Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1899-01-10
MORE ABOUT BEEF.
Swift Co. Say Beef Supplied Army Was Same
as to New York Trade.

Washington. JAM Sired w. Wilder.
general superintendent for Swift 4 Co.
or Chicago. appeared before the war In
vestigating commission, today, and gave
a general account Of the practical work
ing of the meat business. He said that
all the cattle We're bought from commits
sion firms at the stock yards and there
ment official and then driven TO the abba
toir being well cooled before killing.
A skinning gang of lao men. he .said.
would butcher about 100 cattle an hour.
The cattle were then subjected to a post
mortem examination, also by government
inspectors: The company had had as
this inspection. being about 20 out Of 5000.
The condemnation was mostly due to
tuberculosis.
meilt during the war was sent from Kan
sas City, though most of 1t was from Chi
cago. The contrac, called for the best
fat steers. not less than 600 pounds per
were compiled with Referring TO the
much-tliscussed beard on the refriger-
wholesalers who supplied the best hotels
in Chicago, aged" all their beef before
selling it and got am advanced price for
1t, after it accumulated the beard" He
said the meat was in every respect better
after being aged AS to complaint regard
ing the army contract beef he said the
Manitoba shipment was the only one
condemned.
Witness denied that any chemicals were
used in preserving any. of the meat sold
by his firm and said that in addition to
would be detriment 10 the beef and an
extra expense.
Edwin Buckingham, for, eight, years
Co... also testified that the beef was alb
solutely pure and had never TO his know
ledge been chemically. treated
John j. Murphy, who supervises the
handling of the refrigerator cars. and for
IS years mas been an employee of Swift
& Co. testified 10 the s same general e1i,i
supervised the loading of 100000 pounds
of beef. shipped at Newport News on the
Massaehusets in July for p9r{o E fsom
the same point for. Porto Rico. and a
large consignment in the middle Of July
on the steamship Mississippi, Port Tampa
to Cuba, and that ali These beef ship
ments had been in excellent condition;
Horace C. Gardner, manager OF the
construction and mechanical department,
testified that he had examined a. number
of transports carrying the refrigerated
beef and had seen none that could at I,,, al
be auestion;ea NJ G3rdne H. n deseripS Sa
ammonia did not come in contact with
the meat or affect it in any way. AS to
the keeping ep n Of opaog
was at It's best after three weeks in the
cooler. 1t would remain at ITS best for
perhaps 10 days 81 longer, after winch grad
G. F. swift. the head of the, firm of
Swift & Co. of Chicago. was the next
witness Mr.. Swift said 81, p the qy;ality Of
iaIst about the quality demanded by the
New York trade. MIR. Swift said most
positively, that he had never used chemi-
Gals in all his 40 years experience as
butcher and he knew of no chemical that
could be used with advantage to either
the seller or the consumer, Mr.. Swift
amount of business with the English
army and it had never had any com.
plants as to the quality or condition of
the meat furnished.