Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1906-06-14

ment No. 20 to the act making ap-
preparations for the department OF
agriculture for the fiscal year ending
June 80, 1907, as passed by the senate,
this amendment being commonly
known as the Beveridge amendment
THEODORE ROOSEVELT.
The President:
AS directed by you, We investigated
the conditions in the principal es-
Establishments in Chicago engaged in
the slaughter of cattle, sheep, and
hogs and in the preparation of dressed
meat and meat-food products. Two
and a half weeks were spent in the
investigation in Chicago, and during
this time we went through the prin-
cipal packing houses in the stock
yards district, together with few of
the smaller ones. A day was spent
by Mr.. Reynolds in New York City in
the investigation of several of it's
leading slaughterhOuses. During our
investigation statements of conditions
and practices in the packing houses,
together with affidavits and documen-
tary evidence, were offered us from
numerous sources. Most of these
were rejected as being far from prov
ing the facts alleged and as being be
yond the possibility of verification by
us We have made no statement as a
fact in the report here presented that
was not verified by our personal ex-
animation. Certain matters which
we were unable to verify while in
rIioapo
Condition of the Yards.
Before entering the buildings we
noted the condition of the yards
themselves as shown In the pavement,
pens, viaducts and platform. The
pavement is mostly of brick, the
bricks laid with deep grooves between
them, which inevitably fill with ma
nure and refuse Such pavement can
not be properly cleaned and is Shiny
and malodorous when wet, yielding
clouds of ill-smelling dust when dry.
The pens are generally uncovered ex-
cept those for sheep; these latter are
paved and covered The viaducts and
platforms are Of wood Calves, sheen,
and hogs that have died en- route are
thrown out upon the platforms where
cars are unloaded. On a single plat
form on one occasion we counted Is
dead hogs, on the next 10 dead hogs.
The only excuse 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 in
stances 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 workrooms,
as rule, are very poorly lighted. A
few rooms at the top of the buildings
are we'll lighted because they can not
escape the light, but most of the
rooms are SO dark as to make arti-
hcial light necessary at all times.
Many inside rooms where food is pre-
pared are without windows, deprived
Of sunlight and without direct com
municatlon 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 and d:ngy that natural light only
penetrates 20 or 80 feet from the
windows, thus making artificial light
in portions of even these outside
rooms necessary. These dark and
dingy rooms are naturally not kept
clean.
Nentilation.-Sys ventilation
of the workrooms is not found in any
OF the establishments we visited. In
a few instances electric fans mitigate
the stitiing air, but usually the work
ers toll without relief in a humid at
mosphere heavy with the odors of
rotten wood, decayed meats, sinking
offal. and entrails.
Equipment.-The work tables upon
which the meat is handled the floor
carts on which it is carried about,
ana the tubs and other receptacles
INTO which it is thrown are generally
Of wood. In all the places visited
but single porcelain-lined receptacle
was seen. Tables covered with sheet
iron, iron carts, and iron tubs are be
ing introduced into the better estab-
lishments, but no establishment visit |
ed has as yet abandoned the exten- |
siYe use of wooden tables and wooden
receptacies. These wooden recep- |
tacles are frequently found water
soaked, only half ceansed. and with
meat scraps and grease accumula-
tions adhering to their sides, and col |
lecLing dirt. This is largely true of |
meat racks and meat conveyors of |
every sort, which were in nearly all
cases inadequately cleansed, and |
grease and meat scraps were found !
adhering to them, even after they had ,
been washed and returned to service. |
Sanitary Conveniences - Nothing
shows more strikingly the general in
diferenee to matters of cleanliness
and sanitation than do the privies for