The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1922-07-12
CITY COUNCIL
CONSIDERS
ABATTOIR

ABATTOIR
Council Hears Experts and
Citizens Relative to Loca-
ton Of Slaughter House
Site to Be Purchased From
DIR. China
"A special meeting of council was
held in the Office of the health Of
hcer July 1st, there: being present
Mayor Jennings, Councilmen Nc
Callum and Raffie1d, Mr.. Tisdale,
chairman of the board of health,
DIR. Browning, health officer, and a
number of citizens Of the city who
had entered protests against the
erection of the city abattoir on
Magnolia street, fearing that their
homes. located in the proximity of
the proposed sites, might become
impregnated from time to time
with disagreeab1e odors arising
from the operation Of the plant,
making their homes untenable. and
in order to satisfy all parties at
interest that their fears were un-
founded. council had previously au-
thorized the invitation Of several
abattoir experts to be present at
this meeting to make unbiased
statements as to the possibility for
such odors. DR.. Browning gave his
experience at some length, citing
cities in the south that are operat-
ing up-to2date labattoirs such as is
proposed for Sumter. and stating,
that abaaoirs can be made prac-'
tically odorless, and according to
the plans drawn this plant would
be such that no odor would be
detected outside Of its walls, and
practically none on the inside.
Mr.. G. Fl. A. Wannenwetsch Of
Buffalo, N: z, was next introduced
as an expert on abattoirs, stating
that he had been IN the business
for over. 20 years, and that he could
cite hundreds of abattoirs in opera
ton in. practically the heart of
cities. in close proximity to the
finest homes, churches, ETC., and no
complaints ever offered for any
reason .wha tsoever; that the plants
can be and should be kept clean
and sweet in its various depart
inents OF operation. and no dis
agreeable odor Of any kind could
be detected either inside or outside
Mr.. Wannenwetsch further ex-
planned the construction of such
plants for the complete destruction
and consunamation of Such possible
odors, and stated that the citi-
zens OF Sumter should have no fear
of any disagreeable or unpleasant
odors. Mr. Denham, general mana
ger Of the plant at New Brunswick,
N J., was next introduced. and prac-
tically substantiaIed the testimony
given by Mr.. Wennenwetsch, and
after these gentlemen had conclud-
ed their remarks, Mr.. Nein O'Don-
aell. Capt. r. K. Wilder and Mr..
II. B., Kennedy, each of whom live
.ep own residences in close proxim-
ity with the proposed cite further
expressed their opposition to the
proposed plant being erected on
Magnolia street. Mr.. O'Donnell read
several telegrams and letters he had
received from. representative citi-
zens in other cities of South Caro-
lima, in which it was alleged that
such plants were located outside
Of the city limits. and at times the
odor from such plants was verydis-
agreeable.
Following a general discussion
of the matter, during which many
questions were asked, council de-
cided TO send a committee to some
nearby plant. IN operation for the
purpose of securing positive and
conclusive information as to whefh-
er, or not such abattoirs were at
tended by any disagreeable or OBJ
noxious oders either inside or out
side of the plant, and the report
of the findings of such committee
to be conveyed to council at some
subsequent meeting, and as early
as practicable Tor the reason that
the contract for the erection Of the
abattoir had been let, the material
was arriving and work upon same
must be commenced at the earliest
possible moment.
Council then adjourned.
i =
A called meeting of council was
held in the Office of the Health Of