The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-08-11
THE SLAUGHTER HOUSES OF NEW YORK.
the Citizens Association to the Board Of
Notwithstanding Suggestions--New Local
ton of the Houses-Pr0minent Butchers
Favorable 10 the Proposal.


Heaith-interesting susges,ons-New Local
ton OF the Houses-PrOminent Butchers
Favorable 10 the PROPOSAL.
CITIZENS ASSOCIATION OF NEW YORK;
August \, 1865
To THE PRESIDENT OF THE METROPOLITAN BOARD or
HEALTH -
DEAR SIR-As the Board OF Health has under con-
sideration the subject Of locating the slaughter
houses in This city, the Citizens Association respect
fully begs leave TO offer few suggestions thereon
mpeled thereto oy the great importance OF the ques
ton and by an earnest desire to see every interest
in the community carefully considered and fully
protected. The whole subject must be fully
investigated, with reference not only 10 the
present interests by which 1t il surrounded,
but also with reference to the great interests
which Will be created by the rapid and un-
paraleled growth OF New York. Are we building
too much upon the future when we say that The pro-
gress OF this city in the past plainly indicates the
development of city whose magnitude Will as far
supass all other great centres Of population AZ the
extent OF territory and the elements wealth lying
| behind it surpass those lying behind other great
cities9 We are to provide for the health and COM
fort Of millions and all the industries carried on
upon Manhattan Island must ultimately be carefully
regulated ana supervised in reference to the welfare
OF our entire population.
The whole subject OF food supplies is Of such vital
Importance to the health and well being of peO-
pie that the Board OF Health will find itself compelled
at distant day to take up the question in its entire
length and breadth.
The intelligent and respectable butchers, who con-
troll the great bulk Of the capital and business, will
find it greatly to their advantage to carefully review
the whole field Of their business operations and to
enter into broad and comprehensive arrangements
to conduct their highly important calling in mar
mony with the great changes that have taken place.
and which Will continue to take place from year to
year, in our city. The Commissioners who were ap-
pointed by the State to lay out island remarked,
in isl1 in their report that 1t probable in half
century that New York would have population OF
| four hundred thousand souls. The Commits
| sioners' views at that time were perhaps no
more below the actual development of our city
than are the views OF many persons at the present
day upon the subject OF the future development OF
New York. With the facts now before rs for guide
1t would be only temporary make-ShiIt and an eX-
pensive and troublesome experiment Tor tne butchers
| to locate their slaughter houses much below the
| banks OF the Harlem river. The growth OF popua-
ton and the rapid GENERALIZATION OF commercial and
social interests would again be pressing for their re-
| mOval II they not located wisely an III harmony
with the great interests OF the community. The cali
ing OF the butcher Is alike honorable ana indspensa
bic as other calings and so long as business Is
| managed in harmony with the most important in
terests OF the community the butchers VIII be re-
| spected and their business viii prosper.
IL must be admitted by all that the time has come
| when radical changes must be made. y temp0riZ-
ing, makeshft policy will only end in dissatisfac-
/
| butchers ana the public. Considerable ingenuity
would now be required to select spot below Har-
lem where population exists 10 he affected by the
| evils OF slaughter houses. The Association has
| learned with surprise that some suggestions have
been made To your Board for the selection OF sites in
the vicinity of Forteth street, the Els and on the
North rivers. These proposed sites are IN The heart
OF our city, near the thickly populated homes OF the
poor and the mansions OF the rich
The driving OF cattle through the streets abat-
toirs on Fortieth street would be quite as obecona-
bic as II has ever been. Whether approaching from
| the north or the south the cattle would have to
travel through several miles OF popuois streets, and
the danger would then be augnented from the cir
| cumstaice that from every quarter Tie cattle In
| droves would converge here. The nuisance VIII be
most ielt IN the best streets and avennes-viz.,
those best paved and where there car tracks.
| The value OF the best property viii thus be greatly
deprecated. II the butchers are located so low
down town they VIII feel as al must ee that it Is
| but temporary and that they viii shortly have to
move again ~ increasing population aud increasing
| mortality IN their ncghborhoOd force them away.
| Ihey VIII, therefore, be unwilling To make any
permanent investments or capital for improvements
| which VIII benefit the public health. Everything
about the premises will be makeshilts sach as are
now found IN many or our slaughter houses. In
| addition to the annoyance and nuisance occasioned
by the slaughter houses themselves uy their
rounding and 10y the driving OF cattle through the
neghborhood, there would he another annoyance
every morning IN the tearing aud rafting or nearly
| three thousand butcher carts on each river coming
to aud going rom the slaughter houses in distribute
the meat 10 every part OF the city.
The association would again impress upon the
Board that It's whole efforts should lend 10 the es,ab
lishment OF the slaugh houses IA SUI locality that
| our city Will be spared the infections above men,
toned. The best location Is to be found Ia the low
lands OF Harlem, on the riversn the neghborhood
OF Tooth street. Here abattOr has iireldy been
erected which could be speedily arranged 10 suit the
whole Strengthening business.
In such q location there would he LITTLE driving
through the Streets because transportation Of cattle
could be effected by the water.
The butchers. 10y using reirigerang cars upon the
Second Avenue Railroad, and reiii.erdting barges
upon the rycr. could distribute Their b,ei through
out the city aud establish convenient depols where
the smaller dealers could be supphed. The difficulty
Of distributing he beef after 10 IL prepared for mar
ket Is very much less than that attending it, dstr
button through slaughter houses scattered through
out the island OF course The Board ~ Health ~
aware that while the saughctinf ~ animals "
| necessarily more or less offensive, yet the
chief injury 10 the heath OF DE community
comes not 50 much from the ,iaughtern2
Itself from The collateral branches uf the trade
carried IN The vicinity Ol the slaughter houses,
such as TAT melting. the Gaming u Vnlrsls anu the
| general Distribution of the OLA, &c. By removing
the slaughter houses 10 locality sufficiently remote
from Tie busy centres OF business ana the crowded
centres OF population we al the same time remove
all these very Objectionable and collateral branches
| OF the trade.
The ASSOCIATION feels assured thai Tie Board ~
Heath will Weigh with the utnOs. care, The whole
| subject. ana trusts that the butchers approaching
the subject IN an enlarged aud enlightened spirit
will cheeTuiiy go forward 10 make tn changes de-
mandcd b. The present aud future Of this com
muniiy.
Respectfully submitted 90 the Boari " Health by
direction of e Executive COMMITTEE VI the Citizens
ASSOCIATION of New York.
RICHARD NJ HENRY. secretary.