The Ordway new era., 1906-06-08
THE REPORT.
Tex. the Document Submitted by
the Investigator.

Nut lHNtHIlEANCIs
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 inycsti-
cation in Chicago, and during this
time We went through the principal
packing houses In the stock yards dis
trict, together with few OF the small
es ores. \ day was spent by MIR. Rey-
nolds In New York city In the investl-
CATION OF several OF its leading slaugh-
ter houses. During our investigation
statements OF conditions and practices
in the packing houses. together with
atiidayits and documentary evidence.
were offered us from numerous sources.
Most OF these were rejected as being
Ear from proving the facts alleged and
~ being beyond the possibility OF yeri-
hCation by us. We have made no
statement as n fact in the report here
presented that was not verified by
cur personal examination. Certain
matters which We were unable to YER
ify while in Chicago are stilI 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
I roted the condition of the yards them
selves as shown in the pavement.
pens. viaducts and platforms. The
I pavement is mostly of brick, the bricks
laid with deep grooves between them.
which inevitably MI with manure and
refuse. Such pavement cannot be prop
Criy cleaned and Is Shiny and malodor-
oys when wet, yielding clouds OF i'll
siseiling dust when dry. The pens are
generally uncovered except those for
sheep: these latetr are paved and GOV.
cred. The yiaducts and platforms are
Of wood. Calves, sheep and hogs that
have died en- route are thrown out
uron the platforms where cars are un,
loaded. ON single platform on on.
occasion We counted Is dead hogs. OF
the next ten dead hogs. The only ex
onsc given for delay in removal wa.
thet so often heard-the expense.
buildings.
Material. - The interior finish o
post of the buildings is of wood; tn
partition walls, supports and rafter
are OF wood. uncovered by plaster o
, cement. The flooring In some Instance
IL o: brick or cement. but usually o
wood. In many of the rooms wher
water is used freely the floors ar
soaked and Shiny.
, Lighting.-Th buildings have bee,
constructed with little regard Z
, either light or ventilation. The work
} rooms. as rule. are very poorly ligh,
I ed. A few rooms at the top OF tn
, buildings are well lighted because the
/ cannot escape the light, but most c
the rooms are SO dark as to make art
} fetal light necessary at times. Man
, Inside rooms where food Is prepare
ere without windows. deprived Of sur
, light and without direct communica
, ton with the outside air. They ma
bo best described as vaults in whic
the air rarely changes. Other roon
, which open to the outer air are Z
! large, the windows 10 clouded by dir
ond the wallis and ceilings 70 dar
, ana dingy that natural light only pent
trates 70 or 30 feet from ne window
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