THE LARGEST LIVE STOCK MARKET.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1654, 1 November 1887, Page 2

THE LARGEST LIVE STOCK MARKET.

The following information respecting the immense business of the city of Chicago, which has the largest live stock market in the world, has been compiled by Mr Forties, :of the Victorian Railways Department, who recently returned from a tour through Canada, and The Union' Stppkyards, Chicago', cover 350 acres of ground.; In 3300 pens, 1800 of which are covered, and 1500 open* provision is made for the- handling at one time of 20,000 r head : of cattle, 10;000 sheep, 150,000 hogs; and 1500 horses. The yards contain 20 of street, 20 miles of water-troughs, 50 miles of feeding-troughs, and 43 miles of water and drainage pipes. Five artesian wells, having an average depth of 1230 feet, afford an abundant \ supply of water. 'Jhereare 87- miles of railroad tracks, including sidings to v 'w the Waterhouses near ; all the'great ■ railway companies have access to this vast market. The entire cost was 4,000,000’ dollars. The meat-packing industry is carried on in* immediate proximity to the stockyard. A single firm, that of Messrs Armour and Or, whose promises Mr Furniss Went over, occupy 70 acres of flooring, and em-

ploy 3,500 hands. This firm in one year slaughtered 1,200,000 hogs, and manufactured every day 50,0001bs of pork and Bologna sausages. This is irrespective of an immense quantity of beef and mutton, canned and otherwise disposed of by them. There is a great number of other firms close to the stockyards who do a very large business. -, The following figures taken from, the annual report of the Union Stockyard Company, show the largest reception in one week : Cattle, | 62,797; calves, 3366; hogs, 300,488 ; sheep, ,28,797; horses, 1125. The largest number of trucks of live stock received in one week was 6964. -The vehicles termed trucks in England and the colonies Are called cars in America. The ordinary cattle and sheep oars are fitted with bogie trucks (eightwheeled). The Burton stock cars are much larger, and hold many more animals than the trucks in use in England, the continent of Europe, or the colonies. Sales of live stock are held at Chicago every day. Cattle, sheep, and hogs are all sold by weight. Fairbanks weighbridges, capable of weighing at one time a considerable number of stock, are used.