The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1895-04-19
THE INSPECTION OF MEATS.

One of the important fields which
ought to be covered by legislation in
this state, is that of meat inspector.
One bill for that purpose has been
killed. This bill provided for the
proper inspection of meat throughout
the state. The objection which was
brought against it was that it would
prove too expensive for the small
towns and villages and work to the
detriment of the consumer. There is
now. we believe, bill pending before
the house which provides for the in
spection of meat in cities of 10000 and
over. and which will apply TO only st.
Paul. Minneapolis and Duluth. The
objections which were brought against
the former bill cannot be brought
against this one, and it ought to be-
come a law. Minnesota is about the
only state in the union which has not
a stringent law regarding the proper
inspection of meat, and it is a shame
and disgrace that matters are allowed
to run so loosely in this respect.
During the months commencing
with August and continuing through
the fall, upwards Of 100000 head OF
cattle from the ranges west pass
through the twin cities on their way
to Chicago. The stock yards of those
cities are used by the. shippers for the
purpose of rest and feed There are
always a large number OF animals
which are bruised and crippled which
are not reloaded, but which are
slaughtered there and enter into the
local consumption. A large per cent
of these animals are diseased and I'M
fit for human food, but there is no
law providing for their inspection, or
to prevent their being placed upon
the market, and SO any animal that
can walk can be slaughtered and sold
for food. What is wanted is a strict
law for state inspection, which will
prevent all possibility of diseased
meats of any kind being sold to the
people.
There is no question but that the
bill covering the three largest cities
of the state should become law, and
the legislature will be grossly negli-
gent to the best interests of the state
if it does not make some such provis-
ion. And the more the FREE PRESS
looks into the matter the more firmly
convinced it is that the bill which ap-
piled to the cities and towns of the en-
tire state should have become a law.
The public health should be of the
greatest vital Importance to all, and
nowhere is there greater chance for
danger thereto to creep in, than
through the consumption of meat.
Every animal which is slaughtered to
be offered for sale, should be first in
spected, and every effort possible
taken to protect the public from any
chance of diseased meat entering
their homes.
Again, in the interest Of the pack
ing industry OF TINS state, Lnere SnOulu
be some measure of this kind. That
industry is not as yet very extensive
one, but there is no reason, as stock
raising progresses, why it should not
become one of the most important of
the northwest, but it's success will de-
pend largely upon the care which is
taken to inspect the animals which
are slaughtered, and rigidly exclude
all which are in any way diseased.
No greater injury can come to this
growing industry than to have our
state, in the absence of proper legisla-
tion, made the dumping ground of
diseased animals intended for the
Claupbtpr hOuSa