Evening star., 1899-03-17
ARMY COURT AT OMAHA
Members Investigate Packing House Pro-
cesses and Hear Testimony.
Liquid Which DIR. Christine Saw Used
Was a ISOLATION of
SaItpetre.

The court of inquiry investiga ting army
beef held a session at Omaha, Neb., yester-
day. The members of the court visited the
packing houses there and were shown the
processes through which the meat went
until it was placed in the cans.
Dr. ID. Z. Aver, superintendent of the
bureau of animal industry at South Omaha,
was called to testify as to the inspection
OF animals. He stated that there were two
inspections, the antesmortem and the post
mortem After the Post-mortem examina-
tion the inspector had nothing more to do
with the meat. He did not think it would
De possiofe Tor any condemned meat to pass
INTO the house. He Fsaid condemned car
casses could hardly be taken from the vats,
and II this could be done the meat would he
too filthy to be used as food. He had no
knowledge of the use of chemicals for the
preservation of beef ..,,.s.,
superintendent Cameron of the Cudahy
plant stated that the meat used principally
tor canning was the chucks and plates. and
that the beef was not of an inferior grade.
The company furnished this same quality
OF roast beef to the English army last year
and had no complaints. Boiled beef in SIX
pound cans had been furnished the English
army and navy in India. This was the
same thing as the roast beef The only diff
ference was in the label
Inc oWl1t plant was visited next. The de-
partment where hams are cured was thor
ougniy inspected. DR.. Christine of Phila-
delphia had testified that while here he saw
liquid injected into the meat .s...
Injection of saItpetre.
Thomas Adams, foreman of the depart
ment, testified that the operation was one
having reference to the curing of hams and
was not used in beef at any time. The
calt md
it's only purpose was to cure the ham more
quickly.
An employe testified that he had shown
Dr. Christine throughout his visit here, and
that the operation witnessed by the board
was the same as that witnessed b. the
doctor.
The board then returned to army lead
quarters and heard the testimony Of SOL
diers who had been through the campaign
at Santiago.
Capt. S. w. Dunning Of the 10th 1nfa ntry
said that on the transport from Tampa to
Santiago canned roast beef was issued as
part of the rations. He heard no COM
plants, but heard the men joking about
the meat. After arrival at Santiago the
men complained that they could not eat the
meat and did not like it. They said the
meat spoiled as soon as opened. He was
not prepared to say whether any sickness
occurred by reason of the use of the can
ned beef. Complaints on refrigerated beef
were that 1t was spoiled, and the quarter
masters were loath to take it. His COM
mand was insuiticiently rationed from July
until it left Cuba.
Canned Beef an Innovation.
Capt. w. II. Beck, acting inspector gen.
eral of the department of Missouri, said the
canned beef used on the voyage to Cuba
was Il new ration to him. The men said
the beef nauseated them. They mixed other
things with it in an attempt to improve it,
Some of the meat was soft and presented
an unsightiy appearance. The men wanted
to exchange it for bacon but could not do
so because they Were in advance of their
supplies. The first supply of refrigerated
beef was remarked upon favorably. Per
S0Eally, he thought it fine. Later a qUan-
tity of it was found to be spoiled. which
was attributed to the exposure. Because
some of the meat was in Il bad condition
companies did not get their full ration.
First Lieut.. Isaac Erwin of the 18th In
fantry said that on the latter part of the
voyage to Santiago some of his COM
planned that they could not eat the canned
beef because they were tired Of it. After
the landing in Cuba. whenever they could
do 50, the men traded their canned beef
for bacon