Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-01-19
A Nuisance.

Whilst public attention Is Deing ure"t
ed TO the business wants and opportuni-
ties of Richmond. let not the matter of
a union stock-yard be overlooked.
For the convenience OF inspection ana
sale such q yard would M "a long-fet
want here. and. moreover. II would re-
move the necessity for driving cattle
through our streets. This last has be-
come q great nuisance in certain neigh
borhoods. 1t is especially so on sun
DAYS. Often. when men. women. ana
children are upon the streets on their
Uav TO religious services, droves of hogs
sheep. and beeves appear, and monopo-
lie. not only the roadway but the SIDE
walks. sometimes putting many persons
In fear for their lives.
This has become an intolerable nui'
sauce I'm some localities. and. though 1t
might be remedied somewhat by munich
pal legislation, we know of no movement
being made TO secure the passage OF sucn
an ordinance.
II these droves must be taken through
the streets on Sundays. let the CRY
Council prescribe the hours during which
the streets may be so used. This viii
in some measure abate the annoyance
complained Of.
The driving of hogs and cattle through
our streets has, however, rot been WITH
out some good results. For one thing
II has deeply impressed many of our
citizens with the need existing here of
rigid inspection of animals brought TO
this market to be slaughtered. Resi-
dents upon the lines OF those streets
which have been selected as the chief
roadways from the depots to the cattle
mems have often been startled by the
sickly appearance of many Of the hogs
and beeves upon arriving here. During
the last summer several OF these animals
died in their tracks in the streets as
they were being driven along. 1T is
shocking TO think that, If they had reach
ed the cattle-pens alive, they might
have been slaughtered. and their car
cases offered for sale upon our markets.
AS a class, our butchers are trustworthy
and honorable men, but there may be
some of them who are careless. There
NAV be others who are unable TO detect
and diagnose the appearance Of disease
in cattle. etc. Animals intended for
slaughter ought not only to be Inspected
for tuberculosis, but for other ailments.
But how this can be successfully done
until we have established a union stock
ward and appointed inspectors does not
clearly appear.
Doubtless it will be said that the times
are not auspicious for the establishment
of a union stock-yard here, and that II
could never be done without the co-ope-
ration of the railroad companies. AS to
the first objection, we may say that tines
may improve before long, and that we
ought to have our plans ready to be put
into operation as soon as favorable
financial tide sets In. AS TO the railroad
companies, we may confidently assert
that If our citizens will do their part,
the companies will do theirs. 1t would
be expected, of course, that the compa-
MES would extend their tracks to the
stock-yard, and this. we suppose, they
would willingly do here, as they nave
done elsewhere.
Tho selection Of site for the stock
ward will not be without its difficulties,
but. if we are determined in our pur-
nose. every obstacle in the way of sue
cess may be removed.
But. pending the establishment OF
union stock-yard why should not the
CITY Council prescribe the hours during
which cattle may be driven through the
streets, particularly on Sundays? If the
Council would do so, measurable relief
would be afforded those people who now
have to submit to a great annoyance,
and whose property is really injured in
value by reason Of the fact that the
neighboring streets are continually used
by drovers.
We trust that this subject will COM
mend itself to the attention of the City
Council. We have not examined the
much-out -of-date book of ordinances to
see if there is any provision of law upon
the subject, but we are justified in be-
leving that there is not. else the police
would have stepped in long ago and
abated the nuisance.