The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1924-04-08

| NNNS NOCu IIldIly 1uVeSLlj
walls IN the past. Let us see
what the conditions of the
homes of these stockyards
workers were found to be by
the latest investigator.
One investigator, after looking
over the homes of the stocSvsrds
workers, refused to go on with the
investigation because, 1.-THE appear
lance OF the district showed it to be
so neglected and conditions were, in
general, supposed to be so extra
ordinary that it was regarded as un-
J suitable for purposes of intensive in
, vestigation. The unpayed streets
lack of sidewalks, indescribable ac-
foundations of filth and rubbish. to-
gether with the absence of sewerage.
made the outside sanitary conditions
as bad as any in the world"
( Dominated by Slaughter-Houses.
The district remains an extra
ordinary one," says the report of the
latest investigation. "No other
neighborhood in this, or perhaps, any
other city, is dominated by a single
industry of so offensive a character.
Large numbers Of live animals. as
sembled from all sections of the
country, processes of Strengthening
and packing, the disposition of Of
fenslve animal waste, constitute an
almost unparalleled nuisance. South
Chicago lies under the smoke sha-
dows of the steel mills, and in those
mills are dangers to life and limb.
binding glare from the furnaces.
meretricious exposure and terrible
peril; but the influence upon the
neighborhood is rather terrifying
than degrading"
Death and DisinteRration.
In the stockyards, on the other
hand, are mingled the cries of the
animals awaiting slaughter, the pres
ence. of uncared for waste, the SIGHT
of blood, the carcasses naked of flesh |
and skin, the suggestion of death and |
dlsintegration-all of which must re- |
act in demoralizing way not only
upon the character of the people, but |
the conditions under which they live"
When an attempt was made in |
1906 to apply modern sanitary stan
dards to the yards, provisions for
maintaining cleanliness and decency
were found to be so shockingly made |
quate that employment there was be- |,
lieved to have a demoralizing infu- |
ence on the men and women en-
ployed.
Shiny Malodorous Streets.
The Niell-Reynolds Report, little
later, called attention to the "unsanl-
tary conditions prevailing at the
yards, the use of paving material
which would uot be properly cleansed, |
and were Shiny and malodorous when
wet, yielding clouds of ill-smelling
dust when dry"
"The pens are neglected." the re-
port states" as are the viaducts over
which the animals pass. The rooms I
in which the slaughtering is done are
dark, unclean, ill-ventilated. There
are vaults in which the air is rarely
changed, windows clouded by dirt,
walls and ceilings so dark and dingy
that natural light pentrates only
twenty feet, and a lack of sanitary
arrangements, with the consequent
odors ED fumes. There = no provi-
sions for ordinary decencies in the
way of toilet Accommodations for the |
workers"
Surroundings Blight Workers.
We learn from the most recent in
vestigator that "This territory back
of the yards is unfortunate in its
blighted surroundings" The records
of the United Charities show that a
large proportion of the applicants for
relief come from this territory, and I
the very poor are usually found liv-
ing in the most unsanitary houses.
More Death and Disease.
There is mere tuberculosis here
than any other part of the city. A
map published by the commissioner of
health shows that large numbers of
babies die here every year, and tuber-
culosis, high infant mortality, power
ty, and bad housing and unsanitary
conditions are generally found to-
gether. In addition. as we learn from
the report of Miss Breckenridge and
Miss Abbott, of the University Of
Chicago. The Lithuanian and Polish
families in this neighborhood take
large numbers of dodgers, which al
most invariably leads to violation of
the law against overcrowdiDg.
"The homes of this district have
always been workmen's homes" says
the above mentioned report. "And
they are dominated by the packing