| Show report on daok packers ers methods continued front from last issue partial report touching upon these practices and conditions which we found mast common and ana not confined to a single house or class of 0 houses A more detailed report would contain many specific instances of defects found in particular houses THE YARDS before entering the buildings we noted the condition ot of the yards i themselves as shown in the pavement pens viaducts and platforms the pavement Is mostly ot of brick the bricks laid with deep groves between them which inevitably fill 1111 with manure and refuse such pavement cannot be properly cleansed and sa 3 slimy and i malodorous al odorous when yet wet yielding clouds of ill smelling dust when dry the pens are generally uncovered except those for sheep these latter are paved and covered the viaducts and platforms are of wood calves sheep and hogs bogs that have died garoute are thrown out upon lipon the platforms where cars are loaded on a single platform on one occasion we counted fifteen dead hogs bogs the only excuse given for delays in removal was that so often heard the expense FINISH OP OF BUILDINGS material the interior finish of most of the buildings is of wood the partition walls supports and rafters ire 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 f floors are soaked slimy VAULTS IN THE AIR the buildings have been construe es ed with little regard to either light or ventilation the workrooms wor krooms as a rule are very poorly lighted A 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 without windows deprived of sun light and without direct communication with the outside air they ma may b be bet best described describe d n as vaults jn in which the air changes 0 es other rooms which open to the outer air are so large the windows so clouded by dirt the walls and the ceilings so dark and dingy that natural light only penetrates 20 or 30 feet from the windows making artificial light in portions of even these outside rooms necessary NO systematic ventilation systematic ventilation of the work rooms is not found in any of the establishments we visited in 1 a few instances electric fans mitigate the stifling air but usually the workers toil without relief in a humid atmosphere heavy with the odors of rotten wood decayed meats stinking offal and entrails WHERE MEAT IS HANDLED the work tables upon which the meat is handled the floor carts upon which it Is carried about and the tubs and other receptacles into which it Is thrown are usually 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 introduced into the better establishments but no establishment visited has as yet abandoned the extensive use of wooden tables and wooden receptacles these wooden receptacles are frequently found water soaked only halt half cleansed and with meat scraps and grease accumulations adhering f to their sides and collecting flirt dirt this Is laidely largely true of meat racks and meat conveyors of every sort which were in nearly all cases inadequately cleaned and grease and meat scraps were found adhering to them even after they had been washed and returned to service indifference TO cleanliness nothing shows more strikingly the general indifference to matters of continued on page three report on packers methods method sl continued from page two cleanliness and sanitation than do the privies for both men and women the prevailing type is made by cutting off it a section of the workroom ly by a aln thin wooden partition rising to within a few feet of the ceiling cel ling these privies usually ventilate into the workroom though a few are found with a window opening into the outer air many are located in the inside corners of the workrooms wor krooms and thus have no outside opening whatever they are furnished with a row of seats generally without even side partitions these rooms are sometimes used as cloak rooms by the employed emp loyes lunchrooms constructed in the same manner by boarding off a section of the workroom often adjoining the privies the odors of chedd to the generally unsanitary state of the atmosphere NO lavatories abominable as the aboe named named conditions are the one that effects directly and seriously the cleanliness of the food products Is the frequent absence of any lavatory provisions in the privies washing sinks are arc either not furnished at all or are small and dirty neither are towels soap or toilet paper provided men and women return directly from these thesel places to plunge their unwashed hands into the meat to bo be converted into such food products as sausages dried beef and other compounds kt ome of the privates are situated at a long distance from the workrooms wor krooms and men relieve themselves fes es on the hilli killing ng floors or in a corner of the I 1 workrooms wor krooms hence in some I 1 cases the fumes of the urine swell I 1 the sum of nause nauseating alln odors aisi arising aisig g from the dart dirty blood soaked rotting wooden rooms fruitful culture beds tor for the disease germs of men and animals NO MODEL BUILDINGS it is stated that many of the unsanitary conditions are due to the NICE fact that these buildings are old and have been built by piece meal and that in the newer buildings being erected from time to time the detects defects of the earlier structures are being remedied this contention Is not borne out by bv the facts one of the large plants erected within recent years has most of the defects of the older buildings 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 salesrooms sales rooms no model mode building for the preparation of food products has been built in the stockyards stock yards of chicago SOME comparisons in impressive contrast to the conditions that we saw in the stockyards stock yards of chicago Is ian establishment that mr reynolds visited in new york city it well merits a description in those hose particulars in which it Is vastly superior to similar concerns in achl cago ago the two upper floors used for cattle attle are paved with well laid bricks and cement with sidewalks of brick the he top floor being covered to protect the cattle from the he weather the killing floor Is covered with blue stone sloping toward well arranged drains and has a large air shaft for special ventilation and abundant win inflows dows the ceiling and upper side walls are 0 of hard cement with steel cross beams and cement faced steel supports the upper side walls are covered with white porcelain brides bricks when the slaughtering of each day dav is finished water Is turned on and in not more than 15 minutes the room is so thoroughly cleansed that all perceptible cep tible odors and traces of the work are removed other rooms such as those for cooling and storage are of similar construction st to the killing floor white porcelain lined bricks and curved tiles join floors and sidewalks that no corners may retain dirt and refuse ventilation Is everywhere excellent and light abundant both these matters having evidently received careful consideration in planning the buildings the privies contain sep lepir jr ate sections with self hushing flushing bowls white porcelain lined wash basins shower baths and mirrors towels and toilet paper are provided and everything is kept clean the effect of all these excellencies of construction and arran arrangement ement Is evident in promoting the care of the products and in elevating the morals of the workers to be continued |
