Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-07-21
Collecting Dead Animals.
Chicago ChrOaicle)

Chlcago's superintendent Of Streets and
Alleys reports that 1890 dead animals
were removed from the city last year.
That is nearly 1000 for each day OF the
3G5 days in the year. They were all kinds
of animals that are seen in the city
horses, mules, COWS, goats. dogs. and
cats. The Superintendent adds that these
removals have been made without eX-
pense 10 the city.
At an early day. when the town was
small. it was the custom TO appoint
scavenger, whose duty it was to remove
dead animals and all nosome objects and
matters out of the streets and into
the country. First, the scavenger was
paid by the day, next by a fee OF so
much a head. but when the city had
greatly increased it's area and population
the job was let out to the lowest bidder
After a while it fell into the hands of a
contractor to whom was paid a lump
sum 20 do the work He did IL TO the
satisfaction of the authorities, and so he
held the job for many years.
In the earliest days nothing was done
them out into the country and there
throw a little dirt over them. As the
country more and more filled up with
people II was required that the dead ami
mails be buried. But when the contractor
got control Of the business he soon found
out how best TO dispose of the flesh and
bone product Of his scayengering. lie
erected a rendering plant out in the cOun-
try. and by means Of it converted dead
horses, mules, etc, into phosphateS and
several other valuable by-prOducts. He
made a good deal OF money In the sale
Of these various products, and ar the
same time received a large sum from the
city. The office Of scayenger Of Chicago
is one that few persons would Ike 70
MI. and for that reason only few per-
sons know that it is worth a big sum.
This ignorance served 10 protect the con-
tractor IN the position for long ume'
during which IL never occurred 20 any
one 10 inquire il he was not getting rich
out OF scayengering. The work OF re-
moving dead animals increased enormous
ly, and his rendering business increased
i'm proportion Better than that for him.
the amount OF money the city was paying
him increased. TOO. Finally he was paid
on a contract with the city $4,000 a year.
His business had grown up naturally. but
now IL was so large that naturally II at
tracted the notice Of other men VINO
could see. or smell, a good thing.
IL Is a good thing 70 be scavenger or
Chicago. even without pay from the city.
Two wears ago John Mcdonald astonisA-
ed the contractor who was getting $3.50
from the city by putting in 1--WE years
bid OF 81 a year and Offering TO guaran-
Tee that the work would be well and
thoroughly done. OF course he got the
contract. and then, with his two sons.
he began business. He introduced at the
start some Improvements In the teams
and wagons used In the city and In the
cars for conveying the dead animals out
into the country. Formerly the wagons
were not well adapted 20 their purpose,
and. when loaded were a nuisance
wherever they passed Now they are
specially constructed and are hardly no.
ticed as they pass. The cars formerly
used were nothing better than old-fash-
toned box-cars for cattle. Now refrlgera-
tor-cars are used for the purpose. and
no offence Is given 10 the people of the
suburbs through which they come and so
half a dozen times a day.
The dumping ground, or rather the
rendering plant, Is at Willow Springs
and the McDonalds say there is no null
sance: but some OF the people living at
Willow Springs are OF a different opinion
They have lately obtained an Injunction
against the McDonelds for the purpose
OF recurring them 10 remove their plant;