Perth Amboy evening news., 1906-06-06

ment Of agriculture for the fiscal year
ending June 80, 1907. as passed by the
senate, this amendment being common
w known as the Beveridge amendment.
THEODORE ROOSEVELT.
The White House, June 4, 1906.
-
The President:
AS directed by you, we investigated
the conditions in the principal estab-
lishments Of 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 principal packing
houses in the stockyards district, to-
gether 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 statements Of
conditions and practices In the packing
houses. together with afidavits and
documentary 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 v~erlication by
us. We have made no statement as q
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 Chicago
are still under investigation. The fol
lowing is therefore submitted as a
partial report touching upon those prac-
tees and conditions which we found
most common and not confined to a
single house or class of houses. A more
detailed report would contain man.
specific instances of defects found In
particular houses.
I.-Condition OF the Yards.
Before entering the buildings we not
ed the condition of the yards them
selves as shown in the pavements, pens.
viaducts and platforms. The pavement
is mostly of brick, the bricks laid with
deep grooves between them, which in
evitably fill with manure and refuse.
Such pavement cannot be properly
cleaned and is Shiny and malodorous
when wet, yielding clouds of Ill smell
ing dust when dry. The pens are gen
orally uncovered, except those for sheep.
These latter are paved and covered.
The viaducts and platforms are of
wood. Calves, sheep and hogs that
have died en- route are thrown out up
on the platforms where cars are un-
loaded. On a 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.
H.-BuiIdings.
Material.-The interior finish of most
of the buildings is of wood; the parti-
ton walls, supports and rafters are of
wood, uncovered by plaster or cement
The flooring in some instances Is of
brick O 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 w~orkrooms,
as a rule, are very poorly lighted, 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 artificial light
necessary at all times. Many inside
rooms where food is prepared are with
out windows, deprived Of sunlight and
without direct communication with the
outside air. They may be best de-
scribed 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 dlngy
that natural light only penetrates twen-
ty or thirty feet from the windows,
thus making artificial light In portions
of even these outside rooms necessary.
These dark and dingy rooms are nat
urally not kept suitably clean.
Ventilation. - Systematic ventilation
of the workrooms Is not found in any
of the esta 1lishments we visited. In a
few instances electric fans mitigate
the sitting air, but usually the work
ers toll without relief In q humid at
m0Spnere neaVy WIFI Tue ouOrS VI TOt-
ten wood, decayed meats, sinking Of
fal and entrails.
Equipment.-The work tables upon
which the meat is handled, the floor
carts on which it is carried about and
the tubs and other r~eceptacles into
which it is thrown are generally Of
wood. In all the places visited but a
single porcelain lined receptacle was
seen. Tables covered with sheet iron,
iron carts and iron tubs are being in
troduced into the better establishments,
but no establishment visited has as yet
abandoned the extensive use Of wood
en- tables and wooden receptacles.
These wooden receptacles are frequent
Iy found water soaked, only half
cIeansed and with meat scraps and
grease accumulatlons adhering to their
sides and collecting dirt. This is large
ly true of meat racks and meat con-
veyors of every sort, which were in
nearly all cases inadequately cleansed,
and orpaSe and meat scraps were found