New-York tribune., 1906-06-05

,ack,np houses together with afidavits and doc
umentary evidence. We're offered us rom nu-
rneroas sources Most Of these were rejected as
being far from proving the facts alleged ana as
being beyond the possibility OF reiiflcauon Ds
us We have made no statement as a @ lact IN lne ,
renort here presented that was rot verified by
our personal examination Certain matters
which we unable TO verify while IN chlcaso
are s;fll under investigation. The foiiowins is
Therefore submitted as a partial report touching
r,non those practices ana conditions whlch we
found most common and not confined TO single
to,,ss or class of houses more detailed re-
5ort would contain many specific instances OF
defects found in particular houses
I-coNDITIoN OF THE YARDS
taasors entering the buildings noted the
condition Of the yards themselves, as SHOWN IN
rhe pavement, pens, Viaducts ana platforms.
THE pavement is mostly of brick the bricks laid
with deep grooves between them which inevita-
blv dll with manure and refuse. such pavement
cannot be properly cleaned and is Shiny and
rnaloderOus when wet. yielding clouds OF III
s,neiljne dust when dry. The pens are generally
are paved and covered The viaducts and plat
forms are of wood. Calves, sheep and hogs that
have died en- route thrown out upon the
platforms where cars are unlosded on a sin
gle 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-BUILDINGs.
MsteriaI-The interior finish of most of the
buildings is of wood; the partition walls sup
ports and rafters are of wood uncovered by plas-
is OF brick or cement. but usually of wood. In
many OF the rooms where water is used freely
the floors soaked and Shiny.
Lientine.-The buildings have been construct
ed with little regard 20 either light or Nentila-
ton. The workrooms, as a rule are very poorly
lighted. few rooms at the top of the build
ings are well lighted because they cannot escape
the light. but most OF the rooms are so dark as
10 make artificial light necessary at all times
Many inside rooms where food is prepared are
without windows deprived Of sunlight and With
out direct communication with the outside air
They may be best described as vaults in which
The air rarely changes. Other rooms which open
10 the outer air are so large the windows so
clouded by dirt, and the walls and ceilings so
dark and diney that natural light only penetrates
- To 80 feet from the windows thus making
artificial light i'm portions OF even these outside
rooms necessary. These dark and dingy rooms
are naturally not kept suitably clean.
kentilstion.-Systematic ventilation Of the
Norkrooms is not found in any of the establish
fans mitigate the sitting air. but usually the
workers toll without relief in humid atmOs-
phere heavy with The odOrs of rotten wood, de-
cayed meats. sinking offal and entrails.
Equipment-Tne work tables upon which the
meat is handled the floor carts on which IL is
carried about. and the tubs and other recepta-
Cles into which II is thrown generally of
wood. In all the places visited but a single por-
celain lined receptacle seen. Tables COW
erred with sheet iron. iron carts and iron tubs
are being introduced into the better establish
ments. but establishment visited has yet
abandoned the extensive use of wooden tables
3no wooden recePtacles. These wooden recep-
tacles are frequently found water soaked only
nalt cleansed, and with meat scraps and grease
accumulations adhering TO their sides and col
lectlng dirt This is largely true of meat racks
and meat conveyors of every sort, which were in
nearly al cases inadequately cleansed. and
grease and meat scraps were found adhering to
iheIn. even after they had been washed and re-
turned 10 service
sanitary convenienoes-Notfling shows more
strkinely the general Indifference 10 matters If
cleanliness and sanitation than do the privies
Tor both men and women. The prevailing type
j. hiaae ny cutting OF section Of the workroom
q in
Few feet of the ceiling These privies usually
Nentllaie into the WOrkrOOm though a few are
round with a window opening into the outer air.
Many are located in the inside corners Of the
worhrooms and thus have outside opening
Whatever They are furnished with a row of
seats generally without SIDE partitions
These rOoms are sometimes used as cloa lroOus
hy the employees. Lunch rooms constructed in
7he same manner. by boarding off a section Of
The workroom, often adjoin the privies. the odors
OF which add TO the generally unsantary state
Of the atmosphere.
Ahominahle the above named conditions
are, the one that affects most directly and seri-
ously the cleanliness Of the food products is the
frequent absence OF any lavatory provisions in
the plNles washing sinks either not fur
nlslleo al aH or are small and dirty Neither
are towels. soap or toilet paper provided Men
and women return directly from these nlaces 10
plunge their unwashed hands into the meat 70 be
converted into such food products as sausaees
dneq beer and other compounds Some of the
pnVies arc situated al long distance from the
workroons. and men relieve themselves on the
killing floors in q corner of the gyorIrooros
t1ehcf. m some cases, the fumes Of the urine
swell the sum Of nauseating odors arising from
The dirty. blood soaked rOttIng wooden floors
fruitful culture beds for the disease germs Of
men and animals
New buiidinss.-It is stated that many Of the
hnsanitaly conditions are due 10 the fact that
these buildings are old and have been built by
plecemeal and thai in the newer buildings being
erected from time 10 time. the defects OF the
earlier structures being remedied This
contention IS not borne out by the facts. One of
the large plants erected within recent wears has
most of the defects OF the older buildings II is
true that three large model buildings have been
erected but one is an office building. while the
"inef Two contain only cooling, storing and sales
rooms No model building for the preparation
Of food products has been built in the stockyards
of chiCago.
IH-A MODEL SLAUGHTERHOUSE IN con-
TRAST
IN impressive contrast to the conditions that
We saw in the StOckyards of Chicago is an estab-
. lshment that MIR. Reynolds visited in New York
City II well merits description in those par
Uculars m which 1t is vastly superior 10 similar
concerns i'm Chicago The two upper floors used
for cattle pens are paved with well laid bricks
and cement. with side walls Of brick the top
fieor being covered protect the cattle from the
weather The killing floor is paved with blue
stone, sloping toward well arranged drains. and
has large airshaft for special Ventilat tiOn and
abundant windows. The ceiling and upper side
walls are of hard cement, with steel rosSbeamS
and cement faced steel supports The lower side
walls are covered with white porcelain brick
When the slaughtering Of each day is finished
water is turned on. and In not more than fifteen
minutes the room is 50 thoroughly cleansed that
all perceptible odors and traces OF the work are
removed.
Other rooms such as those for cooling and
storage. are Of similar construction 10 the kill
ing floor. White porcelain lined bricks and
curved tiles join floors and side walls. that no
corners may retain dirt and refuse. Ventilation
is everywhere excellent and light abundant both