Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-11-27
PRODUCTS OF THE DIARIES
Chief of the Division, Department Of Agri-
culture, Makes an Investigation.
Tour of Inspection tto Determine
FHilities for Transportation of
PerishabIe Goods-Oleo Trade.

Henry E. Alvord, chief of the dairy divis-
ion, bureau of animal industry, Department
of Agriculture, has returned from a six
weeks trip through the south and west.
Secretary Wilson assigned to him, in addi-
ton to a general inquiry into dairy matters,
the duty of examining into the facilities for
the transportation of perishable farm pro-
ducts to the gulf coast and for exporting
them from those ports Mr.. Alvord travel
ed through Arkansas, Texas, west section
OF Louisiana and southeastern Kansas
Georgia ard Iowa.
1.-THE people in the section visited Mr.
Alvord stated, seemed to be greatly in
terested in the oleomargarine cases here
and in Philadelphia and heard much talk
about the matter. The general expression
on all sides was that the government
Should not compromise the cases, as has
been done hitherto, but should enforce the
law to the fullest extent. Every person
with whom l talked on the subject seemed
to be fully posted, and all the phases of the
oleo cases were thoroughly discussed,
showing that they had been followed
Closely
Sales Of OleO Diminishing.
1.-The sale of oleomargarine for what it is
to licensed dealers has been large in the
past through Louisiana, Texas and Arkan-
sas. The sales, however, have been greatly
diminished especially in the last year.
People seem to prefer to buy genuine but
ter even OF the inferior quality. Mer-
chants report the selling of more butter,
even of second and third grades, than of
the oleo, and this has been the case more
especially in the past few months. The
statement by the merchants is fully con-
firmed by the fact that the number of Ii
censes taken out has materially decreased
Filled cheese, which has formerly been
prominent in that section, is now practi-
cally unknown. The congressional law has
operated against this, and the result is an
increase to the trade and in the conSump-
ton of general cheese.
The oleomargarine cases We're especially
watched in Iowa and Georgia. The people
there were strong against compromise. The
hotels and boarding houses are generally
using oleo in Arkansas, Louisiana and
Texas. There is practically no legislation
there which affects the sale of it. On the
contrary, in such states as Iowa and Min
EeSota, where there are good state laws
and good dairy commissioners, oleo and
limitations of butter and cheese are driven
out. In Arkansas, Louisiana and Texas
margarine in original packages from large
dealers, principally from Kansas City
There is no law against the sale in Texas
In Louisiana and Arkansas the regulations
only require the packages to be branded
which does not amount to anything. There
are no dairy commissioners there either,
which naturally helps the sale of oleomar-
garine.
Situation In Texas.
The oleo interests are on top in Texas,
because the cattle people have the sway
there, and the oleo people make the cattle
dealers believe that it is to their interest to
sell the oleo, as beef cattle are used in the
production, and the sale, of course is
thereby greatly increased --s--.,. ,
Il was greatly IMPRESSED on my ri wit n
the gradual extension of the dairy interests
to the southwest section and to the north
ern portion of the gulf state. Kansas is
ST ppiying Texas with what best butter il
consumes. Missouri is practically supply
ing itself Nothing is yet being done in
Arkansas and Texas in the dairy business =.
except private ones. In Georgia and other
southern states creameres are being estab-
lished, and there is good deal of actual
work in the dairy business showing itself
en- the farms. ~
Shipping Products.
I'm regard to the investigation for ship
ping farm products and transporting them,
l gave my attention principally to dairy
products, poultry, fruit and the like. In re-
gard to special accommodation, l looked to
see if the use of the refrigerating transpor-
tation could be secured to the coast. The
next question to be considered is that of the
refrigerating apartments in the vessels sail
ing from the gulf ports.
Il found that few lines of vessels had.
refriSeratng arrangements, but they We're
nc silly of the irregular character OF
course, the refrigerator service is worthless
unless it is regular. My object was prin-
cipaly to confer with the steamboat people.
L visited, on the coast Galveston, and two
new ports which might be suitable for ex-
port of such products as l wished These
Lew ports were Belasco, at the mouth of
the BraZos river in Texas, and Port Arthur.
This is on the border of Texas and Louis
lana, and mostly settled by the Dutch.
Refrigerator Service.
arrangements were made on my trip by
which it is hoped there will be refrigerator
service during the winter from New Orleans
to the other side. The arrangements were
made with only one line, and the trips will
probably be fortnightly. There are already
exports of similar products to Havana and
the West Indies. Naturally they will be
much larger to Cuba. if there was not such
an unsettled state of affairs there. The
Gu estions have yet to be considered of pre-
vCing facilities and furnishing enough pro-
dGce.
Il found that the railroad transportation
to the gulf ports was fairly good