The Elbert County tribune., 1906-06-07
MEAT IS UNCLEAN
REYNOLDS AND NELL ARRAIcN
PACKING HOUSES.
FILTHY CONDITIONS EXIST
Special Commissioners Of the Presi--
dent Present Startling Report
Poisonous Products Prepared
in Dirty, Shiny Buildings.


cial commission sent by the President
to investigate the Chicago packing
houses, says:
ITO the President: AS directed by
you. we have investigated the condi-
tions in the principal establishments
in Chicago engaged in the slaughter of
cattle, sheep and hogs and in the prep
aration OF dressed meat and meat food
products. Two and half weeks were
spent in the investigation in Chicago.
and during this time we went through
the princinpal packing houses in the
stock yards district, together with a
few of the smaller ones. A day was
spent by Mr.. Reynolds in New York
city in the investigation of several of
its leading slaughter houses.
During our investigation state
ments of conditions and practices in
the packing houses. together with af-
fidavfts and documentary evidence.
were offered us from numerous
sources. Most of them were re
jected as being far from proving
the facts alleged and as being be-
yond the possibility of verification by
us. We have made no statement as
fact in the report here presented that
was not verified by our personal exam
ination. Certain matters which we
were unable to verify in Chicago are
still under investigation.
Before entering the building we
noted the condition of the yards them
selves as shown in the pavement, pens,
viaducts and platforms. The pave
ment is mostly of brick. the bricks laid
with deep grooves between them.
which inevitably I'LL with manure and
refuse.
such pavement can not be properly
cleaned and is Shiny and malodorous
when wet, yielding clouds of ill-smell-'
ing dust. When dry the pens are gem
orally uncovered except those for.
sheep; these latter are paved and COW
cred. The viaducts and platforms are
Of wood. Calves, sheep and hogs that
have died en- route are thrown out
upon the platforms where cars are uu-
loaded On single platform on one
occasion we counted fifteen dead hogs.
on the next ten dead hogs. The only
excuse given for delay in removal was
that so often heard-the expense.
The report goes on to tell of rotting
and Shiny floors. dark rooms, best de-
scribed as vaults where the air never
changes workrooms where men and
women toll without relief in a humid
atmosphere heavy with the odors OF
rotten wood, decayed meats, sinking
offal and entrails.
Nothing shows more strikingly tho
general Indifference to matters OF
cleanliness and sanitation than do the
privies for both men and women. The
prevailing type Is made by cutting OH
section of the worlSroom by thin
wooden partition rising to within a
q - Ill ri
usually ventilate into the worlroom-
Lunch rooms constructed in the same
manner, by boarding off a section OF
the workroom, often adjoin the privies.
the odors of which add to the gener-
ally unsanitary state of the atmos-
phere.
The report as to the condition of the
priyies Is almost too shocking to print,
Men and women return directly from
these places to plunge their unwashed
hands into the meat to be converted
into such food products as savsages,
dried beef and other compounds.
Sometimes men do not even take the
pains to go to the privies, but contain
mate the walls and floors.
"In Chicago packing houses an abb
sence of cleanliness was found every
where in the handling of meat being
prepared for the various meat food
products.
"In some of the largest establish
ments sides that are sent to what is'
known as the boning room are thrown
in a heap on the floor. The workers
climb over these heaps of meat, select
the pieces they wish, and frequently
throw them down upon the dirty floor
beside their working bench.
Meat scraps were also found being
shoveled into receptacles from dirty
floors where they were left to lie until
again shoveled into barrels or into ma
chimes for chopping.
"In one well-known establishment we
came upon fresh meat being shoveled
into barrels, and regular proportion
being added of stale scraps that had
lain on a dirty floor In the corner OF Il
room for some days previous. In an
other establishment equally well
| known, long table was noted covered
with several hundred pounds OF cooked
scraps of beef and other meats. Some
| of the meat scraps were dry, leathery,
and unfit to be eaten; and in the heap
| were found pieces of pigskin, and even
some bits of rope strands and other
rubbish. Inquiry evoked the frank ad-
mission from the man in charge thar
this was to be ground up and used In
making 'potted ham,
"All of these canned products bear
labels, of which the following is sam
| pie:
"'ABATOIR NO. =. The contents
of this package have been inspected ac-
cording to the act of Congress OF
March 3, 1891. QUALITY GUARAN-
TEED.'
| "The phraseology of these labels is
wholly unwarranted. The government
inspectors pass only upon the health OF
animals at the time of killing. They
know nothing of the processes through
which the meat has passed since this
inspection.
| Another instance of abuse in the