The Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1885-1886, 1886-08-30
roundings, and that the same were taken on
H. 81 =

photographs, the Mississippi river was then
at its highest stage reached during said year,
and that said abattoir and surroundings were
as high, if not higher than other portions Of
the city Of Rock Island, whereupon large
manufacturing establishments are. located, towit,
Island Stove Factory, Gilmore's Slaughter house
and Weyerhseuser Denkman's Saw Mill and
Lumber Yard and that said Photographic views
show. Notwithstanding said high water that said
aoattoir buildings were high and dry, aud these
defendants aver that at said time . portion OF the
officers OF said city were present when said photo
graphs were taken andthst the roads leading there
from we're in ~ good, If not better condition than
any othe- roads in the county at that time.
These defendants further answering and
charge the fact to be that the ground where said
abattoir is located, and as the same s filed up
and graded by the city, has not been overlooked by
high waters from the Mississippi river or else
where more than twice in tive ,ty years, and that
at such times there were extraordinary floods. and
the ppi river then inundated large portions
OF the INHABITED portions OF said city ss well as the
said abattoir grounds. reaching even into the
Court House square of said city, and to the Market
square in stld city.
That these defendants have caused photogr4 phic
views of said city abattoir and surround ngs ba
TAKEN and filing the same herewith. marks the
same Exhibit Il" Exhibit +" and Exhibit G" and
Exhibit II" which said Photographic views were
taken On the eth day of ,pril, 1886.
These defendants aver and charge the facts to be
that said city Abattoir is in every way constructed
with reference to every modern convent snce and
that it is complete in all its parts, and entirely
suitable in every way for the proper slang htefing
and inspection Of animals, That the hxtur es, i'm
PIGMENT ana appurfsnences thereof of the very
best known or used in that business. That the
same is heated with steam, furnished with
abundant supply OF hot and cold wster, with steam
pumps and every appliance Necessary to make
such place wboles ONE, suitable, clean and proper
FOR such purpose.
These DEFENDANTS farther answering deny that the
location Of said sbattoIr Is Inconvonient, insult
able and improper for place for the inspection of
meats and animals not to be slaughtered there, by
reason Of its distance from the place of business
of the dealers in fresh meats, or for any other
reason or that the requirement of inspection at
said place ia onerous or unreasonable or that the
same is unreasonsbly expensive.
Deny that an inspection st such plsee affords no
security to tue purchasers Of meats at such places
of business; that the same have been inspected
and sre merchsutable and wholesome, but aver
and charge the fact TO be that there csn be
proper inspection OF meats and the power to in.
spect the same cannot be tu ly and etfectualiy
forced without an inspection of the animals when
alive and before being slaughtered. That the right
to inspect meats II given to the end that the in
haoitsnts OF said city may be furnished with
wholesome and healthful meat. That i is impos-
sfble to tell whether meat 10 wholesome and
healthful or the meat of wholesome aud health
Animas. after the same have been killed, dressed
and prepared for the market, that the only effect
i've and proper Inspection ia the inspection of the
done under the care and control Of the inspector
and this the sAidcomplainant and the said butchers
well knew at the tune OF tee fling Of said bill, yet
notwithstanding said fact, SAID butchers with the
aid and advice of said complainant to av. the in
spection OF their said meats the animals slsugh
tered by them, removed their slaughter houses be-
yond tn jurisdiction of said city where said city
had no right to send an In pector or authority to
inspect said animals That In order for the inspec
ton OF such animals alive and to hsv. such an in
spection enectusl it was necessary to have Q place
to which said animals could be driven and proper
iy cared for and which the said city has juris-
diction and control. That the said absttoir and
grounds was the only place and Is the only p scs
within the control and limits of said city that it
could cesgnste for the inspection of such ami
mails, and that the same is reasonably convenient,
easy of access and in every way q proper place
for such inspection that its location the Missis
sppi river is opposite deep water in which there is
astrong and constant current. That by the action
OF said butchers in driving their cattle to the
Dingledlne slau liter house which is beyond the
city limits of said city more than one m lie, said
butchers have deprived said city of the power of
inspection OF said animals alive and before slaueh
tering, unless said butchers can be required 10
drive their animals to said city Abattoir for such
inspection That anybody is competent to tell
stale or offensive meats when the same are in the
markets by the tsste smell thereof but the only
proper inspection that have the effect to fur
nish to the Inhabitants of said city good and
wholesome meats is the inspection of the animals
be.ore they are slaughtered Aforesaid and these
defendants aver and charge the fact to be on in
formation and belief that It ia the habit and has
bsen for many years of many Ct the butchers fur
nishing meats to said city to go into the country
and purchase poor beeyes. cows with calf and dis
essed animss such as unfit for sale or ship
ment to chicago or any general market where in
specton of animals is required. and that the same
have been bought and sold to the Inhabitants of
said city as good and wholesome meats without
aay inspection thereof
And defendants further aver that the said city Ct
Rock Island lie stusted on the line of the Chicago
Rock islam Pacific rAirosd one of the great
thorouRnfares rom the West to the city of Chi
caRo the largest cattle market in the wor d: that
from the great herds of cattle raRed on the West
ern plains. millions art carried said roads to
said market every year, that there is great D. oft
ana gain to be made in the slaughterinz and the
selling Of the meat Of cattle and ether animals in
red in transportation ard in those too poor or
unfit for said market or which become sick by
transportation so ths' they are left by the way;
thst to prevent the public from imposition and tine
sale of unwholesome meats coming rom this
source the greatest vigilance is required that ore
of the complaints in the present contentio of the
butchers with the city of Rock Is and is that the
enforce ment Of its abAttoIr nance will interfere
with the sale and traffic in dressed meats brought
from the oily Of Davenport where such cattle are
I equertly unoade5 as defendants are inform etand
believe and in this wsy interfere with the gains and
profits derived thererom. And defendants th 1T
by spd through the enforcement of said absttoir
ordinance the inhabitants of said city m sy can
be properly protected from unwholesome and un-
fit meat Of animals coming from such source.
Admit that the Commissioner Of Health has sp-
pointed Deputy but aver that such appointment
Was made under and in pursuance Of said ordin,
ance-and that the salary OF said Deputy was
fixed BIZ said City Council as provided in Section 3
OF said ordinance. Deny that to said Deputy ia as
signed the care custody. charge and m management
OF 50 absttoir but aver that the same is in the
care, Custody. charge aud Management of said
Health Commissioner and that sid deputy assists
him in said duties.
Admit that said city of Rock Island clsims th.t
1t hsd and has lawful rig hit power and authority
30 acquire and hold lands and property for the
purpo Ct an absttoir or public slaughter house
aud to aorept the Aforesaid deeds of land and to
I'LL mp. grade and improve said land and erect and
furnish building, appurtensnces and fixtures
thereon for the purpose of an abattoir
Admit that 1t claims lawful right, power and
authority to own, maintain manage and control
said absttoir and to appropriate and spend money
for such purposes AM gives out snd asserts that it
will heuceforth hold, maintain manage and con
troll said absttoir.
admit thst it claims the right to do each and every
other thing relative to the hiring of the ass slant
Health Commissioner. the passage of several ap-
pr1prfat1o Ions for the maintenance of said sbatt ir
in said COMP aiuantie hill apped and .vsr ~ ~