The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-03-03
THE LARD INQUIRY.


Mr.. Jevets Tells why Stearine and Cotton
Seed OIL Are Used in the Manufacture.
WAsHINGroN. March ADRIAN 1. Jewett.
commission merchant of New York, and men,
Der of the New York Produce Exchange. ap-
peared before the House committee on agricult-
ure this morning. Up TO 1878, he said. he had
been in the lard business, and had dealt largely
in lard. His firm had been. probably. the first
in the country to manufacture refined lard. Be-
fore the hog-packing business was brought to its
present state of excellence. and when the hogs
were cured in small establishments, it was al
most impossible TO get q Thousand tierces OF
lard of any uniformity and his firm had con-
eeived the idea of remembering the lard so as to
make it uniform. It put no outside substance
into the lard which was exported to South
American countries, but it mixed stearine in or.
der to harden the lard and enable it to stand the
warm weather. Competition had grown
SO rapidly that manufacturers sought
something to cheaper the product.
and used water. Finally. so much
water was put into the lard that the buyers
jected II. As much as 80 per cent. of water was
put in To-day, steam lard contained or
per cent. of water, and scarcely any less than
per cent. Kette-rendered lard was absolutely
free from water. When the buyers refused the
lard on account of the large amount of water in
it, the manufacturers looked about for some
cheap article to take It's place, and liked
cotton seed oil. 1t was found that it combined
with lard without damaging it, while it cheap
ened its cost The adding of the oil to the lard
necessitated the use of hardening substance.
like stearine About the time cotton-seed oil
began to be used, oleomargarine and stearine
came into the market. IL was made from the
kidney fat of the bullock. There nothing purer
that could come from an animal fat, and 1t was
used in hardening lard. He did not know ex-
acty what proportion of cotton seed oil went
into the lard but he should think the proportion
to be about sixty pounds of lard to twenty-five
pounds of oil and fifteen pounds OF stearine.
This product he considered TO be wholesome and
just as good pure lard, as far cooking was
concerned. There were standard qualities Of
cotton-seed oil, but he did not know that they
differed except to color.
The Chairman-Do you know how cotton seed
oil is Transported from the South2
The Witness-I think it comes in barrels
The Chairman-Do you know whether the
Standard Oil Company is transporting cotton
seed oil from the South in coal oil tanksl
The Witness-I do not. never heard of its
but think it would be practicable.
The Chairman-Would you regard il n
proper thing for the Standard Oil Company to
fill tanks in Pennsylvania with coal oil, send
them South and then fill them with cotton-seed
oil for transportation to the Northf
The Witness-No sir; it would utterly ruin lie
The Chairman-If it has been done. IL would
change your views about the wholesomeness Of
this productl
The Witness-It could not be done without
detection.
The Chairmau-Then it has been detected, be-
cause it has been done. The evidence is conclu-
sive on that point. The parties who transported
it have sworn to it before the lnterstate-com-
merce Commission. The Chair knows exactly
what it is talking about.
Mr.. Cromwell-At the proper time would
like the privilege of correcting the chairman.
The Chairman--The Chairman would like to
be corrected if you bring here, to perjure them.
selves, the witnesses who testified to the fact.
Mr.. Morgan-Would not business man who
would do that be deranged9
The Wtness-If he wanted to the oil for
culinary purposes. My idea is that you could
not put cotton seed oil in kerosene tanks with
out damaging it.
In answer TO the questions by Mr.. Morgan, the
witness repeated his statement that the cotton
seed oil and stearine were put into the lard to
cheapsn the price. The contest going on he
garded as controversy between a business in-
terestsd in maintaining the price of lard and one
cheaper price. He did not think that the falling
off in the exports of lard could be ntirely
counted for by the feet that the refined lard was
exported. It might be caused by an increase in
the European hog and olive crops
Mr.. Laird presented to the witness sample
of cottonseed oil and asked his opinion as to it's
quality After examining it the witness re-
piled that the man who would put it in his lard
must be crazy.
Mr.. Laird-Either crazy or corrupt
The witness did not think that that quality
was put into lard. The oil put in was perfectly
sweet. Cotton-seed oil, properly rifned, was an
wholesome any other vegetable OIL
When cross-examined by Mr. Wilson the wit
ness stated that he did not think refne-s en-
ployed chemists, and did know whether
WHITE RroaSe-1Qauo from SmODn6r6u DOgS-WA9
used in the manufacture of refined lard. He
thought that the object Of the controversy was
that the manufacturers of compounded lard
should brand it as compound lard.
Mr.. Wilson-Suppose that 1t gets to be known
abroad that what is being sold as prime lard
contains 40 per cent of cotton-seed oil, would
not that create distrust and hurt the trade in
pure lard?
The Witness-It would not create a distrust
Business men generally have heads enough to
know whether they are buying trash or n good
article. In reply TO Mr.. Cromwell the witness
stated that when he manufactured lard he never
used gur-fat. but he thought packers did to-day.
1t was only of comparatively recent years that
the gut had been used The same was true to
the head and feet u. S. Epperson, represent
ing firm in Kansas City, stated that that firm
manufactured prime steam lard most of which
was exported. 1t also made a refined lard. com.
posed of so per cent. Of prime lard and 20 DER
cent. of beef fat for the home market 1t had
been forced to do this account of the cheap
ness of the compound lard. HIS was in favor OF
a bill which would compel all manufacturers to
brand their lard what it really
In reply to Mr.. Cromwell the witness stated
that in manufacturing lard the heads were
thrown in and such feet as not picked. the
hoofs being frat drawn off and the feet cleaned
The fat Of the entrails was drawn off.
MINOR MENTION.