Evening capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1888-1893, 1891-09-24
A MILLION A YEAR.
Lottery and Prize Schemes Used TO
Sell Alum and Ammonia Baking
Powders.

Otli ALUM aHu hmmOHtd DdhihS
Powders.
A New York, concern, manufac-
turers of an ammonia baking pow
der, boasts that its yearly profits are
over million dollars. While, per
haps, none of the makers of alum
powders individually can show so
large earL.nes :. ct their profits are
enormous.
A business so profitable will al
ways attract to itself those whose
greed will cause them to utterly dis
regard the effect their traffic may
have upon the health or life OF
others.
Alum baking powders are intro
duced largely by gifts, prizes and
lottery schemes. A piece of glass
ware or china, a child's wagon, sled &,
pewter spoon or some other article
of attractive appearance, but OF
small Intrinsic value or cost, il
given with each purchase, or a
number is attached to the can which
entities the customer to similarly
numbered article or to q prize of
some kind. 1t Is in some such way
as this that the trade in alum and
ammonia baking powders, which
has now attained such giant proper
tirns and their consumption 10y the
public which has reached an extent
which is truly alarming.
The highest authorities of all
countries condemn the use of alum
in bread without reserve. In Amer
lea the most distinguished physi-
clans, chemists and hygienists have
declared that the traffic in alum
ba sing powder should be suppressed
by law. In England and France,
where the subject of pure food and
its effect upon the system has been
more fully considered and made the
subject of extended experiments by
the scientists, so serious a matter il
the Use OF alum in bread or other
food considered to be that most
stringent laws have been enacted
to prevent it. These laws are rigidly
enforced, and the sale of alum bak-
ing powders would not be permitted
for AN hour. Any one who attempt'
I'd to make them for use in food, ol
attempted to use them for raising
bread, biscuit or cake, would suffel
severe penalties.
The i'll effects upon the system o
food raised by alum baking powder;
are the more dangerous because o.
their insduOus character. 1t would
be less dangerous to the community
were it fatal at once, for theu such
food would be avoided; but their
deletGrious action because imper.
ceptible at first is no less certain.
The puckering effect which alum
has when taken into the mouth j.
familiar to every one. Physicians
say this same effect is produced by
it upon the delicate coats of the
stomach and intestines.
What housewife would take home
TO her family can of alum or am.
monia baking powder if she knew
it. Such powders not only under
mine the system, but il is pointed
out that ammonia taken into the
system in even infinitesimal doses
day after day imparts to the conf
plexiOn a sallow and blotched APP
pearance.
1t is safe to discard all baking
powders sold with a prize or gift.
What misnomer are the words
Absolutely Pure" as applied to
baking powders two of the largest
selling brands, one made from alum,
the other containing ammonia, and
both Of these drugged baking pow
ders have stamped upon their labels
and circulars these words absolutely
pure, as II matter Of fact they are
Absolutely Poor" as shown by
official examinations.