Tuesday, June 12, 2007

Texas City Runs Its Own Abattoir

1910

PARIS, Texas — The first and only municipal abattoir and animal reduction plant in the United States is in this city, and has been in successful operation for several months. It marks the beginning of a new era in municipal ownership of industries that directly concern the welfare of the people.

It is said that the idea is practical for all cities and that it would work to particular advantage in towns of 10,000 to 100,000 population. If generally adopted it may lead to a solution of the problem of the high cost of meat and other food products.

In Paris, with an estimated population of 15,000, the municipal sanitary department found it very difficult to supervise the several separate slaughter houses maintained by the butchers. The health of the people was constantly menaced by the unsanitary conditions under which the animals were slaughtered and the meats handled.

These private slaughter houses were rudely constructed and most of them were in some swamp or thicket. During the summer flies were about the premises in untold millions. They covered the slaughtered animals. The odor was terrific, and, indeed, the whole surroundings were such that it appeared to all that the meat slaughtered under such conditions was not at all fit for food.

Mayor McCuistion and other members of his administration tried to induce the butchers to form a stock company and build an abattoir and reduction plant, operating it themselves, and allowing the city to furnish an inspector only, but this could not be accomplished.

The city then determined to establish its own abattoir and to provide rules and regulations that would insure the slaughtering of only healthy and well-conditioned animals and the delivery to the people of meat in perfect sanitary condition. The proposition was agitated and met with general favor on the part of the public. An issue of $10,000 of bonds was voted for the construction of the plant. It was equipped with sanitary arrangements and is modern and complete in every respect.

Mayor McCuistion says: "The new plant is being operated to the entire satisfaction of every butcher and every resident of the city, so far as I have been able to hear. We are greatly delighted with the success that has crowned our efforts in this work, and we believe that the establishment of this plant has marked a distinct era in the general sanitation of our city."

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