Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-11-15
NOTHING LOST BUT THE SQUEAL.
A New Industry Started in Pittsburg
Which Nay Win the Laurels Now
Worn by Chicago.
DEATH ENDS A BRIEF SEASON OF BLISS
Two Hundred Pigs Daily Converted Into Appetising
Food for Man

lively lew people know of its existence,
though that il was under way was an
nounced in THE DISPATCH last winter.
II is tine model hog-slaughtering estab-
lishment of Rea & Co. (Henry Rea, Jr. },
on Second avenue, just east OF the PittSburg,
Cincinnati and St. Louis Railway crossing.
II is the only one OF the kind in this neigh
borhood, where the porkers are dispatched
without first being struck on the head.
Though the building is of seven stories, it
attracts but little notice, from the fact that
three Of the stories are underground and
make no show to passersby. 1t is so
complete in its appointments that even
its victims make complaint for only about
TWO minutes, the most perfect accommoda-
tion being provided for their comfort up to
the time they make their exit from exist
ence.
Though the sight of a hog hung by one
leg, with the crimson life-tide flowing from
his jugular, and he making all the protest
he Is capable of, is not an inspiring one,
yet one cannot help admiring the mechanical
appliances at work in the execution. There
Is much less ceremony and much more ex-
peGition than in eiectrocution.
BRIEF HAPPINESS BEFORE DEATH.
Atpresent the arrivals from the illimita-
BILE corn belt generally OF the grades of what
are known as Workers and Baltimores, are
uuloaded from the Baltimore and Ohio
railway, though arrangements are making
10 receive them from other tracks,
also As they come from the cars they
pass up a slightly inclined plane runningon
two sides OF the building TO the fourth story
above ground. After the long confinement
IL the cars the animals ascend the plane
with grunts OF ecstacv, and arriving at their
destination, they enjoy high life ior time.
The air is balmy in the fourth story, and
the animals are fed, watered and rested until
their physical condition is such as to make
good meat. During this probation every
attention is given to make them happy.
The floor has accommodations tor 1,5O0 or
$500, according to size. The supports of
the floor are, OF course, very powerful, SUI
tanning a weight of some 200 tons, in addi-
tion to the machinery.
At one corner where the executioners
are stationed, the hogs, in order of admis-
sion iIom tie cars, are from time to time
caioled \ man armed with all the
Establishments OF tame female elephant
in a wild elephant pen, slips a bracelet
around the hind leg OF a hog. A simple
twist Of the wrist throws a belt on a shaft,
and in a twinkle the hog hangs head-down-
ward and begins to travel along frame,
on puIly.
RAPID EXIT FROM THE WORLD.
As he passes out of door the executiouer
drives a knife into the porker's jugular.
he squeals with all the power of his lungs,
but be continues TO travel along the frame
until he becomes stationary above what ap-
pears to be a fiume, but in reality is recep-
tacle full of water hot enough to loosen the
porker's bristles He has scarce become
stationary until a companion is swinging
alongside Of him.
The procession continues until the track
is full, and meantime the hogs in waiting
In the pens look on with stolidity indicat-
ing either that they do not understand the
arrangement or that they do not regard life
worth living. As each hog ceases to kick
he is dropped into the hot water, the
bracelet unclasping by a gentle tap on a
spring. 1t should be stated that the
suspensory apparatus is composed OF springs,
so that the leg Is not abraded bv the
jerk-up.
After the hog has lain long enough in the
water TO loosen his bristles he is dumped out
bv mechanical contrivance onto a table
The bristleS are removed in a trice, and the
sCraDers clean him quicker than a "tonso-
rial artist does his victim. In few
minutes the animal is again hanging head
down, and is rinsed off with a spray of
artesian well water.
PREPARED FOR THE MARKET.
Other machinery now comes into play,
and the animal passes into the hands of the
dissectors. In almost less time than it takes
10 tell it. the head is flung TO one side and
the intestines to another, and a few seconds
later no one could determine the parts that
belonged TO anv particular hog in the pro-
cession. Disemboweled and beheaded, the
trunk continues its journey until it reaches
another dissector, who splits it in
half and this part of the procession ends
In the cooling room, where, with !, 800 other
carcasses, it hangs for "a hours IN tempera-
ture that extracts all animal heat when the
cutters divide the halves into ham, shoulder,
side, feet, spareribs, lard, trimmings, etc.,
the latter going TO the sausage machines.
Another important department, not noted
above. is the manufacture of fertilizer. 1t
should be stated that not single atom of
the hog is lost except the squeal, and
more than one wit has suggested the en-
plovmeat of an Edison photograph to save
that. and even the denizenS of Yellow Row
could find no objection TO the waste, for
Irom the far height at which the sounds are
emitted, the carnage goes on without at
tracing the notice al the passersby.
The sticker stands in blood to his ankles,
and not drop of ii is wasted. 1t goes into
vat, and is boiled a short time
until the water is evaporated,
and, with other refuse, is put
into a dryer, the entrials beingIcooked and
the vapor thereof passing into a stack,
where they are consumed. The mass is put
under press exerting power OF 500 tons,
and when it comes out it is fertilizer There
is q catchbasin in the third story into which
all grease and moisture are carried, anG
when a days work is completed the
slaughter house is as clean and smells a.
sweeIly as the best managed kitchen.
TWO HUNDRED DEATHS A DAY.
The present capacity of the slaughter
house is 200 hogs day, but this will b.
considerably increased when the men arr
more familiar with their work. The Sup
erintendent, Mr.. Cottrell, is an expert il
his line, and has had long experience in ont
OF the largest establishments of the kind il
Chicago.
The building is S3x110 feet in size, and a,
stated before, is seven stories In height
three under ground. Down stairs the ma
chinerv is complete. Several miles of pip
carry cooling brine where it is needed
from the cooling room on thl