Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1909-06-10

with the exception Of Aldermen Gosselin
and Pine.
A letter from r. o. Brock, United
States inspector Of meats, was read by
President Dion. the communication
ntmating that Burlngtonlans were cat
ing unwholesome and diseased meat by
reason Of not having an official city meat
inspector. Tho communication, which
was referred to the board OF health was
rs follows:
Burlington. Vt. June I, 1909.
To the Honorable City Council.
City OF burlington.
Gentlemen Under authority Of rcgula-
ton % of tho rules and regulations
governing the meat inspection of the
United States department OF agriculture.
would call yorr attention 10 the condi-
lions governing the meat supply Of this
city that You may Investigate same and.
IL YOU consider 1t necessary. institute an
adequate municipal inspection.
AS you are no doubt aware, the federal
government exercises control over all in
terstate movements of m,at and meat
food products.
TO that end the secretary Of agriculture
is directed by Congress to cause to be
made, by inspectors appointed for that
purpose. a post -mortcm examination Of
all carcasses md parts thereof prepared
for human consumption In any packing
house or similar establishment for trans
portation or SAL as articles Of interstate
or foreign commerce.
Esta blishments TO which inspection is
granted are given official number
which appears on all products with the
legend "t. s. Inspected and Passed" All
of the output OF such establishments
whether or not intended for interstate
movement, are subject to this inspection
and the government guarantees them
wholesome and free from disease at the
time they leave the establishment
TO the end that the supervision OF this
industry may be more complete. retail
butchers and dealers VINO desire TO en-
gage in Interstate trade must apply tc
the secretary Of agriculture for per
| mission.
To these. IL their places meet the re-
quireInents of the department, a number
is also granted under which all shipments
must be made and certified to.
Over such places this department ex-
ercises strict supervision, but not to the
extent Of stationing an inspector there
for the purpose OF making detailed In
sprctions.
The third and last class making inter
I state shipments of meat, the farmer. Is
| required to certify to the wholesomeness
of the Same over his true name and ad-
dress. and copy of this certifcation is
fled at Washington.
This department has no supervision
over local Strengthening nor over purely
interstate shipments of meat or meat
food products.
| The situation in this state is as fol-
lows: You have one inspected establish
mcnt and about 80 retail butchers and
dealers operating under certificate 81
exemption. so that YOU can see the great
bulk Of Strengthening in this State Is
done with no supervision by this depart
| uent nor anyone else.
The meat supply of this city comes
| from three sources-the western pack
rY houses, variois slaughter houses sit
waited in surrounding towns, and farmers
who dress and bring into town their owr
products.
The supply of packing house products
as far as fresh meat is concerned, /:
! confined mostly to beef, pork ribs ant
some lamb.
Nearly all the pork. most of the NUT
ton, all the veal, and n small portion o
the beef consumed here is native dressed
and subje-t to no inspection at the time
Of slaughter.
| The government guarantees to YOU tina
your western dressed beef is wholesome
as well as the rest IF the products which
rench you via interstate trade. IT doe
not, excepting In the case OF what may
lie slaughtered at the one INSPECTED
house referred to. which is a very small
amount indeed. give YOU any guarantee
for tho meats which reach your markets
and tables from local sources.
There is absolutely no doubt that
very great deal Of unwholesome and dis
oased meat finds It's way into this city.
! will give YOU an instance: Recent,
there were killed under my supervision
ten hogs which had been purchased on
oct n large drove in South Burlington
ard of these hogs 1--WE (5, were found un
lit for food because of gencralized viru
lent tubercular infection, and were con
demned and destroyed The remande
% this drove were slaughtered in Soutl
Burlington by the owner and markete
in this city. Now. it must he concede
that If 80 per cent. OF the hogs from thi
drove inspected by me were unnt 70
food. large percentage Of tie remain
der must have been affected. for II
not possible or at least probabl that III
man who purchased these ten hogs n
random secured all the diseased ones
| However. IL is not necessary to con
fine ones self to suppositions for. 1
II becomes Imperative, I can prov
specific instances where dangerousl,
diseased meat has been exposed 70
sale in this city.
1t Ia common knowledge that tn
flesh OF immature calves has for years
is being, and unless something Is don
to prevent IT, will continue to b.
brought into this city and sold II
the local markets.
Not only Is diseased and unwhole
, some meat sold to you, but meat whole
some otherwise Is killed at some o
these places under revolving condi
tions OF sanitation. II the State boar
of health exercises the powers con
ferred on II by act No. 1877 OF the act
| Of 190Sleo9, IT will remedy this con
ditton: but I have no reason to eX
! pect this act will be enforced. and
it should be- 1t will have very it'll
, bearing on the case.
What then. gentlemen, has this cit
> done to insure it's inha bitants a pur
: food supply?
1t has n milk and food Inspector
appointed by the board OF health. VIII
, and has no other protection, excepting
y A.. - IN