Milward and Oldershaw

 In the city of Covington, on the opposite side of the river Ohio, is the pork and beef house of Milward and Oldershaw.  This mammoth establishment incloses an area of nearly two acres.  Lofty and well-ventilated cellars lie under the whole house - these are used for bulking the meat; and so excellently adapted are they to the purpose, that spoiled meat is comparatively unknown on these premises.  The first floor, immediately over the cellars, is used for cutting and packing barrel pork.  On a level with this, and of the depth of fifteen feet, are nine watertight brick cisterns, each capable of containing four hundred barrels of pork.  In warm weather the pieces of pork are packed down in these, and immediately covered with pickle.  By this method, there is but slight chance of any of the meat being pronounced "sour," by the various inspectors in the various markets.

 The rendering-house is furnished with large kettles, capable of containing three thousand pounds each, while, for those who prefer to have their lard rendered by steam, two of "Wilson's patent iron tanks" are kept in constant work.

 The slaughter house, which will contain four thousand hogs, is on the upper floor, and the hog pens are on the roof, the hogs being driven up an inclined plane, which may be seen on the north, or right side of the illustration.  The building measures three hundred and sixty feet front, and runs back one hundred and sixty feet.  It is doubtless the largest building for the purpose in the United States, and the proprietors assert with truth, that a more commodious or more excellently arranged establishment can no where be found. 

 They do a large business on heir own account, but their avowed business is pork and beef packing on commission, for the home and foreign markets.  Their brand, of all products, stands deservedly high, and eastern operators, intrusting their orders to them, will have them executed to their entire satisfaction.

 Part of the premises consists of a large singeing establishment, which was erected exclusively for the benefit of our friends on the other side of the Atlantic.  This establishment cut up and packed, last season, eleven thousand, seven hundred and forty six hogs, and more than three thousand beef cattle for the European market.

excerpted from from Charles Cist's Sketches and Statistics of Cincinnati in 1851