Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-10-24
FOODS THAT ARE COUNTERFEfT.
Artificial Almonds and Coffee A Milk
Dealer on the Water Ouesfi on

Artificial Almonds and Coffee A Mill
Dealer the Water Questi on.
A REPORT OF RATHER STARTLING
"A nature is about to be issued by the De.
partment of Agriculture on the adulteration Of
coffee and tea. "he former appears now to be
chiefly sophisticated by the substitution fol
the real beans Of artificial ones nodded from
compositions made o: clay, co.. densed mill
and other mater ials. Secretary Rusk will urge
the Importance of excluding these and otha,
limitations from importation to this country by
the passage OF law shutting on. articles pal
pably intended fer the Justification of food
The beans are manufactured by wholesale in
Germany and sold here for 10 cents pound
From Utrecht also are now coming large quaint
ties of artificial almonds, made from glucose
paste. They are shaped and colored by machines
being finally stepped in nitro-benzole to give
the necessary odor. The deception is SO per
feet that. when mixed with the real article, thu
counterfeits are scarcely to be discovered. o.
course they are ready sheilcd.
There are many factories in the United
States, particularly in Connecticut, which are
wholly engaged in the production of adulter
ants for sale TO various trades, such as ground
cocoanut shells for mixing with pepper. 1t il
estimated that there Is hardly any pepper OF
the market at present which is not at leas
three-fourths something else. The manufac turt
of such articles intended for the express pur
pose OF sY;ndling. consumers, often to the in
jury Of their health, Is urrestrailed by AM
legal enactment. In fact the sophistication OF
| foods has come to be regarded as a part o.
| legitimate business
| 10 illustrate this, take the instance of a re.
tired Brooklyn milk dealer who appeared al
| witness in the case OF n disputed contract fol
milk, which WAS claimed to have been watered
10 fn1f hat ffNf, f,.A
| of milk was fair business, and it was upon thi
statement that the lawyer on the other sid,
| cross-examined him.
"How long were you engaged in the mill
business, Mr.. So-and-so?' was the first question
''Thirty-eight years" the witness replied.
During that period how many quarts do yo,
ageY
well. from first to last, say 1000 quarts
Sand how much we're you paid per quartz"
"Oh. from to cents"
| Call it 6 cents. In 1,0cn quarts there were
according to your measurement, 125 quarts q
| water. So you sold $50 worth Of water every
| day. That was clear profit, Of course, inRs
much as the material cost you nothing?"
Il suppose &C" admitted the old mill
dealer
'As you say" the lawyer continued, "yoy
sold an average of l ,OC0 quarts every day, in
| Guiding Sundays. In 800 days, therefore, yor
must have disposed of Al, 625 quarts Of water a
cents a quart representing a net gain o
%, 737. so annually on a fluid which You drew
| from the pump
I'm not much on fggers," responded tn,
| old dealer with some reluctance, "but sup
pose that's correct"
You were in business for thirty-eight years
you say. At the rate Of e. 737. so annually you
must have gained in that time by the sale O
water $l0A, 600 approximately. That is correct
Is it not?''
Il suppose it is"
"Ahem! You are accounted wealthy man
MIR. So-and-so. l understand. In what shape
may ask, are your means invested?'
"A block OF houses on G street is the only
property own."
''Ihc block is worth $780, 900, is it not?'
Just about that. l believe"
$50 1t appears" said the lawyer, THAT thi
block OF houses which you own has been pait
for entirely by the sale of water from the
pump
Certainly" replied the retired milk dealer
but you will observe that if had not put tn,
quart OF water in each two gallons OF milk
should at present not only possess no block o.
houses, but should be "a, 200 worse off thar
nothing. So you will now understand my
meaning when l stated just now that such
proportion Of adulteration was fair business
For no man can reasonably be satisfied to worl
thirty-eight years at trade and find himself a
the end Of the time a pauper and in debt"