Waterbury evening Democrat., 1906-06-06

the tubs and other receptacles into which 1t Is thrown are generally of
 wood. In all the places visited but q
 single porcelain lined receptacle was
 seen. Tables covered with sheet iron, | iron carts and iron tubs are being in- l troduced into the better blishments, but no establishment visited has as yet
 abandoned the extensive use of wood en tables and wooden receptacles.
 These wooden receptacles are frequent ly found water soaked, only half
 cleansed and with meat scraps and grease accumulattons 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 grease and meat scraps were found adhering to them even after they had been washed and returned to service. Sanitary Conveniences. Nothing
 shows more strikingly the general in
 difference to matters of cleanliness
 and sanitation than do the privies for both men and women. The prevailing type is made by cutting of section
 of the workroom by thin wooden
 partition rising to within a few feet of
 the ceiling. These privies usually ven
 tilate into the workroom, though
 few are found with window opening
 into the outer air. Many are located
 in the inside corners of the workrooms,
 and thus have no outside opening what ever They are furnished with row
 of seats, generally without even side partitions. These rooms are some
 times used as cloakrooms by the em- ployees. Lunch rooms constructed in
 me same manner. by boarding of a
 section of the workroom, often adjoin , the privies, tLe odors of which add to
 the generally insanitary state of the
 atmosphere.
 Abominable as the above named con
 ditions are, the one that affects most
 directly and seriously the cleanliness
 of the food products Is the frequent
 absence of any lavatory provisions in the privies. Washing sinks are either
 not furnished at all or are small and dirty. Neither are towels, soap nor toilet paper provided. Men and wom- en return directly from these places to plunge their unwashed hands into the meat to be converted Into such food products as sausages, dried beef and other compounds. Some of the privies are situated at long distance from the workrooms, and men relieve them selves on the killing floors or in corner of the workrooms; hence in some cases the fumes of the urine swell the sum of nauseating odors aris- ing from the dirty, blood soaked, rot ting floors, fruitful culture beds for the disease germs of men and animals.
 New Buildings. It is stated that many of the insanitary conditions are due to the fact that these buildings are old and have been built by piecemeal and that in the newer buildings being erected from time to time the defects of the earlier structures are being rem edied. This contention Is not borne out by the facts. One of the large plants erected within recent years has most of the defects of the older build ings. It is true that three large model buildings have been erected, but one is an office building. while the other two contain only cooling, storage and sales rpoms. No model building for the preparation Of food products has been built in the stockyards of Chicago.
 III.-A Model Slaughter House Tn Con-
 trast With Those of Chicago.
 In impressive contrast to the condi- tions that we saw in the stockyards of Chicago Is an establishment that Mir. Reynolds visited in New York city. It well merits description in those particulars in which 1t is vastly su- perior to similar concerns in Chicago. The two upper floors used for cattle pens are paved with we'll laid bricks and cement, with side walls of brick. the top floor being covered to protect the cattle from the weather. The kill ing floor is paved with bluestone, slop- ing toward well arranged drains, and has a large air shaft for special ven tilation and abundant windows. The ceiling and upper side walls are of hard cement. with steel cross beams and cement faced steel supports. The lower side walls are covered with white porcelain brick. When the slaughter ing of each day Is finished water is turned on. and in not more than fif- teen minutes the room is so thoroughly clesnsed that all perceptible odors and traces of the work are removed.
 Other rooms, such as those for cool | ing and storage. are of similar con struction to the killing floor. White porcelain lined bricks and curved tiles join floors and side walls that no cor ners may retain dirt and refuse. Ven tilation Is everywhere excellent and light abundant. both these matters having evidently received careful con sideration in planning the building. ! The privies contain separate sections with self flushing bowls. white porce- lain lined wash basins. shower baths and mirrors. Towels and toilet paper are provided. and everything Is kept clean. The effect of all these excel lencies of construction and arrange ment is evident in promoting care of the products and in eievatins the mor- als of the workers.
 The same principles of sanitation and the same care of the health and clean illness of the workers would revolution Ize the stockyarsis of Chicago. and the