River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1906-06-07
THE REPORT.
Text the Document Submitted by
the Investigator.
The White House, June

Text the Document Submitted by
the Investigator.
The President: AS directed by you,
we investigated the conditions in the
principal establishments in Chicago in
the slaughter of cattle, sheep and hogs
and the preparation of dressed meat
and meat food products. Two and a
half weeks were spent in the inveSt1-
cation in Chicago, and during this
time we went through the principal
packing houses in the stock yards dis
trict, together with a few of the small
er ones. A day was spent by Mr.. Rey-
nolds in New York city in the investi-
cation of several OF its leading slaugh-
ter houses. During our investigation
statements of conditions and practices
in the packing houses, together with
affidavits and documentary evidence,
were offered us from numerous sources.
Most Of these were rejected as being
far from proving the facts alleged and
IS being beyond the possibility OF veri-
fication by us. We have made no
statement as a fact in the report here
presented that was not verified by
cur personal examination. Certain
matters which we were unable to YER
lily while in Chicago are still under
investigation. The following is there
fore submitted as partial report
touching these practices and conditions
which we found most common, and not
confined to a single house or class of
houses. A more detailed report would
contain many specific instances of de-
fects found in particular houses.
Condition of the Yards.
Before entering the buildings we
noted the condition of the yards them
selves as shown in the pavement,
pens, viaducts and platforms. The
pavement is mostly of brick, the bricks
laid with deep grooves between them,
which inevitably fill with manure and
refuse. Such pavement cannot be prop
erly cleaned and is Shiny and malodor-
Gus when wet, yielding clouds of ill
smelling dust when dry. The pens are
generally uncovered except those for
sheep; these latetr are paved and COW
cred. The viaducts and platforms are
Of wood. Calves, sheep and hogs that
Lave died en- route are thrown out
uron the platforms where cars are I'M
loaded. On a single platform on one
occasion we counted Is dead hogs, on
the next ten dead hogs. The only ex-
cuso given for delay in removal was
that so often heard-the expense
Buildings.
Material. - The interior finish of
most of the buildings is of wood; the
partition walls, supports and rafters
are of wood, uncovered by plaster or
cement The flooring in some instances
is OF brick or cement, but usually of
wood In many of the rooms where
water is used freely the floors are
soaked and Shiny.
Lighting.-The buildings have been
constructed with little regard to
either light or ventilation. The work
rooms, as a rule, are very poorly light
ed. A few rooms at the top of the
buildings are well lighted because they
cannot escape the light, but most of
the rooms are so dark as to make arti-
fetal light necessary at times. Many
Inside rooms where food is prepared
are without windows, deprived of sun
light and without direct communica-
ton with the outside air. They may
be best described as vaults in which
the air rarely changes. Other rooms
which open to the outer air are so
large, the windows so clouded by dirt,
and the walls and ceilings so dark
anG dingy that natural light only pene-
trates 20 or 80 feet from the windows,