The New York herald., 1879-03-04
UNSOUND AMERICAN EXPORTS.

HOW OUR COMMERCE. SUFFERS FROM INsuFEI-
CIENT INspECTION-IMPORTANr LETTER TO
THE DEPARTMENT or STATE.
The Department of State transmitted yesterday to
Collector Merritt the annexed important document
received from Mr. John Wilson, Consul at Brussels.
Belgium in relation to spoiled meats and grain
shipped abroad by American exporters, with sugges-
tions as to remedying the evil. He declares that
American suffer greatly If irrespon.
sbe inspectors continue to certify to the soundnesa
of exports which on arrival are found to be defec-
tive The letter Is as foliows;-
cSssua,n or r.s ysrrsD sr;;rss E; Bnussras
arrived in Antwerp and were through This
brussels and sold srocsrs and small
s nna as s
food large proportion Of the entire lot upon which
seized seized in their shops: Protested against
S sns q % rs
American hams Of the market They then came to mo
ter as .ei.nfss and oondsea.ons only
S american s1'? sf4ao DO in 'sS III:
p..cns M Ito and ~
20 .Ss sound and good quality .si tho ham; wsrs
aS%S:s ta1ni:hsa to As portion i.
Sr. sss y. %Sa. they SS
vinced tha, too sweeping condemnaon had been made
AS o i'm of had sds SsSn d
VERIFY h nor GpoSs
by positive testimony the statement of tho city inspectors
and to ssr s for dS%sgs raSs
Ss the sqasnt arrival the various ports
Europe Of spoiled hams and sasGn as we'll az
that there be- At least some great lack Of care in
Rs,as Rs's and that L we wish to system
e. s D. sSeDs s nn much n1s Of h o
broush. into gre". disesodt either BY tho
paid inspectors and our foreign trade is thereby
s''"'' ISsrscToss cEwrIvrcA Arss prsRKGARpED
In the grain and prOdSss market % , Of os ohsis and s-
the Board Of Trade appoints what is it's official
exporting house has paid Inspector respo.
S :. nc H. S on &
gs,s the sass and Of fs1 "sna ss' F s S the
psson Of grain Is sn, sa' Ssr0 it, are s,r,sn, ss;
. at y In Ss
OF such inspectors are not regarded as having an official
evidences in disputed cases greatly has
Vscns as they generally DO on the Trade not
give that sou o m quality s.s sn f
article On sssr hands SSri9r
%% %% the ss1s @ they
a &c :'Sss such s'ns time sssSs sSssd
OF ssn sy s.Hi sS S in
Indeed frcauchty do nov arrive Europe
Ss Sd or SSss % nns
ecrthcaton Of and hodge themselves with
tor many honest from su,ssrkins mis-
As our exporters this food produce are making
efforts supply tho of Europe their
future success outstanding the superior natural ad
they enjoy will greatly depend the charac-
ter and quality of the merchandise they oher. and as
much of grain, at least ry he sold
by sample inclined believe that system Of in
and honesty in foreign shipments, but
would give higher sanction to American bills OF
lnding aud would also diminish tho OF dispute
between shipper and purunaser that so frequently
the California wheat recently sold by sample
In English markets had thoroughly inspected by
officer holding his appointment from the general govern-
s probable htt tho OF its undcrgradng
would have bcen much oasy asccrtained ana the
parties in fault much readily discovered and all
Of what known as food products were sub
Jeet 10 surveillance OF government inspectors before
results would follow than under tho prcsent syssen
PRACrCABfLfrY.
As the Of changing tho present mode OK
pspcco would rcspeetuliy suggest thss In my opin-
ion tho paid 10 private and irrcsponsibe iu-
spcctors of merchandise would amply deray
all expenses Of dutes performed by governments
eaeh Of tho custom houses OF the United
States II Is probable that there are good and Wild
rea sons Of which ignorant why the general
ent should not undertake this duty bat assuming that
thcrs are not I DO belicvc that measure
nect.d With our foreign trade would inspire greater conf
dcnce in foreign OF this class OF products
than the the general government
sbIe certify to their qualsy aud
for shipment before leaving our ports Nor do believe
any other would surely tend to obviate the
disputes already referred To- or TO guard against the
casion OF their occurrence Worry respectfully.
To Hon Fmrpxarcx SEWARD Assistant Secretary Of state.
Washington
I,uussrIS. Feb 1879