The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1872-07-27
lI.:...Ir,n,hI,,. .;IiI,,us:.l,tar.Isonse.

His opportunities of seeing the good ELECTS
O.! the d5attoir In Paris enable him to speak
and entities his views to weight.
The dbatto,r, as he says, was the concep-
ton of the great NAPOLEON, who was as DIS
tincuished for his talent for government, for
promoting in peace the welfare and comfort
of society. as he was In the direction OF war
and the command of great armies. Inc
world owes his memory debt of Srntltute
for the legacy he has left it in the dtahoar.
II is so valuable as protector of society
from disease and from nuisance that the won
der is it is not in operation in every city
whose population exceeds five thousand:
We invite the public attention to the rom
munication of s.J.," and Ne trust that the
people and the public officers will give TO the
proposition the most deliberate consldera-
ton. and that it will not be so long rs de-
caGe, as J. fears, before we have an G5dttoT:
Mr.. Editor,-Your recent article on inc
subject of public slau3hter-hollse was duly
appreciated by at least one OF your readers,
and hope it received the serious attention
and favorable consideration Of all. We Ill
Richmond are too slow iii tho march OF i'm
pro, crncnt. and toe reluctant to abandon OLD
ideas ui,d customs. to justify the hope that
public opinion will soon, even within The
next decade, demand the important step
which you advocate. \ community when
submits without murmur to The pollution
of the atmosphere by otter cfcnstrc ana
norious odors daily and nightly arising III
the very heart OF the city, will not be likely
to rebel very speedily or vigorously against
the perfume Of slaughterhouscs and Their
appulrtem,nccS in the outskirts: still 1t l.
right TO keep public attention awake on ths
subject. especially when the expected growth
Of population renders more than ever ln'por-
tant the removal of all sources OF atmoS-
pllcrc mpurity, and the abatement of every
nuisance which may interfere with the cX-
pansicn Of the city in the direction OF any OF
its suburbs.
The suppression of the numerous slau.l-
tcr-ho,l<cs which were formerly scattered
around and in the midst Of Paris, filing ID"
air with their plltrld c&halationS, and The
construction Of five dbdtiolrS or pubhc
sIauclllcr-houScs in the environs, in which
all Saughtcring for the markets was required
to lie conducted. and in which cleanliness
pIetc arrangements and enforced hy the
most rigid inspection and police, attest the
enlightened views and practical wisdom CT
the great Napoleon. These five establish
mcnt; lave now been superseded by a sin
Gle one. i'll the quarter of La Nillcttc, en-
bracing al area of SiNty-scven acres, ii!
covered with buildings, in which the opera
tons of Strengthening. melting the Fat, pre-
pairing the hides, and disposn- Of all refuse.
are conducted. The construction of the
buildings 1.-THE floors being CT stone, the sup
ply of water, and the arrangements for drain
age and ventilation, are such that no disgust
iug sights or smells offend the senses oi the
visitor. although the number of animals
slaughtered weekly amounts on the average
TO 1000 oxen, 800 cows. 1000 calves, and
10000 sheep.
This wise example has not yet been im-
tatcd by any American city, though New
York, rs YOU say. can boast of some Saugli-
tcr-hollscs which arc greatly to her credit.
\ visitor says of one, "a hog-kilinS place,
on an enormous scale, we found odOrlcss ana
! Scr,pulously clean. Scren hnj,drCd hogs hdd
bcem ktited there he prcCicoS night. ant not
u trace IF bIood or Qfnt rcn,dined.' II prl-
vatc slaughlcr-Iiou,,'s could always show
such a "clcau lll.' there would be no need
of Il change Of system.
But | am happy TO inform You that there
is one American city which ttIU soon hnrr
all GhdtiOH on the French plan. with every
Improvement which French experience and
modern science can suggest. 1t Is Boston
that takes The lead in this important reform,
and this i one OF the carly fruits of the cStal-
lShment of Il State Board of Health III Mas
.achilsrtts. This Board drew the attention
of the LEGISLATURE f3rcihIy to the evils and
dangers OF the old system the revolving filth
and tainted air 10y which most of The"
~Iuliw.ltcr-holI>cS were surrounded; the nol-
some and unWholpSOnc stencil cNllalcd from
hrn"-boiling and fat-mclling establishments ::
the disgusting practice Of feeding hogs on
hail-pulrid blood and otial 10 make pork for
the markets /; the danger TO the community
from the constant liability, in the ahsCnrc OF
any authorized Inspection. to have the flesh
of diseased u,tntdiS dressed and sold Tor
food, dc. And they insisted upon Il pro-
perry constructed and properly regulated
utdit0ir ~ the best and only effective rem
edy fer these cyils-;in establishment in
which the whole business of Strengthening for
the city of Boston could be concentrated
under proper supervision and inspection.
and in which every part OF the animals could
be utilized OH the spot in the most ceanly
and economical manner. without the stencil
Of putTeihction.
The Legislature responded to this recon-
mendaton by incorporating the Butchers
Strengthening and Melting Association with
ample capital, and with authority to hold the
| necessary land and erect the necessary build
| ings for conducting the various operations
connected with their busincss-the whole TO
| be subject to supervision and regulation 10y
the State Board of Health. After much op.
position on the part of the butchers, and the
| application of Il little persuasion in the form
| of suppression Of some Of their offensive
| establishments, the charter was accepted by
| them, and Il spacious site selected Oh the
| bank OF Charles river. in Il position most
| favorable for water supply and drainage, and
near the t3rmini Of the two railroads by
| which the chief supplies of cattle are re-
ccived. Here, before long, will the great public
or Joint stock slaughtcr-house be i'll opera
| ton. and the scattered sources of offence
will have disappeared. "Ilcrc will centre
| in the future" says the recent annual re-
port of the State Board of Health, "a bust
hess of great magnitude, whose influence Oh
the public health and welfare cannot fail to
be good where it will be shown, lis we be-
licve, that slaughtering can be done without
offence TO any one; where animals can be
readily inspected before being killed, and the
purchaser thus guaranteed wholesome meat;
where the fats and the hides can be imme-
diately treated by safe methods, and where
all animal refuse can be converted on the
spot. while yet fresh aud unt,intcd, into Il
fertilizer free from offensive smell, and OF
great commercial value"
SEnntb tho tenn ever hr mlIp a rr1l l.
ize similar advantages tor Richmond, the site
recommended 10y the Dispatch can hardly be
approved Is the most fit for the purposes OF
- l.. L.