New-York tribune., 1873-07-28
ALLEGED FRAUDS IN GUAN0.

LARGE QUANTITIES OF AN ADULrERATED ARTICLE
SOLD IN THIS cITY-IMPoRTANT SUIT BY THE
PERUVIAN GOVERNMENT AGAINST FIVE NEW
HOUSES. ........ ........ .........
II has been known for long time that
frauds we're committed In the sale imported guano.
and suspicion has been directed TO houses engaged IN
the trade In this city. AS the trade is large one the
frauds have been very extensive and oppressive. The
sales OF the genuine article from the agents of the Per
vian Government direct from the bonded warehouses
were for lss9-O 5000 tons; for 1874 1000 ton for
1872 5000 tons and thus far for lS73 10000 TONS As
the genuine article worth about ISL ton for Chincha
and Ell for Guanape the trade OF the Peruvian agents
alone, as be calculated amounts from two and
half to three million dollars. The extent Of the fraudu-
lent sales may be imagined from the statement of the
Peruvian agents that OF houses in this city engaged
in tho trade, six sell the adulterated article.
year or two ago. the New-YOrl State Agricultural
Society, through committee appointed for the pur-
pose obtained OF Peruvian from each Of the
ten dealers In the city Six OF these were proved by
close analysis to bo aduerated and four were genuine
Pure Peruvian Chincha Iand guano contains about is
per cent Of ammonia in which Hes the chief value OF the
fertilizer. The inferior article Guanape which sells at
about $40 less than Chineha contains only from II
to per ceut occasiOnalya little The analyses
OF the aduterated articles referred to above, showed
that they contained only from to per cent Of ammo
MIA and about 80 TO 30 per cent OF earthly matter
wholly foreign genuine guano. The publication Of
these by the Agricultural Society did not have the
effect Of stopping the sale Of the adueratons but the
Peruvian Government rOnsed to take action in the
matter for the protection OF It's trade.
Suits are consequently about be prosecuted by the
attorneys Of the Peruvian Government Messrs Prich-
ard Choate IL Smith OF No. 40 Wast, against five OF
the dealers and manufacturers alleged to have been
guilty OF adulteratug their goods The papers have
been prepared and the suits will in the supe-
ror Court The suits five in number and are against
the following firms known to be among the largest city
dealers i'm fertilizers:
George Ricardo Il Co. OF No. 1876 Water-st.
l.. b. Coke & Co. Of No. l97 Water-st.
George f. White of No. leo Front-st.
Robt c. Reeves Of Nos. 1s5 and 1871 Watcr-st.
l.. II. Reeves & Co. OF No. 1Si Watcr-st.
The complaints, as prepared by Messrs. Prichard,
Choate & Smith. very voluminous. but the two
points OF alleged fraud are
First The redling OF old bags which have contained
genuine guano, and 50 branded and bought from the
farmers for few cents each.
Second: The imitation OF the brand upon the
genuine bags which is trademark Of The Peruvian
Government.
The complaints set forth that in the rs the old
bags with the Peruvian brand upon them are filed with
tho spurious material alleged to be manufactured by
these rm and that 10 is thus sold AZ genuine. This eX-
plains the method OF one OF the alleged swudles. The
use Of the trademark is thus explained The genuine
bags have printed not brandedJ upon them the trade
mark OF the agents of the eonsignees the Peruvian
GOvernmen The brand the Chincha Island stock is
worded 40 follows:
Warranted No Peruvian Guauo Imported into the
L. :. by HObsOn, Hurtado Co., Agents Tor the con
siguees OF the Peruvian Government.
The brand the second quality is the same, with the
addition Of the word Guanape" below the last line in
the above. Only the frstnamed brand has been imi-
tated. The imitation readily diseerned, as the
cTa nd brush
hence the letters broken and disconnected unlike
those in the printed brands. Otherwise the imitation 3
an exact copy word for word. Photographs OF these
different STYLES Of brands attached to the complaints
The suits are TO for heavy damages and to restrict
the defendants from further continuing the sale of
in bags thus marked and reliled.
Reporters Of The TRIBUNE yesterday sought the per-
sons implicated b, the above charges but it being sun
day. few OF them could be found. One OF the defend
ants made the lowing statement explanation Of the
suits:
He could not state positively but he supposed it was
true that sOme oi the accused naming ASs'isi ". -.
Ricardo d Co, White CO.. and others, had bought Yery
large quantities. Of the Peruvian cdanO IN tue bags or
the Peruvian Government; that they hid emlue9 tne
bags and mixed their contents with Fertilizers or inIe-
quality, again hed the original bags, bearing tne
trade mark the Peruvian Government and had sold
them, not No. Peruvian gudnO rs aIcSed put as
mixed article IL had never been s0d as the Orlgiha
guanO this all the customers knew. Iney knew u
could not be the original article as the Government
price $ 80 In gold by the hundred Whe they were
n
gardeners prefer mixed TO the guano they
are OF nurng their crops and plants by using the
pure as II Is strong The gentleman also stated that
he supposed that there being enough OF the original
bags the manufacturing firms had stamped new bags
vita stencil similar 10 tue trademark OF
the Peruvian Government He doubted
the right OF the Peruvian Government to have trade
mark as they were traders, aud as the suits were
brought the Of the Government and not III the
name Of their agents he dd not bepye that they would
be able 10 do anything He believed the whole thing 10
be gotten up for the purpose or frightening the agrcu
tural dealer, I'm the city He said that this mixing and
selling OF fertilizers was no thing. He said that TO
ms personal knowledge the adulteraton had been car
ried ia this way for the past 20 years.