Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-04-12
Union sTOCK-YARD.

As we understand the matter, all OF the
ARRANGEMENTS now being made here Tor
OBTAINING cattle from infected districts
until they can be inspected by the United
States quarantine officers are but tempo
rary.
The Southern Railway Company is ar
ranging a yard on It's properly near
Mayo's bridge, but we do not imagine
that this Is TO be a permanency. We
should think that that property would be
too valuable to be put to such use. ana
we doubt II 1t would be to the best interest
OF the public to have a cattle-yard located
at that point.
The fact is. II is time for Richmond TO
be thinking about establishing a union
stock-yard. Most other cities OF our size
have found It 10 their interest TO have
such yards, and now that inspections OF
various descriptions have come into vogue
these yards are necessities almost.
Inspection OF cattle is new thing with
us, but Richmond's experience will doubt
less be the same as that OF other cities,
yiz.-that inspection of one sort besets
inspection Of another sort in the interest
Of the general public.
So we think that we should keep In
view the desirability Of establishing a
union cattle-yard here. Our people are
slow to adopt new-fangled ideas. but there
are so many arguments In favor OF
union stock or cattle-yard, we cannot but
believe public sentiment will soon begin to
set steadily in that direction.
once or twice before suggestions OF this
character have been made and have failed
failed because our people were not con-
WINGED of the necessity for such yard. and
because 1t was suspected by many that
the schemes advanced were intended TO
profit private persons rather than the gen.
eral public. A scheme 10 succeed must
bear upon it's face authenticity as a meas
ure for the public veal not for individual
gain.
Certainly. II Richmond hopes to prosper,
II must give to the cattle trade as much
attention and as great facilities as other
cities OF our size do, and II we wish TO
have as good beef offered in our city
markets as is offered In other markets.
we must have here such inspections and
rules as prevail elsewhere.
OF suitable sites for union cattle-yard
there are doubtless enough. The prime
requisite OF such a site Is that II shall be
accessible to the various railroads center
ing here The yard ought not only to be
convenient IN the railroads. but to the
city. Such a great business enterprise
as this might be regarded as a very de-
sirabie acquisition to some neighborhoods;
while It might be regarded as q great
nuisance in other neighborhoods. But this
Il not a matter that need distract our
attention Just now. Later on this ques-
ton may come up.
The present question for our community
20 consider Is whether we are to have
cattle-yards scattered here. there. and
everywhere, when we would better bring
them together, and put them under such
uniform rules and regulations as obtain
In other cities.
We would not suggest precipitate action
IN this matter, but We do urge our peo-
pls TO begin thinking the question over.
In view of the United States laws. the
Southern Railway Company has seen the
necessity of providing itself with a cattle
ward here, and each other company with a
terminus here. WILL we suppose. be under
the same necessity. But. instead OF having
these scattered railroad yards. and sew