In 1910, America had two problems: a meat shortage and a plague of water hyacinth choking the waterways of the South. A congressman from Louisiana had one solution to both: hippos.
House Bill 23261 proposed importing hippopotamuses from Africa, releasing them into the bayous to eat the invasive plants, and then, eating the hippos. Proponents called the meat "lake cow bacon." The New York Times endorsed the idea enthusiastically. Theodore Roosevelt was on board. A former Confederate officer actually traveled to Africa to scout the animals.
The bill came remarkably close to passing. It failed by a single vote.
Had it succeeded, Louisiana's marshes might today look considerably different. Crawfish, touff'e might share the menu with hippo po'boys. And the phrase "lake cow bacon" would need no explanation whatsoever.
It needed just one more vote.
