New Britain herald., 1918-09-21
Z ou'n z opics

One of the most far reaching and important recommendations brought before the ordinance committee in long time was referred to that body at the meeting Wednesday night when Dr. Henry F. Moore, superin- tendent of health, asked that the fol- lowing be voted as a city ordinance to be enforced:
 All cans, dippers, measures, bot ting machines and other utensils used in the handling of milk or cream in any dairy or other places where milk or cream is sold or offered for sale in the city of New Britain, or where milk or cream is produced for subsequent sale in the city of New Britain, shall be kept clean and sani- tary while in use and shall be thor oughly washed after each use in solution of soap powder or soda in hot water followed by rinsing in clean hot water, and must be steril- ized with live steam"
 As a sanitary measure, no fault can be found with this, but after a careful study of the proposed ordin- ance and existing conditions one can- not but believe that it is altogether too drastic and will have results that
 
 itself the proposed ordinance is inno- cent enough and sounds mighty good, and it is excellent and practical down to the last seven words. The conclusion: "and must be sterilized with live steam" immediately puts the milk producer in an awkward. and temporarily at least, impossible position, The wording is such that it leaves no alternative for the milk producer but to have a steam steriIiz- ing system installed. Not only does 1t affect milk producers within the city HmltS but it also affects produc- CTS Tn other districts, possibly other states, who produce milk or cream for subsequent sale in the city of New Britain
 The superintendent of health has stated that he wants this to become an ordinance, though in order not to work too much of a hardship on the small producer he is willing that it shall not apply to those who produce less than 12 quarts of milk a dav. That in itself is absurd; for is it not just as likely that contaminated milk may be found within that 12 quarts as within the 500 quarts produced by his neighbOr; and will not the germs in the 12 quart lot be just as active as the germs in the larger quantity? Then if this ordinance is necessary at all it should be all-inclusive
 Having come to realization of just what this ordinance would de- mand, a peep at what it would result Tn IS not amlss. Tn the first place. as soon as this ordinance should become effective 1t would automatically shut down on most of the milk supply that IS brought into the city for the pro- ducers are not at present equipped to comply with such an order. If, aft CT a reasonaD4c time, the producers equipped their dairies with the nec- essary steam sterilizing apparatus 1t would demand additional fuel and additional labor to maintain it. What would be the result? The price of milk would, undoubtedly immediate- ly jump several cents per quart, for it would be the consumer who would have to pay for this additional ex- pense. Are the people of New Brit ain willing to pay this extra price :? And in addition to this, 1t. would re- suit in unjust discrimination. Large quantities of milk are shipped into this state from New York, Massa- chusetts, Vermo ont, etc, and likely some of this out of state milk finds it's way to local dealers. The city of New Britain is powerless to make
 laws that will affect interstate com merce and the only way the ordin- ance could be enforced in reference to this milk would be to juggIe tech nicalities.
 Thus, according to disinterested parties, it is obvious that the passage of such an ordinance would result in two things: Curtailment of the milk supply in this city and the immediate increase of price,
 With these views in mind, is it ab- solutely necessary to sterilize the utensils with live steam after they have been thoroughly washed in 8 solution of soap powder or soda in hot water, followed by rinsing in clean hot water? It is doubtful if another city in the state, or the cOun- try, has such a stringent milk Ordin- ance as is this proposed one. Why would it not be better for the health department to strictly enforce exist | ing precautionary ordinances and in- sist that sanitary measures be taken l but let the state authorities look aft 1 CT the more drastic steps. The state l department can be relied upto to act, 1 and to act with force when it is nec- l essary. The ordinance committee 1 will do well to hesitate before blindly l passing such an ordinance, and to | consult with others than the health 1 department.
 ". s. S.
 Taken from the Herald of 25 years ] ago:
 1 September 15-New Britain is keep | ing pace with the times for the tele- phone company is laying wires under 1 ground in Church street. Edward l and Maxwell Hart will spend the next