National Republican., 1875-07-20
sEc,sap.HAND BARRKLs.
Are 'fAsy Fit for Rspsokinr Floars

Are 1Aey Fit for Repacking Flours
a eJnferenee was held yesterday at noon atthe
Beard Of Health rooms between the committee on
Srdhances and the coopers Of Georgetown In re-
gard 10 the contemplated action Of the board IN
prohibiting the Of secondhand barrels for TIE
purpose ofpasking -four. There were present, Yep
Tesenting the coopers, Mr.. 7. W. Bremmerman
and eight journsymen.
Prof Langston, chairman Of the ordinance CON-
mittee, called the attention Of the delegation to
the petitions presented by Messrs. A. Ross Ray &
Brother and others miliers, last Friday night to
tion Of an ordinance forbidding the rt-using Of
-four barrels for packing. He said that he visited
Georgetown last week and found At one estab-
Iishment q large quantity of barrels, which, he
was informed, had been assorted into classes and
disposed of to truck dealers and millers.
Mr.. +. W. Bremmermsn stated that be had not
sold barrels to millers for several months past,
having done all his traffic with truck dealers in
Norfolk, Va, He heard last week that hat, members %
town, and he selected few barrels OF
TIE KIND THAT ARE USED
by the mlllers, and put them side, so that ths
members Of the board could see them. Mr.. Mar
Sttention was called to the barrels, which were
very dirty inside, and he was told that such bar
rels were purchased and used In repacking Hour.
\ gentleman named Jarboe was present at the
time, and In Mr.. Marbury's presence boldly as
serted that the barrels were suitable for packing
-four, and II the miilsrs possessed them they
old not sell any barrels here because ne could
obtain better price for them at Norfolk, Va,
disposng Of them in lots without having them
subjected to asserting. He did not think the fer
bidding of the use OF old barrels by the board
would prove of much advantage TO the coopers,
as they could make more repairing old barrels
than by making new ones. He believed that eight
or ten men could do all the work required for the
mlers The petition H Sy 5no me5s
facturers, because they would not enter int the
controversy. The -four manufacturers, now that
Health, would like to create the impression that
they are very particular in the selection of bar
rels, and have twice sent back to the coopers
BARRELS THAT THEY CONSIDERED DIRTY,
q circumstance that never occurred previous to
the board taking this matter mp for action. He
thought that MT. ]. H. Ridgeway's was about
fair average cooperipg house in Georgetown. Mr..
would turn out an average Of between foo aud
500 -four and truck barrels per week, leaving ont
his tight and sugar barrels. He would probably
number he might get 26O At to use for -four
Those imperfect barrels are put under cover until
an order is received for -four barrels, when men
are set to work repairing them 1t Is found, then,
that rats and roaches have been In them, and
that they are dirty. Sometimes little -four is
sprinkled in them and
THE FILTH COVERED OVER.
months ago that had been slowed in a
stable and were very unelean,, and these
were repaired, sprinkIed with the -four in
The miiiers did not know az, thing aboutit, His
object was to keep the road clear at the mills
fer the packer. and not spend his time in inspect
ing barrels. The speaker was working at the
present time with MIR. Ridgeway making
barrels. but would reiterate before him what he
had said to the committee. II the members Of
the board had visited other shops than Mr..
Ridgeway's they would have probably found a
different state OF affairs. BE does not send all
the old, dirty barrels to Norfolk; many Of them
are fixed up for -four barrels, and others ussd for
truck. In most substances Mr.. Ridgewsy does not
his place, as he trusts to his workmen. Some OF
them certainly go TO the mills dirty and they are
as surely packed with -four.
The millers lay great stress on the fact that
their name is on every barrel Of flour turned out
at their mills. That is untrue, as they only brand
their name on the best -four they manufacture
There are many grades OF -four that no one can
tell by looking at the barrels what mill 1t came
from or who made 1t.
rounded by difficulties. What the board desired
was to get at the facts in the matter, and If the
board possessed any power in the premises TO ex-
ercise 1t in
THE INTEREST OF THE COMMUNITY.
He understood them to ask the board to forbid
the sale Of secondhand barrels and prevent the
repacking Of -four put In them. difficulty was
met in the outset in declaring what barrels were
unfit for use. The board had no power, except to
prevent the sale Of unwholesome -four in THE city
and GEORGETOWN. If the filth in these barrels
nsde the Hour unsouna, then men they could enact an
could these coopers purchasing and repairing
second hand barrels and the millers using them
for packing purposes be reached under the powers
OF the board and regulations made to prnhibit the
sale Of unwholesome food declared in this State.
The cooper very likely could not be reached, but
be inclined to the view that the party handling
the food was
THE PARTY SUBJECT TO PUNISHMENT.
DR.. Bliss thought they could 90 still further
and prevent the packing Of -four in these old
barrels.
Prot Lang ston said that the committee desired
to examine the subject with care, and If they
found the statement Of the coopers correct the
board would be compelled to take action In the
matter. They did not wish TO do any thing hast
Mr. Bremmerman said that Mr.. Jas. s. Welch,
the well-known -four merchant, and his successors
at the mills sided with the cOopers In this matter,
and he suggested that the committee secure their
views before making decision.
DIR. Bliss desired TO know If the Hbolishing Of
the use of second barrels was DONE what effect It
would have on the cOopering trade?
Mr.. Bremmerman thought It would increase the
manufacture of new barrels between 800 and
10000 per annum, but disclaimed that such o
change actuated the petitioners.
DR.. Bliss desired the locations OF some Of the
coopering establishments that he might person
ally make an inspection.
He was furnished with several, and at the same
time notified that he would fud the best and
cleanest barrels placed to the front now, aud 1t
would continue that way until this trouble had
blown over.
The conference then terminated, the committee
deciding to make personal inspection Of the
cooperinR. houses, mills and other places In
Georgetown where old barrels can be found, pre-
vious to making their report to the board.