Crittenden press. [volume] (Marion, Ky.) 1879-1907, 1906-06-14
TEXT OF REPORT
ON STOCKYARDS
Conditions Are ReVolting-Dirt Every
"hcre- Treatment OF Employees
SANITARY Anair~.

Tho report ~ J. r. Reynolds and
Commissioner Neil 10 the president
ou condition. In the Chicago stock.
'1r's b. as follows
Tho President As directed hy YOU.
We investigated the conditions n the
principal establishment. in Chicago
ENGAGED 10 the slaughter of cattle.
s.~p aud hogs ana ln thc preparation
of dressed meat and meat food prod
u,'~. Two AMI half weeks were
spent iu the Investigation In Chicago
"ud during ihis time We went through
th' principal packing houses In the
sfprA'Hrds district. together with
few ~ thc smaller ones \ day was
spent hy Mr. Reynolds In New York
citA in The invest CATION ~ several az
~ leading slaughter houses During
our Investigation statements ~ condi
ions and practices in the packing
houses together with afidavits and
documentary evidence. were offered us
from numerous sources. Most of these
W." rcicctrd aS being FAR from prov
ING the facts alleged and as hang
ho,oud the possibility ~ Vegihcation
hv u~ We have made no statement ~
O. fl.i boo the report here presented that
WIS mot verified hy our personal eN
uWrIlun Certain matters which We
were unable 20 verb, while IN Chicago
Hrc sin under invest CATION The FOL
lowing is therefor >uhmittc, ~ a par
'.nl report touching upon those prac-
i.r,~ aud conditions which We found
mu~i common AMI not confined to
sIucl, house or class - houses \ more
dr' il,,l report would contain many
specific Instances ~ defects found I'm
iculnr rou~cs.
Condition of the Wards.
lcforc entering the buildings We
noted the condition 81 The yards them
solve as shown in The pavement. pens.
,iaducts and platforms The pavement
Is musth ~ brick. thc brick laid with
decp groovcs between them which in
cvtahly an with manure aud refuse.
such pavement can not be- properly
cleaned and Is Shiny and malo,iorous
when wet. Welding clouds NJ ili-smell.
Ing dust when dry. The pens are gen
orally uncovered except those for
sheep. these latter are paved aud Gov
crc.l The viuducis aud platforms are
n wood. calves. sheep and hogs that
have died On route are thrown out
upou The platforms where ears are I'M
loaded ON q single platform on one
occasion we counted fifteen dead hogs.
excuse given FOR delay in moving was
that 81 often heard the expense
The interior finish ~ most OF the
buildings is 81 wood; the partition
wallis. supports and rafters are of wood
uncovered 10y plaster or cement. The
flooring IN some Instances is of brick
or cement. hut usually of wood In
many Of The rooms where water Is
used freely the floors are soaked and
Shiny.
1ir buildings have hccn constructed
with little regard To either light ar
ventilation. The worbrooms, rs u rule,
are very poorly lighted. \ few rooms
M the top of the buildings are well
lighted because they can not escape the
light. hut most of the rooms are So
dark as To make artificial light ncces
snrv nj ull times. Many inside rooms
where food is prepared are without
windows. deprived Of sunlight ami
without direct communication with the
outside air. They may he best de
verified as vaults in which the air
rarely changes. other rooms which
open To the outer air are so large. the
windows 30 Clouded by dirt. and the
walls and ceilings so dark and dingy
that natural light only penetrates
twenty or thirty feet from the win