Note: this film contains images of the treatment of farm animals for the slaughterhouse. This film has triggering images of animals being filmed in tight spaces and will definitely be triggering to those who love animals and care about animal rights.
Produced by Gene K. Walter Productions (15:26), “The March of Progress” presents a look at the livestock industry in the midwest with a focus on the importance of the vast hog and beef cattle stockyards in Chicago, Illinois. The film was funded by Union Stockyard and Transit Company of Chicago (0:10-0:17).
The narrator begins by stating that there was a time when the great midwest was part of a spreading plains, with an aerial shot over a typical farm in the Corn Belt (0:44). The narrator then explains that the once open lands are now closed in and a tractor is shown at (1:02). A harvester and tractor are shown bringing in the corn crop (1:27). Cattle are shown being led onto livestock trucks (1:51). Cowboys rounding up and leading cattle on trail is shown (2:07). At (2:09) a steam locomotive hauls cattle cross country. The advent of the motor truck benefiting livestock movement (2:20). At (2:47) the iconic entranceway to the Union Stock Yard, designed by Burnham and Root in 1879, is seen. A station wagon with the Swift company branding on its side and back is shown (2:51). The vast Chicago livestock yards aerial shot are shown (2:58). The narrator explains why Chicago was the heart of the livestock trading market (3:18). Wooden sided railroad cattle cars are shown (3:33). Refrigerated train cars are shown being loaded with ice (4:06). Butchers are shown processing carcasses of meat (4:20). At (4:50) a new mother holds her newborn on her shoulder, as part of illustrating the post WWII “Baby Boom”. The narrator begins to explain the story of the rise of the livestock markets (4:53). WWII and post-war industrialization — a chemical plant on the East Coast is shown (5:48). Commodities brokers at the Chicago plants are shown negotiating with buyers from the plants on the East Coast (6:31). Livestock express train (7:21). Cattle transportation motor truck, 1950 International Harvester R-160 Cabover, is shown (7:34). Shipments to off-the-market packers currently account for 55-60% of Chicago’s saleable Cattle, 40-44% of sheep, 30-40% of hogs. (7:53-8:03). A truck from the Napoleon O. Bauman shipping company is shown (8:12). Engineers are shown designing a new steel and concrete Hog House (8:43). New rail shipping facilities are shown being planned (9:04). The construction of Chicago’s new sales and holding pins is shown (9:43). Rounded posts are used to lessen chances of bruising (9:55). A scale house is shown, with a Fairbanks Morse industrial scale being adjusted and checked (11:14). The scales are the farmers’ cash register (11:28). The Market’s truck wash facility is shown (11:39). Market management opened a completely new parking area, the parking area is then shown (12:00-24). A waiting room and comfort station for visitors is shown in the main cattle alley (12:29). A shelter house, which serves as waiting rooms for visiting farmers and field offices is shown (12:41). Modern lounge facilities inside the building are shown (12:52). A woman reads The Post magazine. (13:28) aerial shots of freeway interchange. Film begins its review and conclusion (13:13-15:17).
The Union Stock Yard & Transit Co., or The Yards, was the meatpacking district in Chicago for more than a century, starting during the Civil War and extending into the 1970s. The industrial area peaked in 1924, when more meat was processed in Chicago than in any other place in the world. After decades of decline, during which time the meatpacking industry became more and more decentralized, The Yards closed at midnight on Friday, July 30, 1971. The iconic Union Stock Yard Gate, located on Exchange Avenue at Peoria Street, is the only significant structural element of the yards to survive. It was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1981.
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