The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-02-01
MILK ORDINANCE
 AT BESSEMER |S IN TROvERSY.
Inspector Moore Charges Dairymen With Seeking to Supercede Health Depart
 ment in Statement
BESSEMER BUREAU
 THE AGE-HERALD Besserner. Ala. Jan. 3I


 Charging that the Dairymen's as- sociation, through its president, J. A. E-tes, was attempting to supercede the health cspartment of the ely of Besseme- and county, as represented by Dr. J. D. Bowling, Claude Moore, city milk inspector at Bessemer, Wednesday gS-e out a statement urging citizens lere to acquaint themselves of the provisions of the milk ordinance that is to be disposed of at the Tuesday session of the city council.
 MT. Moore stated; The provisions of the ordinance submitted by the county and city health department is to safeguard the health of the community by bringing milk sold by Bessemer dairymen up to standard bacteria county. Most of the milk sup piled by Bessemer dairies at this time are under the standard.
 ITO bring out this point more clearly, to my knowledge the Wood- ward Iron company has served mo- tice on the dairymen selling milk to them that the milk must be brought up to standard within a certain pe- riod or the company will discontinue buying milk here. l also know 1t to be a fact that the Tennessee Coal, Iron and Railroad company has pro- tested to their dairymen regarding the quality of the present milk SUD- ply, and I understand that represen- tatives of their medical department will attend the meeting of the city council Tuesday in order to urge the adoption of more rigid inspection laws at Bessemer. Practically all xr1lCf Cfrrx . l dinance submitted by Dr. Bowling, hand Tuesday evening.
 "Our proposed ordinance does not require pasteurization of milk ex- cept where 1t IS to be used in the manufacture of ice cream. It makes provisions for regulating pasteuriz- ing of milk if plant is e { built in Bessemer. Our ordinance requires low bacteria count and the keeping of the premises of dairies in sanitary shape.
 "Dr. Bowling has been the author ized head of the health department of the county and city for years. have charge of milk inspection in Bessemer and was appointed to this position because I am a Bessemer man. and further that the Bessemer milk dealers might have an official conveniently located. It would be dis astrous to Bessemer to separate the county and city health departments, as 3essemer could not provide scien- tific laboratory equipment to handle it's own inspections separately, without an enormous outlay of money. AS it Is we are getting the best of scientific tests and expert ad- vice at a minimum of cost.
 The fight the Dairymen's associa- ton is making against our ordinance Is simply an attempt to supercede the authority of our county and city health officials. The health of the children of this community, partie- ularly. is at stake. The recognized authorities are backed in their con tentions by the largest corporations of the district, through their medi- cal departments, and by the medical profession. I urge that Bessemer people acquaint themselves with every detail of this controversy"
 The Milk Dealers association will hold a meeting at the circuit court room Monday evening, and the milk ordinSnce will come up for final &C., tion at the city council Tuesday eve ming. It is evident that both meet ings will be largely attended
 The ordinance asked for by Dr. Bowling is the same as is now in op- eration in the cities of Birmingham and Fairfield.