The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1883-07-06

hOatu VI 1tuuo oNSr lhV PtSiSAtSN
against tho lard of the Fowlers is a STAR
chamber affair, and the public will therefore
be apt to lose all interest in it. No matter
how the matter is decided the people will
they can base an opinion as to the correct.
ness of the decision of the Board. The in.
vestigation will last, it is said, several days,
and if it was conducted openly much good
might come of it,
Whether the lard in question was adul-
terated or not, it is admitted by all good
judges that the inspection methods in use
in Chicago and all other packing cities of
the northwest are simply delusions. They
are inspections that do not inspect, and any
reasonable degree of adulteration is branded
by the Inspectors as prime steam lard The
Fowlers practically claim. in their answer
that their lard is as good as any other steam
lard in the Chicago market, and doubtless
they will bo able to establish its compare
tive value; but when they have done that
they have not shown that they manufacture
pure lard: On the contrary quite the
reverse.
All lard, or nearly all lard-undoubtedly
all shipped to Southern markets-is adul.
terated: Some of it is harmlessly aIul,e-
rated. Some of it is not The Chicago
Tribune printed talk between one of its
reporters aud DR.. T. Williams, chemist of
high standing. DR.. Williams stated that
he frequently found 10 or IL per cent. of
water in steam-rendered lard, when there
should be but 2 per cent. He added: 81
heard that one very prominent renderer
here received 210 barrels of Missouri clay,
and | saw sample. 1t is sent here as an
adulterate, and is used not only in lard, but
IN almost everything else, where terra alba
could no. cut any figure 1t has 70 texture
and hasa granulatedr appearance-undort tbe-
microscope when pulverized for the market
Its better adulterant than the white earth
for lard, because terra alba would be precip.
itased in this climate and be found at the
bottom Of the package The clay is not so
dense, though quite heavy, and could be
used with success to the extent of 10 or Is
per cent. Its presence can be detected with
the microscope. by the use of water am
the clay lard can be adulterated 25 per
cent" He added that this kind ora 'adultera.
sion could not be detected by the cye-cer.
tainly not by the inspectors that Chicago
prefers to employ. Water and Missouri
clay are not, however, wholly to be relied on
in the packing house. It is known that
tallow, beef fat, cotton seed oil, Snd low
grade grease that should not be seen
outside Of soap factories, are often used. It
is known that lard which has become yellow
is subjected to vile process of bleaching,
restoring its color and market value without
rendering it more palatable if the entire
process was understood.
The truth is, no family man who wants
to know just what is put before him and his
family at the breakfast table should use
Western lard. Lard of home production
can be trusted, and when that fails we have
an excellent sui tstitute in cotton seed oil,
which is now refined to such degree as to
be unobjectionable for nearly all domestic
purposes. 1t is also product of home
actoIies.-Atlanta Constitution.
-.