Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1920-07-10
Division Of inspection

the Division of Inspection of the
Maine Department of Agriculture,
stated Friday that notable among the
accom- plishments of the Bureau Of
Weights and Measures during the
past year was the condemning of
three sets Of coal scales found to be
in a poor condition which was used
for the annual weighing Of 1000 tons
Of coal in one town and the installa-
ton Of new scales, thus insuring the
people of that community correct
weight of their fuel.
In various towns and cities of the
State. the sealers have been RESPONSE
BILE for condemning 7Os weighing and
measuring devices" said Chief In
spector Soule.
The enforcement of the net weight
law. has been prosecuted with more
than usual vigilance. and in most in
stances has been educational. While
the. statute is not new one, we
, have hesitated considerably in deal
Tag harshly. This has also been the
policy of the federal government. and
the State. statute is very similar to
the United States law. The federal
department announces that drastic
action will be taken against any mis-
branding of any sort, and with the
nigh price of all food, we believe that
T. is time for the State to follow the
lead OF the federal government and
| pegin prosecutions for emitting from
a label the statement as to the
/ quantity in package.
One very important ruling has
oeen made during the past year relat-
| ing to the marking of hams and
bacon, which were previously not re-
garded as being in package form when
wrapped. In all probability, the in
! crease in the price of ham and the in
crease in the weight Of the wrapper
has influenced, to some degree, this
change of ruling, as now all hams and
1 bacon, whether wrapped in cloth OF
paper. must be plainly and con-
spicuously marked on the outside
with the net weight. Similar rules
apply to State enforcement. In gen
eral. this phase of the law is BEING
well observed.
| 0iAu9hter Houses
| BY. the use of the automobile. dur
ing the past year. it has been possible
! to continue the inspection of many of
| the smaller slaughter houses, located
| IN country towns. The supervision
| of this CLASS of food handling is the
most difhcult of any phase of the
police power granted under the
statute. Any animals slaughtered for
food purposes which are to be Skinned
out the State receive inspection
proper in character, while for the
most part, the products consumed bv
the people OF Maine are from crea.
lures that are never given either an
apte .mortem or post mortem exam;.
We have. therefore, felt it our dutv
TO devote as much time as possible to
the inspection Of the establishment.
where slaughtering was done. and 70
remedy conditions found in every
way possible.
There are few well eou,rn.a
wen managed abatoirs in thi, Stat.
ana they are not entirely confined 70
the cities. but the majority of places
wnere slaughtering is done arc not MI
suitable for the purposes indicated
we truly believe that condition. ~.
growing better as 1t has been our
5000 fortune to have a report OF Tho
building Of several new aba,oir. In
the last year. properly built with
cement hoors and adequate wnter
supply and with walls shenthed ana
painted In almost every instance
.ne installation Of this equipment has
oeen upon cur recommendation.
IN some cases moral suasion WINS
Q. no avau. and II was necessary to
ADOPT the more drastic means OF An
lhg the proprietors who persisted in
maintaining dirty. ciuttered estab-