The Wichita daily eagle., 1894-05-29
PLAYED D-0UTHORSES
Tho Animals Turned to Account
When Dead.
From Their Carcasses Oils and Fertilizfns
Material Are Rendered - How the
Different Parts Arc
Used.

and useless now know where to dispose
Of them They sell them as low as two
dollars apiece to an establishment here
that converts the animal into fertil-
lizer, and then later on the farmer pur-
chases the fertilizer and plants the out
put of his old horse where it will enrich
his crops and hasten their growth. The
concern that deals in old horses, says
the Chicago Tribune, is in the business
Of producing fertilizer, and the more
horses available the better il Is for the
trade, for this is an industry that has
always prospered despite hard times
and business depression. The concern
stands ready to purchase all the
horses that can be procured. Tho
price paid is one dollar and half to
two dollars head. They are worth
nothing TO the owners, and when It is
considered that about five hundred
pounds of fertilizer is procured from
each animal it can easily be seen that
a good margin of profit is made. II
the supply holds ont they kill on an
average three horses a DAY all the year
round at these works, and, as the busi-
ness is of long standing, it is estimated
that enough horses have been disposed
of to supply a large standing army.
The ages of these infrnl brutes range
from fifteen to twenty-five years, and
their condition depends largely upon
the life they have led. Many of the
animals look as if they hadn't seen
cats since thcy were colts, and others
are spavincd-spruDg at the knees and
blind. An apartment of the building
is set apart as the death house, as it is
here the cxecutioner wields the instru-
ment of death
The manner of disposing of the ami
mails is this: When led from the pen
the horse is tied to a post and the
''black cap" placed over its head. The
executioner then strikes it a blow
across the head with an az and the an
imal falls helpless to the floor. Its
throat is then cut and life vnnishes.
This done, the process of dissection
and separation begins. The hide is
6rst removed and the carcass boiled, if
IL contains any fat The grease is des-
ignated as ''horse oil" The bones of
the lower limbs are boiled. and the fat |
extracted from them is called meats |
foot OIL" When the flesh Of the car
cass has been thoroughly boiled and |
the grease skinned off the surface of |
the vat it is thrown into the cellar and |
allowed to remain there for over three !
months, all the time being subjected !
to the influence of potash and gypsum. |
which is mixed with it, and which rots |
It.
The bones pass through two crush |
ers, the first of which reduces them, |
and the second grinds them to powder.
Several chemical ingredients are then |
mixed with the bone dust. This prep /
Rration is what is commonly known as
bone fertilizer, and is probably the |
best artificial commodity used in agri-
culture. The horse hides are disposed
of to leather manufacturers, and bring
more than was originally paid for the
entire animal. But not horses alone
ere used in the production Of fertilizer.
a great many cattle go that way too,
and as for bones, those OF anv animal /
are valuab BILE. The concern here does
not draw the line on live animals; dead |
ones viii do, providing they are not 100
old. 1t is very strange coincidence
that but very few cows are disposed of
in this way. and that may explain
where much of the tough beef comes
from.
Several qualities of fertilizer are pro-
duced from animals, it all depending
upon the amount and quality of the in
gradients used. Various vegetables
ind cereals require fertilizer of GER
tain strength, and while certain quail
ity viii produce good results on one
kind of vegetables it will destroy an
nther. The price per ton ranges all
the way from twenty to thirtyfive dol
lars The product of this one plant is
disposed of direct to the farmers and
z bout one Thousand tons are sent out
annually. The works arc capable OF
turning out three tons per day. The
present executioncr of horses has been
identified with the works ever since
they were established, about fourteen
years ago. and during that time It is es-
timated that he has put to death three
1 hnr,Sr -,I .p:D,a l.