The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1899-10-26
INTEREST IN THE
SANITARY LAWS
Dairyman HaSSard Throws Out
Some Valuable Suggestions.
He FAvoRS REGULATIONS
Should be Equitable and Not Made to
Fall Upon Local Dairymen-Be-
lieves Shipped" Products
Should be Included

The all-mportant question of proper sani-
tation in connection with the water and
dairy supply of the city, which has been
taken up by the city officials and. the board
of health, is engaging public attention and
promises to bring good results.
The question is being generally discussed
and the sentiment is unanimously in favor
of strict laws which will insure to the peo-
pie of Birmingham pure water, milk and
other food products.
The dairymen of the district, who are vi
tally interested in the question, are giving
the subject close attention and are throwing
out some valuable suggestions, which are
worthy of deep consideration. 1t has been
pointed out that a number of dairy cattle
are allowed TO run at large in the vicinity
of polluted streams and that the milk from
these cattle is sold to the people of this
city.
A Dairyman Talks
In speaking of the matter yesterday Fl.
Hassard, a well-known dairyman, express
ed the opinion that the investigation should
be extended to the source of supply of
shipped products which are sold in the city,
and that the burden of responsibility should
not be placed entirely upon the shoulders
of the local dairymen.
Mr.. Hassard was very outspoken on the
subject and said:
1 agree with the dairymen that some
thfng should be done to prevent THE sale of
dairy products from cows which drink from
polluted streams, but 1t should not bear too
heavily upon the dairymen who are so I'M
fortunately sftua ted. At the same time |
don't think that the citizens should sit
down and wait for the council to act They
nave ample time to look into this matter
themselves, and If they are tool will say
lazy, for it is nothing else-to investigate
whether the cows from which their milk is
furnished have access to the city sewer
canal or Village creek after it is fouled by
slaughter houses, they will have to put up
with the consequences.
while all this is said about milk let us
just give the cream and butter a little quiz
zing. The local dairymen furnish but
mere minority of the cream and butter CON
sumed in this city, and cream and butter
are as liable Tin fact more so) to carry
disease germs with them as milk. Now
where does this cream and butter come
from? Have the cows that produce it ac-
cess to polluted waters or fed from brew
cry swill? Are the hands that work in
those far off daries clean and healthy?
Shipped Butter
Has anyone ever taken the trouble to in
vestigate or take into consideration what
becomes of the butter made in all the how
els throughout the length and breath of
this great republic, while in many cases the
living room, kitchen, donmitory and dairy
are all in the same room, and that, too,
often visited by the ducks, chickens and
even pigs? Might this butter not find its
way to the nearest grocery store and there
be snapped for goods? Might it not find
its way from this grocer to some large fac
tory in the environment of Chicago (Which
is In the famous Elgin DISTRICT and there
be cleansed, the hairs and chicken feathers
combed out, pickeled and primed, remod-
eled and again put on the market as Elgin
creamery butter? Let some one in authori-
ty take a trip, and If on investigation they
don't find a white elephant, call me Davie
Razor, and that's no blunt name
81 understand the city council has passed
an ordinance dealing with the mater. 1 for
my part am very glad to learn that
there is to be a milk standard and cattle
inspection act I say come on with your
law, but see that its hygiene principles car
ry with it justice and equity, and that its
ramifcations extend to the whole and every
source of the dairy product sold or offered
for sale within the city limits.
Let it be equal rights to all and special
privileges to nome"