Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1879-11-25
THE EVENING STAR.
DAY. November p
LETTERS FROM THE PEOPLE.
Cow Town.
WASuyNcToN n ~ NnN 9lfh Is

Cow TOWN.
WASHINGTON, d. c.. Nov. Goth, 1879.
Editor Sdr:-What do you think OF our lovely
city, the capital of our great country. the abode
OF the Intelligent and cultured of all the land,
where millions OF money have been spent in en-
beavers to make 1t in appearance commensurate
with Its importance as the seat of government.
being called Sow TOWN." And venture there
are not ten men In the District who can tell
the why and wherefore of our city being
dubbed Sow Town."
In my peregrinations around and about Chi
cago last week, whilst at one OF the depotS
saw two express wagons drive hastily up and
unload several boxes one of the drivers eN-
ha be inquiry inc ds9y
city: and they called 1t Cow Town because all
the beef sent there from Chicago was COW beef
With some surprise and incredulity made dill
gent inquiry and there was disclosed condition
OF affairs not only alarming, but diSgraceful In
the fact that there were tons upon tons OF COW
New York.
Upon further inquiry, found that this i'm
menSe quantity of stuff was obtained from the
canning factories OF Chicago and ST. Louis, all
the trash OF the great West. bulls cows. stays
and ScalawagS being sold there, and. save what
is sent to this city and New York, reduced in
large steam tanks into an impalpable mass. col
ored with saltpetre, and sent broadcast through
the land as delicious edible. Upon Still fur
Their inquiry as to the quality and condition OF
this trash, found that in the COWS, at least
seyen-tenthS We're afflicted with Splenic fever
the prevalent pleuro-pneumonia. hollow horn.
diseased udder and cows on the eve of calving
ipSt lileli calves, OF III Il IeNeTtu
that rendered the meat totally unfit for human
1ood; hence the high saffron color OF the fat and
the dark or black-red appearance Of the meat.
In the bulls, stays and oxen, which is but
small proportion OF the whole, disease is not so
common, but the quality is inferior.
learn at this end of the lime that this stuff is
sold in large quantities to the retail meat stores
little of 1t finding its way into the market
large quantities sold to boarding houses and
rev hotels, five second-rate ones purchasing it.
Now all this is wrong and should be stopped to
the extent of compelling the seller, by enact
ment of Congress- to advertise "COw Beer for
sale, the same as is done In rectified whisky and
oleo margarine butter; then. If person desired
to buy this stuff, they are not cheated 1t is I'M
healthy, a fraud upon those buying and paying
for what they expect. but do not get-good,
healthful, steer beef. The city has an Inspector,
a Mr.. Elliott, who is thoroughly competent to
classify the different grades of beef, and can
tell this COW beef at glance as unerringly as a
lady can the black cambria from white.
l could write much more upon this subject
fraught as it is with vital interest to our citizens
and visitors, but the above facts are sufficient /
hope to excite the attention Of Congressman,
not only in the interests of the city, but them
selves, who are daily eating large quantities, for
this stuff can be bought for mere song and
gradually is driving the good beef out OF the
market. "PRO Bono PUBLICo."