The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1906-06-08

III NHlCdSO, ana during this tima W,
Went through the principal pockne
houses in the stockyards district 70
gether with a few of the smaller ones
day was spent by Mr.. REYNOLDS ir
New York city in the Investigation nj
several of its leading slaughter houses
during our investigation statements ot
conditions and practices in the nockino
houses, together with aflidavitS and
documentary evidence, were offered Ms
from numerous sources. Most of these
were rejected as being far from nrov.
ing the facts alleged and as being no.
yohd the possibility of veritication Inv
US. we nave made no statement as \
Iact Ill the report here presented ;b,t
was not verified by our personal av.
animation. Certain matters which we
were unable to verify while i'm Cbicapo
are still under investigation. The fol
lowing is therefore submitted as a
partial report touching upon those proc.
tees and conditions which we found
most common and not confined 70 q
single house or class of houses A moro
detailed report would contain many
speclllc 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
vladucts and platforms. The pavement
IS mostly of brick. the bricks laid with
deep grooves between them. which i'm.
eVltably fill with manure ana refuse
SUCH pavement cannot be properly
cleaned and is Shiny and malodorous
when wet, yielding clouds of i'll smell
ing dust when dry. The pens are GEN
orally uncovered. except those for sheen
These latter are paved and covered
The ViaductS ana platforms are of
wood. Calves, sheep and hogs that
nave died en- route are thrown ont nm
on the platforms where cars are IN.
loaded. On Il 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 50 often heard-the expense.
I.-BuiIdings.
Material-Ihe interior finish OF most
of the buildings is of wood; the parti-
ton wallis supports and raftcrs are of
wood, uncovered by plaster or cement.
The flooring in some instances is of
brick or cement, but usually OF wood. In
many of the rooms where water is used
freely the floors are soaked and Shiny.
Lighting.-Thc buildings have been
constructed with little REGARD 10 either
light or ventilation. The Workrooms,
as Il rule, are very poorly Ii hted. y
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. The 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 dingy
that natural light only penetrates TWEEN
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
I1pally- Innt oil al,
Ventilation. 80 Systematic ventilation
of the workrooms is not found in any
of the establishments we visited In Il
few instances electric fans mitigate
the sitting mir, but usually the work
ers toll without relief in Il humid at
mosphere heavy with the doors of rot
ten wood, decayed meats, sinking Of
fal and entrals.
which the meat is handled, the floor
carts on which it is carried about and
the tubs and other receptacles into
which it is thrown are generally of
wood. In all the places visited but Il
single porcelain lined receptacle was
seen. Tables covered with sheet iron,
iron carts and iron tubs are being in
troduccd 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
" found water soaked, only half
cleansed and with meat scraps and
grease accumulations adhcring to their
sides and collecting dirt. This is large
" true of meat racks and meat con
veyors of every sort, which were III
nearly all cases inadequately cleanSei'
and grease and meat scraps were found
adhering to them even after they had
been washed and returned to sei vice.
Sanitary Conveniences. - Nothing
shows more strkingly the general in
difference TO matters of cleanliness
and sanitation than Go the priyes for
both men and women. The prevailing
type is made by cutting off Il section
of the worlroom by thin wooden
partition rising TO within Il few Feet OF
the ceiling These privies usually ven
tilate into the workroOm, though Il
few are found with 4 window opening
into the outer air. May 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 MS cloalirooms by the en-
rloyees. Lunch rooms constructed in