The Cheyenne daily leader. [volume] (Cheyenne, Wyo.) 1870-1884, 1880-12-24
CONDEMNED.
Alum Baking Powders In
Court. InterestingA
Testimony of Sci
entific Men.

Mltnln The past Two years, Ditler
controversy has been waged between
manufacturers. on account of the use
Of alum rs cheap substitute for Cream
OF Tartar, by many manufacturers Of
baking powders. The handsome pro-
fits yielded by using the substitute have
induced dealers as well as manufaetu-
rers 70 push them into the hands Of
consumers, sometimes under definite
brands, frequently 10y weighing out in
bulk without any distinguishing name
Are such powders wholesome? The
Royal Baking Powder Co, who make n
Cream Of Tartar baking powder, de-
clared that they are injurious 10 the
public health, while Others who make
alum powders claim that they are lot.
The whole matter rs % the effects OF
these alum powders, las finally been
brought into the courts, and the case
was tried in the Supreme Court Of New
York City before Chief Justice Sedg-
wick, reported substantially us follows
in the New York San,
Conclusion or n Little TrenbIe Be-
tween n Chemist aud nn Editor.
The suit of DIR. Henry A. Mott against
Jabez Burns, has brought TO light the
fact that tins country produces at least
forty two different kinds OF baking pow
ders. Neither Burns nor Mott has been
found guilty Of making the baking pow
ders, but Burns, who Is the editor Of n
periodical called the Spice MIL, has
been severely mulcted for libel in his
efforts 10 make his paper spicy. DIR.
Mott. II appears, is "A chemist, and ut
one time was employed by the United
States Government TO analyze differ
ent specimens OF baking powder which
had been recommended for adoption to
the Indian Bureau. DIR. Mott reported
in favor Of the Cream OF Tartar baking
powders for tho Indians, and against
the alum baking powders. The chem
ist analyzed forty-two kinds Of baking
powder.
The jury were out about half an hour.
Then they came in with verdict awar-
ding Dr. Mott 5000, to which the
Court made an additional allowance OF
$3.50.
AS the public have large interest in
the wholesomeness of whatever il is
called upon to use rs food, the follow
ing extracts are introduced from the
testimony OF some Of the prominent
men rs 10 the injurious effects of alum
powders.
DIR. MoTT.
Q, Were you employed by the U. S.
Government
A. l was, sir; | WAS employed rs
chemist, TO analyze all the articles of
food; 10 express an opinion MS TO the
analysis OF their healtlifulness and pu-
rity.
Q. Please tell the jury the baking
powders that you examined while in
the employ Of the Government?
A. 1t would be difficult to remem-
Der them all; could refer TO my books;
examined twenty-eight powders; was
given sixteen ut first.
BY the Court:
Give your best recollection.
q. And one OF the powders inclu-
ded was .Dooley's Baking Powder"
A. Yes sir.
q. And the "Charm?"
A. Yes sir, the "oharm and "Pa-
tapsco."
q. The Baking powder made by G.
Il. Andrews, of Milwaukie-did you
analyze thaty
A. / did.
q. Please state in what powders you
found alum?
A. | found alum in "Dooley's," Spa
,tapsco," "Charm," "Queen, ''Vien-
na," i'Orient," .sAmazon,'' Lake
1Wlu SupcTElllNe,
king" White Lily" Monarch, )"
Zone spoon" Regal" Imperial"
"lIonest,n Economical" Excel
sior," ..Chartrcs," "Grant's" and the
"Giant.n
q. Now, these powders mentioned
in your communication in the Scienfifc
AmericuR-"Dooley's Standard"
'Patapsco," "Charm''-Baking Pow
der manufactured by e. L. Andrews of
Milwaukee, you stated you found burnt
alum; II you will please name the res
pective powder that you have exam
ined-was 1t potash or ammonia alum
you found?
In the "Patapsco," 'Charm," and
In the Andrews, IL was ammonia alum.
q. What Is the gas usually fur
nished by baking powders?
A. The object of baking powders is
to furnish carbonic acid gas.
q. Will you state TO me again what
other gas besides carbonic acid gas, is
proper to beevolved from n baking pow
der?
A. A limited amount of ammonia
gas.
Q. notice in your article that you
say starch Is proper ingredient TO put
in baking powder?
n. ouarcn Is u proper ingredient 10
prevent the decomposition of baking
powders.
Q. Recurring to the question that
has been asked you upon this suit-thc
result OF these examinations which you
have made-is II your opinion that alum
IN these various compounds, in baking
powders such rs you have examined, is
injurious?
IA. 1t is my opinion, based upon
actual experiments upon living ami
mails.
Charles F. Chandler, called ON behalf
OF the plaintiff, being duly sworn, tes-
titled Us follows:
Q. DIR. Chandler. you reside In the
city of New York?
A. 1 do.
q. Your business is that of chem
ist.
A. IT'S.
q. You arc and have been professor
oil Chemistry in several colleges?
A. have.
q. Please state how long that en-
ployment Of yourself has been, and with
what colleges You arc now connected?
A. am Mt present Professor of
Chemistry In the Academic Depart
ment Of Columbia College; the School
OF Mines, Columbia College; the New
York College of Physicians and Sur-