Report of State Veterinarian. 43 



and newspapers with glaring advertisements, giving prominence to 

 the fact that they are selling inspected products. Numerous retail 

 shops in the large cities are posting signs stating that nothing but 

 U. S. inspected meat is sold. The federal inspection stamp on 

 dressed meats is a guarantee to the public of its wholesomeness 

 and healthfulness. The system of inspection provided for by the 

 federal government gives those firms engaged in interstate com- 

 merce a great prestige over the smaller packers, and the indica- 

 tions are that this will be the greatest possible stimulus in favor 

 of a meat trust. The public is now aware of the necessity of a 

 thorough inspection of live animals and dressed meat, and there 

 is no possibility of the discontinuance of federal meat inspection. 

 It now devolves upon this State to provide, as far as possible, in- 

 spection of meats for everyone engaged in the butcher business 

 in this State. The only way to meet the competition of the trust 

 packing houses is for independent firms to provide meats equal in 

 quality to theirs. It seems that this State now has a golden oppor- 

 tunity for providing inspection and offering other protections to 

 the independent packer to encourage the extension of a number of 

 thrifty independent firms. The result will naturally be a greater 

 number of markets for live stock and a greater number of sources 

 of meat supply, amounting altogether to a wholesome competition 

 in the meat business. If the opportunities which are now at hand 

 are neglected, the independent packer will have a slim chance for 

 existence. The proposition before the Board is simply as to 

 whether or not the independent plants in operation in this State 

 shall be sustained and encouraged and others like them brought 

 into existence, or whether the situation shall be let alone and slowly, 

 but surely, resulting in the extinction of the independent packing 

 houses. 



In order to accomplish what should be done, four acts by the 

 State Legislature and one by the Board of Agriculture will be 

 necessary. The first piece of legislation necessary is an act to 

 prescribe a standard of cleanliness for country slaughter houses. 

 This act ought to provide that every country slaughter house should 

 be cleaned and disinfected after each killing, and forbid any offal 

 of any kind to be left within 200 yards of any slaughter house to 

 decay or to be eaten by hogs. If such an act were put into force, 

 the public would feel more secure in regard to the quality of meat 

 dressed in country slaughter houses. Most of the diseased food 

 animals are shipped to the public markets; there is too much 

 chance of detection for the country butcher to use diseased animals 



