The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1888-01-27

expended during the season, and 80
acres enclosed in yards for hogs, cattle
and sheep.
The packing business is now second
only to that of Chicago, and should the
business increase during the coming two
years in the same ratio as during the
past year, Chicago will do we'll to look
well to her laurels, lest she be left in the
rear. Four of the prominent plants,
one of which covers five acres, have
been completed, at an outlay of $780,.
600 to $3.50, 900 each, and have capacity
of slaughtering and handling, in the
aggregate, 12,0OO hogs and 1900 cattle
per day, and even these capacities are to
be increased. In addition to the above,
there are several establishments in
other localities, with capacity for hand
ling 1000 hogs per day.
The hog killing" as practiced among
farmers from time immemorial, and as
transmitted by their ancestors, wherein
half dozen porkers were killed" in
time for a late dinner, on a winters
day, by the aid of as many men and
boys, is left so far in the rear by these
establishments, that. were our. grand.
fathers to experience premature resur-
rection, they could scarcely believe their
own eyes. a. 2 III
The farmer, after having prepared a
quantity of dry wood, retired early the
night before hog-killing day, and long
before daylight roaring fire was kindled
under the huge caldron kettle. in the
open air, and by sunrise the water was
boiling. The porkers were then let out
of the pen, when half dozen men, boys
and dogs were then let loose. The
victim was at last run down. The exc
cutioner stood by with cleaning knife,
with which thrust was deliberately
made, and the terrified animal jumped
to his feet streaming with blood. In the
course of time he yielded to his fate,
and was dragged to the platform with a
" hog-hook," duly scalded, picked,
scraped, hung, rinsed, drawn, and left to
cool, while each victim yielded to like
fate in turn. In due time the carcass
was carved into hams, shoulders, broad
side, ribs, sausage meat, lard and souse.
Then followed sausage stu6ing, lard
trying" and souse cleaning. Every
thing having been duly disposed Of, and
a bushel basket of nut cakes fried,
word was sent to the school master, who
/" boarded round" that he could come
and board out their SHARE as soon as
convenient.
The annual beef having been slaugh-
tered about this time, and two or more
quarters disposed of to the tradesman at
the nearest village, the remaining quar-
tiers were cut up, a part to be corned,"
and part to be frozen and kept for
winter use. Mince pies, dough-nuts and
apples henceforth filed the daily dinner
basket for both teacher and pupils. Few
of the senior readers of this paper will
fail to recognize this picture of primitive
times.
In these immense establishments
hogs are driven up an inclined viaduct
to the third story, where moose is slip
ped over one leg, the animal instantly
drawn up by steam power and passed on
to the sticker, who gives him a skillful
thrust, thence, on to the scalding vat
No wanton cruelty is practiced-the
thrust is SO deadly that, by loss of blood,
the animal becomes unconscious at
once, and experiences little suffering.
On either side of the scalding vat, 20
feet in length, stand gang of pickers,
and when the hog has foated its length,
and is thrown upon table by an auto
matte arrangement the bristles have
nearly disappeared. He is then passed
on through scraping machine, which
completes the work, with the exception
of a little shaving. He is again drawn
up, entrails drawn, rinsed down, and
passed to the cooling room, where a
thousand others are already suspended.
From the time the moose is attached to
his place in the cooling room requires
less time than to relate it-about five
minutes being the usual limit. In due
time the carcass is removed to the cut
ting room, where heavy cleavers dis
pose Of it almost in twinkling. The
several packing houses employ more
than 1000 workmen.
The holidays have come and gone.
Coming on Sunday, the following Mon
day was legal holiday, thus virtually
giving two holidays in succession. For
Christmas, they were both we'll inn
proved, business was brisk at the sa-
looms, and policemen were active, and
on Tuesday business was brisk at the
police court. "Did any get away?" in
quired his honor, Judge Burka, as he
examined list of II bummers, pre-
scented for his examination. 81 think
not" responded the afable clerk, as he
wiped his nose with the ink sponge,
through mistake for a handkerchief.
Business operations were then COM
menced, and justice dispensed with a
rapidity that would startle a country
magistrate. The victims cut a sorry
figure as they appeared before his honor
-discolored optics, battered noses, skin
less patches and other disfgurements Of
countenance were prevalent. Some
were Dlear-eyed and submissive Others
brazen and defiant; some were dirty and
seedy-others wore the habiliments Of
gentility. But his honor was no respect
er Of persons. From SIS to $25 fines
were imposed for their eccentricities, or
IN default OF payment ten to thirty days
behind the bars, with q portion of the
time on bread and water. As fast as
disposed of, they were carted of. to the
lookup over the hill in full loads by the
patrol wagon. One passenger expressed
his determination to make Rome
howl" and sent forth stream of pro-
family that would have blistered the
tongue Of an arch-fend, fresh from the
Internal regions; but grasp on the
throat by blue-coat efectually shut off
his wind, and he deferred making Rome
howl for thirty days.
Let no one conceive that Omaha is
more wicked than other cities. The
Daser elements corgregate in large towns
md cities, while country villages, in
which every one is acquainted with his
neighbor and his neighbor's business, is
comparatively exempt. When, how
ever, we examine the percentage of mis-
1emeanors in large cities and country