St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1893-01-31

northern part of the state. The supply
comes principally from Wisconsin,
where no law exists preventing ITS sale.
This Department. has been unremittlnS
in its efforts to prevent its gaming
foothOld within the border of the state,
but has been handicapped to certain
extent by reason of certain provlslol
of the interstate commerce law, with
reference to the Original package
clause, whereby packages in transit ana
unbroken packages cannot be seizeo'
though it properly comes Wllnin tue
police surveillance of the state, leaving
US the right to prosecute only the fetall-
er who sells it by the pound.
Early last summer this department.
mistrusted that small lots of oleo were
being clandestinely shipped into the
city of st. Paul under cover OF dark
ness. Our inspectors were constantly
on the alert and were soon rewarded by
tracing some of the stuff to leading
hotel in the city. We Immediately
began systematic search, visiting all
the hotel and restaurant cellars I'D the
city, and secured several tubs OF the
stuff, which we seized and took into our
possession. The parties from whom
they were taken readily gave up Inc
goods, and plead piteously not to be ex-
posed, as it would result in great in
jury to their business if their patrons
mistrusted that oleo was used on their
tables or in the preparation of their
foods. Their appeals. however, were
OF no avail. and the matter was
thoroughly advertised in the columns OF
the daily press. The lesson that they
learned. though costly, has had salu-
tary effect, and the department has had
no cause to complain of any further
trouble in this direction. The same
course was pursued at Minneapolis and
was attended with the same results.
A Vinegar Roast.
Vinegar, also, comes in for a large
share of attention, as the article of food
that has been most perSiStently tam
pered with and most frequently adulter-
ated. 1.-The commissioner thinks now
the department is gradually clearing
out all but the pnre article. The report
roasts the Alden Vinegar company, of
st. Louis, to brown turn:
The most persistent manufacturer of
spurious, illegal and impure vinegar is
the Alden Vinegar company, of st.
Louis, Mo. These vinegars are placed
upon the markets under many names
and brands, but on analysis are found to
be equally impure. regardless of the
brand. Their vinegars have been so
thoroughly advertised throughout the
state that their sales are very limited
indeed, and Minnesota has ceased to be
dumping ground for their vile con-
coction,' and the name Alden that so
proudly occupied the place Of honor on
the barrel heads, is Supplanted by big
hn hannn,a in
such bad odor throughout the state"
A sample of an "impudent letter"
from the Alden company is given, and
with it an analysis of it's vinegar show
ing it to be illegal, and tine subject is
concluded with:
"Other vinegar manufacturers have
tried to. and have succeeded very well
in complying with the provisions of our
laws, and are today our firmest friends,
while the Alden company persists in its
nefarious and illicit business, and seeks
to force its goods upon our market
rather than to correct its quality and do
an honest and legitimate business.
1t has sent us numerous letters threat
ening this department with prosecu-
ton for advertising the true character
of its goods; which course only resulted
diSastrously to it, and it stands in our
state today the most thoroughly adver-
tIsed manufacturer of spurious vinegars
that ever found Judgment OH the mar
ketS Of the state.
Lard Substitutes.
Before the enactment of the present
lard law, 'lard substitute" found its
way to our markets, that for time bid
fair to Supplant genuine lard. This
compound consisted principally of cot
tonseed oil and stearine. 1t was very
white, and was placed in the hands of
the retailer at much lower figure than
genuine lard. Its general appearance
was in its favor, and the general public
might be easily deceived thereby. While
it might be substituted for lard to a Ger
tain extent. yet it would not, l think.
recommend itself for general use in all
culinary departments in the preparation
of foods, as foods prepared with this
substance soon become strong and rancid
and would fall far short of giving entire
satisfaction. The law now in opera
ton does not prevent its sale,
but it requires that it be sold fol
what it really is. The article must be
plainly branded lard SUBSTITUTED or
"adulterated lard" The retailer must
give the purchaser certificate stating
llldI Iu6 dTlIClS Is ldTu SUBSTITUTE VI
"adulterated lard" together with its
formulR. Hotels and restaurants using
the same i'll tie preparation of food
must state on their bills of fare and on
notices conspicuously posted in their
dining rooms that ''lard substitute is
used here in the preparation of food"
this has the desired effect of baniShing
it from general use. and consequently
there is no occasion of the purchaser
being SWindled, yet. at the same time,
if any person prefers it to pure lard
there is no law preventing his enjoying
that privilege. But, as stated above. it
has not entered into anything like gen.
eral use, and, as long as the provisions
of the law are complied with, we have
no fears for the genuine article.
Coffee and Spices
The report concludes with the recon-
mendation that the scope of the COM
mission should be enlarged and many
other articles placed within its prov
ince. Honey should be added, and
coffee and spices, all three of which are
sold in frightfully adulterated form.
Speaking of coffee, the report says:
Parties are at work IN some of the
Eastern states gathering coffee grounds,
and after drying and grinding them to
fine powder, they mix it
with rye -four into a dough and represS
it in mods in the shape of the coffee
berry. and this fraud passes unnOticed