New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1866-03-13
THE BOARD OF HEALTH AND
THE BUTCHERS.

Detrimental 10 the FobitC ktehh"
Discussion Before the Bonrd-sh"'
Abattoirs be Erected Manhattan
Island s-An Earnest Debate but NO
Decision.
The butchers of the city held meeting
yesterday afternoon at the office OF the Butchers lue
and Melting Association corner oil th'hSt' anu fHS'
ave- Mr. George Starr was called to the ehair' ana
Mr. Robert G. Cornell appointed Secretary. Upon
taking the chair Mr. Starr said that from converse
tion with the members Of the Metropolitan Board Of
Health he was convinced it determined TO do It's
whole duty protecting the city from all nuisances'
He was in favor of the Board, and would assist IL 10
the best of his ability but he had full faith IN the
butchers of the city, and believed they also wouu give
fhe Board what assistance they could in abating any
thing arising from their business which was deir
mental to the public health lie would assist the
butchers in protecting themselves from uhaWIuI hpuSe
and the Board in abating nuisances ito. -.
On motion OF Mr. JOHN NJ SEAMAN, a COMMITTEE OF
FIVE consisting Of John NJ seaman. Thomas r. Dev1n
Thomas H. Brown William Laor and james APpleDy
was appointed TO meet the Health Commissioners al
their Rooms at p m The Chairman, on notion was
added TO the Committee.
Mr.. JOHN NJ SEAMAN said that slaughter-house was
not necessarily nusance the business Of saughterlng
was necessity and IL also necessary that butchers
shoud have such facilities FOR tranSacng Their business
and exposing their meats foT sale as were extended 70
other branches of trade He hoped these things Woud
be represented TO the Board of Health lie thought
the Board had much power and that in this country
no such arbitrary authority should be vested III any
body II the Board should exercise the power with
which it had been clothed TO its foil extent It would
very soon become nuisance that should be abated
Mr. b. b. DUMvHLR said the difficulty which ne
found greatest was getting o1al to the ohadoek III
was long distance away, and at some places
butchers were compelled to let their ofal remain ior
several days. from inability TO have 1t CARED on III
could be removed daily. the great cause OF complaint
MT WM LABOR found no difficulty whatever in hay-
ing ofal carried away Carts called for 1t daily. and,
Although somewhat offensive. slaughterhOuses We're
not necessarily detrimental 10 public health and did
not engender disease when kept in proper condition
Mr. STARR said he die not consider these questions
a proper subject of discussion at that time and place
He fully agreed with gentlemen who expressed the OPT
MONS; but he knew some Of them were nuisances al
though not worse than many establishments IN when
other trades were carried He believed 1t was the
opinion Of the Board OF Health that all slaughierlng
should be done at abattors. bat thought II would be
difficult TO convince the butchers that II would be TO
their interest He also did not believe that slaughter
houses engendered disease when properly sept; Drt
would nevertheless prefer not TO have one located by
the side of his residence
The meeting was temperate and calm and general
disposition manifested 20 assist the board OF
Health in the duties devolvng upon it, as far as II a
fected their business. The remarks were merely Oh
fered as suggestions to the Committee appointed 10 con
FER with the Board Of Health but no definite insiruc
tions were given. The meeting then Adjourned.
THE MEETING WITH THE HEALTH COMMISSIONERS.
About o'clock the Trial Room in the Metro
politan Police Building was crowded with butchers
Health. The Committee appointed for the purpose OF
having conference with the Board, found meeting
ten times as large that which they represented MI
JACKSON s. SCHULZ, upon taking the chair. was thus
addressed by Mr. GEORGE STARR Chairman OF the
previous meeting and member OF the Committee:
BY an advertisement published in the daily papers
che butchers have been invited 10 meet you this after
noon for purpose of consulting with you concerning
their business aud the manner in which it affects the
public health and they have responded TO the call
am happy to introduce them TO you and you to them
have no doubt you will find them body OF gentlemen
willing to cooperate with and to assist You in the dis.
charge of your duty as President OF the Board OF
Health"
Mr.. Schultz responded somewhat as follows:
"Gentemen-Mr Dalton and myself are here merely
Is agents of the Board for the purpose OF comforting
with you in regard to the manner IN which your bust
ness affects the general health 1t is useless 10 disguise
the aet tlat very soon YOU eath ana NH
bic sentiment both demand that some change should be
made. Shall it be MADE in accordance with good sense,
In kindly spirit and with good feeling viii not
ttate had at first intended, plan IN regard TO the
location 10 which you might 20, and the manner in
which your business might be conducted with less
letrment than TO the public good. prefer that
That should from You. start from this point;
ME business must leave the popuous part OF the city.
That conceded il only remains to discuss the remain
ing questions to when and where il shall go. For
The purpose of keeping minds In the proper channel
have prepared some propositions which may perhaps
De discussed in this connection with advantage TO
Doth.
THAT we may all be thinking and working in the
direction, we venture TO suggest the following
inquiries
Flint; As temporary expedient the premises
general for saughtIng purposes be modified altered
and ceansed BE- uno5ectonabe being neither offensive
aor detrimental 10 health 2
removing from the present densely populated
portions Of the city where should the saugheIng be done
TAird What the advantages and disadvantages Of the
french system Of abaoEs Can such system be adopted
here with ADVANTAGE
Fourth fabstto are to be constructed should they be
built by and placed under the control OF the public authorities
OF should they be built by private enterprise P
Mr.. ROBERT O.. CORNELL arose when President
Schultz had seated himself and inquired whether If it
could be shown satisfactorily that the saughtering
business could be carried on, under proper sanitary
regulations without endangering the public health it
would then be that the business be removed
Mr. SCHULZ replied by saying that the law used the
words " offensive and unhealthy" He did not think II
best that the business should leave the island but
merely the pOpulOus part OF the city Even If it be
proved that is not unhealthy it would be difficult 10
render IL unofensve and the law contemplated sup
pressing everything that had either or both of these
qualities
Mr.. THOMAS H DEVON read some extracts from
paper prepared for the Polytechnic Institute in which
Che abattors Of Paris described and detailed the
history Of similar establishments that had at one time
existed in New.York City. After which the discus.
son became general and TO certain extent informal
We give below some OF the more pertinent suggestions
that offered without adhering strictly TO the words
of the speakers but faithfully portraying the spirit Of
the remarks The utmost latitude was allowed, and
good feeling generally prevailed while all who partici.
pated seemed thoroughly in earnest and undoubt
eddy frank;
Mr.. LALoR-The question we are here to discuss
seems 10 me simply whether slaughter houses
have not the right, in common with other citizens 10
the occupation Of their premises Are they to be
driven ont Of the city for the fault Of few and if So
wby not abolish blacksmthshops alsoi They much
more annoying than sanghter.house:, and tenement.
houses are worse than either
Mr.. SIARR-The butchers as class are in favor Of
keeping the city clean and in healthy condition They
think their business may be conducted in such man.
uera NOT IA ar Naps{v