The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1911-02-08

six months before. The whole town
was divided into pro-abattoirs and
anti-abattoirs
Opponents of the idea character
lied the scheme as a dream and
went so far as to call Mayor Nc
QUESTION and his friend socialists. An
abattoir for a city Of 100000 might
do, but never for town of barely
1900.
Pluck Wins.
Anyway on election day Mayor Nc
QUESTION won out and the money was
voted for the plant. This opposition
it should be said, has been entirely
converted. The butchers say that
they get their meat delivered to them
cheaper than ever before. The peo-
pl say the meat is better and just
as cheap.
Not only had the mayor and the
councilmen won out in their fight
but they also developed the abaittoir
idea until it had expanded and had
grown into miniature municipal
packing plant.
The slaughtering of animals nat
urally brought up caravan of ques-
tons. The undesirable parts had to
be disposed of; the smell, gases and
odors had to be taken care of and
the sewage looked after. But to
these emergencies the officials were
equal.
Increase Plant.
Naturally, refrigerating and stor-
age plant first suggested itself and
then reduction and rendering sys-
TEN. Months of inquiry were neces-
sary before the proper machinery
and Information were secured, but
enthusiasm spurred the workers. and
exactly twelve months from the day
the idea had been preached, the
world was opened.
Made Money.
1t was easy enough to select the |
officials and to apply sanitary rules. |
The first employee was an inspector,
who was familiar with all of the fed
eral governments livestock regula-
tons and quarantine rules. Then a |
was employed who
had charge of the plant. A foreman
of the killing floor and three assist
ants completed the force.
AT the outset. this represented an
expenditure of $500 per month in
Insurance, which was very
hlgh at first reports, etc. brought
the maintenance cost per month up
to $500.
A tentative price list was finally
oeclded upon. The city agreed to
slaughter beef for one dollar and !
hffy cents and hog. sheep, goat
or calf for one dollar. This fee in
Guided many things Under the ar
made then and continued
until the present time, the butcher
delivers his steers into the stock
not see the animal again until the
meat is placed on the hook in his
market ready for sale to the public
Lower Butcher Prices.
After thirty Gays trial, the city
that the butchers were
paying too much for the slaughter
ing, so the fee for a beef was re-
duced from $3.50 to $1.25; that for
a smaller animal from one dollar to
seventy-five cents. These prices still
prevail. The reduction came unso-
licited by the butchers. They freely
admit that the city is doing the
for them cheaper than
they themselves could ever do it. The
difference is roughly estimated at 25
cents on each animal, and the re-
suits are far better. At present the
city is serving ten regular customers
and all of them are satisfied.
The plant has been more than self
Its first year ended No
vember 80, 1910, and the closing of
the books revealed a profit The
original investment was $4,000. The
cost of operation, including interest
on bonds, salaries, repairs, insurance,
ETC.. was approximately $500. The
receipts were more than $4,000 and
would have exceeded $4,000 if the
plant had been large enough.