The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1902-01-17
CITY'S MILK SUPPLY
STATE DEPARTMENTS EFFECTIVE
INSPECTION HAS IMPROVED
ITS QUALITY
STAPLES IMPORTANT WORK
Begins inspection of 276 Diaries in
st. Paul TOday-NO Leniency
for MiIkmen Who
Offend.

Inspector George Staples, Of the dairy
and food department begins this morn
ing his regular inspection of the diaries
of ST. Paul, a work of Importance of
which is not generally realized, but which
in fact is one Of the greatest safeguards
to public health now in operation under
the laws of the state. When his work
is completed he will have visited ZIG
diaries in this city. the total milk output
of which is $4,000 gallons per day, and
to which institutions the people of ST.
Paul are daily paying an average amount
of $780,
The law gives the department absolute
authority in it's examina ton of dairies
Mr.. Staples visits in person every dairy
man in the city, goes through his barns,
and oyeTlooks his stock and investigates
his milk cans. If he discovers a milk
man whose barn is not clean or whose
cows are not properly cared for. or who
is not over-careful as to how he handles
and keeps his milk. he notifies that milk
man that he must get busy and change
his methods. clean up his barns, take
proper care of his cows and provide him
self with the means for the keeping his
milk in a cleanly manner. If the milk
man does not obey the order within a CIV
en- time he is promptly arrested and
brought before the court and vigorously
reminded that he must obey the orders of
the department. The law is verv strict
on this point, and courts are never in
cIlned to be lenient with the. offenders
by keeping a close watch upon the men
who are inclined to offend in this man
ner the department prevents certain I'M
Scrupulous persons from perpetrating
frauds on the public. and it effectually
protects the public from the dangers of
impure milk. The health of the people
is safeguarded to a greater extent than
is realized by people generally
Mr.. Staples says that every year marks
decided Improvement in the character
OF the dairy farms of this city The great
majority of the milkmen were glad to
obey the orders of the department and
bring their diaries up to the required
standard. Some Who were not so willing
found that it was extensive not to do SO,
and as a matter of business policy they
have remedied the conditions of their
diaries.
Diaries Are Improving.
when the department first began it's
work under the effective law provided bv
the legislature" said Mr.. Staples yester-
oay, things were in pretty bad shabe
Inc Improvement has been constant since
That time. When / made my last inspec-
tlon OF city dairies, about so per cent of
the dalrieS that were in poor condition
previous to the law. had complied with
the requirements and were running clean,
Well-kept barns and their stock was in
good shape. They found also that it
helped their business. The greater part
OF those who were not no to standard
nave since become So under the strict
enforcement Of the law. Today over 95 per
cent of the diaries of this CITY are first
class in every respect, and their patrons
are getting what they pay for, a good
healthy grade of milk. This is the one
department Of our business where we are
not inclined to be lenient with offenders,
The matter is of too great Importance to
justify much leniency. There is no excuse
Tor a dairyman having a dirty barn, IN
healthy animals. improper kind of food
for them, and being uncleanly in handling
his product. 1t is not even economical for
nm. The dairyman who cannot afford to
keep his institution in good shane ought
not to be in the business. The public
has too much at stake ST. Paul is very
fortunate in regard to it's milk supply. No
large city in the country is in any better
condition in this respect today. All
Eastern states admit that Minnesota is at
the head in the prosecution of violations
of pure food laws.