Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1906-06-26

NV9x8pfe consideration ana urge the
enactment Of substantially tho provi-
Hons known. as senate amendment No.
% to the act making appropriations
Tor tho department of agriculture for
he hscal year ending June 30, 1907.
- passed by the senate, this amend
ment being commonly known as the
bsveridEe amendment.
THEODORE ROOSEVELT.
Ths White House, June 4, 1906.
THE REPORT.
Text the Document Submitted by,
the Investigator.
The President: AS directed by you,
we investigated the conditions in the
principal establishments In Chicago In
the slaughter of cattle, sheep and hogs
and the preparation of dressed meat
and meat food products. Two and
half weeks were spent in the invesi-
cation In Chicago, and during this
time we went through the principal.
packing houses in the stock yards dis,
trict, together with few Of the small
er ones. A day was spent by Mr.. Rey-'
holds in New York city in the investi-
cation of several Of its leading slaugh-
ter houses. During our investigation.
statements of conditions and practices
In the packing houses, together with
af1davits and documentary evidence,
were offered us from numerous sources.
Most of these were rejected as being
Tar from proving the facts alleged and
es being beyond the possibility OF veri-
fcation by us. We have made no
statement as fact in the report here
presented that was not verified by
our personal examination. Certain
matters which we were unable to YER
lily while in Chicago are still under
Investigation. The following is there
, fore submitted as partial report
/, touching these practices and conditions
/ which we found most common, and not
confined to single house or class of
houses. A more detailed report would
contain many specific Instances Of de-
fects found in particular houses.
| Condition Of the Yards.
| Before entering the buildings we
noted the condition of the yards them
selves as shown in the pavement,
pens. viaducts and platforms. The
pavement is mostly OF brick, the bricks
laid with deep grooves between them,
which inevitably fill with manure and
refuse. Such pavement cannot be prop
erly cleaned and is Shiny and malodor-
GUS when wet, yielding clouds of ILL
smelling dust when dry. The pens are
generally uncovered except those for
sheep; these latetr are paved and GOV.
ered. The viaducts and platforms are,
IT wood. Calves, sheep aud hogs that
Lave died en- route are thrown out
nron the platforms where cars are un-
loaded. On a single platform on one
occasion we counted Is dead hogs, on
the next ten dead hogs. The only ex-
cuse given for delay in removal was
that SO often heard-the expense,
Buildings.
| Material - The interior finish of
most OF the buildings is OF wood; the
partition walls, supports and rafters
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.-The buildings have been
constructed with little regard to
either light or ventilation The work.
rooms, as rule, are very poorly light
ed. A few rooms at the top OF the
buildings are we'll lighted because they
cannot escape the light, but most of
the rooms are SO dark as to make arti-
| fetal light necessary at times Many
| inside rooms where food Is prepared
ere without windows, deprived of sun
| light and without direct communica-
ton with the outside air. They may
| be best described 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
ana dEngy that natural light only pene-
Eates 20 or 80 feet from the windows.
thus making artificial light In por+
tions of even these outside rooms
necessary. These dark and dingy
rooms are naturally not kept suitably
clean.
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. ventilation
Of the workrooms is not found In
any OF the establishments we visited.
In few instances electric fans miti-
gate the sitting air, but usually the
workers toll without relief in humid
atmosphere heavy with the odors Of
rotten wood, decayed meats, sinking
offal and entrails.
| Equipment.-The work tables upon
which the meat Is handled, the floor
carts on which 1t is carried about,
and the tubs and other receptacles into
which 1t 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 establish,
ments, but no establishment visited
has as yet abandoned the extensive use
OF wooden tables and wooden recep-
tacles. These wooden receptacles are
frequently found water soaked, only
half cleansed, and with meat scraps
and grease accumulations adhering to
their sides, and. collecting dirt. This