The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1906-08-06

bear a government label showing that
1t has been inspected and passed, and
thereby guaranteeing its wholesome
ness.
1t Is a true saying that where there
Is smoke there must be fire. There
was undoubtedly some basis, in some
of the packing houses at least, for the
sensational statements that were made
concerning the conditions in the Chi
cago packing houses. But that the
horrors were depicted in colors q
hundred times more than occasion de-
manded. is equally true. Whatever
the sanitary conditions might have
been three months ago. it is certain
that today the packing houses are as
clean and sanitary in every particular
as 1t is possible to make them. The
lavatories and CLOSETS. and in fact
the whole plumbing equipment is of
the most modern up-to-date construc-
ton. The walls and ceilings of all the
rooms are as clean as whitewash and
paint will make them. Wherever it
has been possible to do SO. cement and
asphalt have been substituted for
boards on the floors and zinc-lined
carts are in evidence everywhere.
But wooden vehicles are of course
used In many parts of the establish
ments for carrying out livers, hides
and offal and these carts are not at
tractive to look upon nor can they be.
AS to the appearance of the employees
themselves the uniform of the pig
sticker is blOOd-stained within ten
minutes after he begins his daily la
Dor and the man who slaughters the
OK does not wear Tuxedo coat. But
the girls in all the sausage rooms and
in the canning department of every
establishment are decked out in white
aprons over Bingham dresses which
are washed every day in laundries
supplied for the purpose. The same
care is taken of the clothing of the
men in these departments. and on the
whole, 1t would be difficult to suggest
where changes for the better in the
way of cleanliness could be made.
Even the floors in these rooms are
sprinkled with salt each morning in
order to prevent the decomposition
of any particles of meat which may
fall upon them.
During the past four weeks, repre-
sentatives OF many foreign govern
ments have made official inspections of
the Chicago plants. Lieutenant Col
onel Hobbs of the British army was
commissioned by his government to
examine for the subsistence depart
ment of the British army, the existing
conditions in the Chicago packing
houses. Mr.. Jacobsen was there on
like mission from Norway. The
Japanese consul stationed in Chicago
and in fact the entire consular body,
there has been engaged in similar
investigation and without exception,
these officials have reported to their
respective governments that Ameri-
can meat food products are wholesome,
sound, healthful and packed under
sanitary conditions which make them
in every respect desirable The big
Six" which really consists of seven
firms. namely: Morris e. Co.. the
Oldest in the business, Swift &
Co., Armour & Co., Swartz-
schild & Sulsberger, the Cudahy COM
pany mot represented in Chicago) the
National Packing company and Libbey.
McNeill & Libbey, do forty-five per
cent of the slaughtering and packing
business in the United States. Every
one of these firms, with the exception
of Swift & Co.. who can no goods
has suffered falling off of seventy
five to ninety per cent in its foreign
trade during the past three months
Few Of them are packing any canned