent than
they were when the proposition was first
made. The ground on which the build
ing is situated has been raised four to
eight feet, bringing it up to the level of
the high water mark. The roads leading
to the institution are in condition and
Of such material that they will
be so all the year around. To
the south Of the building are the pens,
thirteen in number. all of which are pros
vided with substantial shelter, feeding
troughs. ETC., and between the tiers of
pens is a driveway sixteen feet in width
These arrangements are particularly
adapted to The use and convenience of
the stock. Approaching the abattoir are
separate stalls for cattle, sheep and hogs,
into which they are driven prior to the
slaughtering process. The cattle, after
being driven through the stalls and into
the abattor proper. are fastened with
a rope attached to II MINDLESS and so ar
ranged as to be shut with little difficulty.
The hogs and sheep ard driven into pens
or boxes, where they are slaughtered. the
former by knocking in the head. and the
latter by cutting the throat. After the
auimals are killed they are thoroughly
bled and skinned, and quartered, the pork.
crs passing through the scalding vat. and
then into the scraping table, and all this
is done by machinery; one man if neces>
sarv with the contrivances there, can do
the whole job, and have the beefs. perks,
er mutton hanging up ready for sale in a
much shorter time than it takes to write
this article. With an ordinary working
force though. six beefs may be slaughter.
ed in ten minutes and it is estimated that
the daily slaughtering could be made to
average. 800 beefs. 1000 sheep and 900
hogs.
The institution is provided with an ex-
cellent system Of sewerage and well from
which water is pumped into tanks by a
steam pump. The solid offal is carried in
wagon made for the purpose, dumped
into other wagons and carried off. while
the fluid filth, blood, etc. passes
off Immediately through the
sewer. In the spring por-
ton of the building will be par
titioned off for an ice room, where the
beeves and pork and mutton will be con-
Quoted on hooks and elevated rails, and
where they will remain until taken down
for consumption. Andrew Etzel.e x police
man, and until recently fireman at the
water works, has been appointed super>
tendent of the abattoir and is to act as
butcher mechanic, and in fact attend to
everything at salary of $50 per month.
This afternoon the first butchering was
done by Mr., Ehleb, in the presen Of
several other butchers and interested cit
liens. The abattoir is at the free use of
all city butchers this month. and at the
request of the mayor and health COM
mittee, Health Commissioner Craig ex>
tends au invitation TO all butchers to try
the institution and butcher there.
The abattoir is perfect model of neat.
ness and cleanliness, and possesses every
advantage and modern convenience in
the process of slaughtering, and withal is
citizens will take pride in,