The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1899-12-06
NEW JERSEYS DIARIES.
Much 0leomargarine Sold
Here Commissioner Ma
guire Says.

State Dairy Commissioner George w.
Mcguire yesterday presented his annual
report to Governor Voorhees,. In it he
calls attention to the fact that out Of a
large number of samples of what was sup
posed to be butter purchased in the open
market during the year, fifty proved to be
oleomargarine. The report admits that
there is a great deal of his article sold in
New Jersey. THE location of the State
between the cities of New York and Phila-
delphia, and with its large suburban and
seashore population, makes it a dumping
ground for the makers and sellers of
oleomargarine," says the Dairy Commits
sioner in his report. w have had a very
busy year chasing after ol-eomargarine
dealers. Under the oleomargarine law
there was a total of $50 samples collected
and analysed. S9S of which were-bought in
the open market for butter. OF these, fit
ty samples were proven to be oleomar-
garine and 84S were pure butter. Sixty-one
samples were bought as oleomargarine,
and were found to be properly and legal
ly marked and labelled, as were the tubs
from which they were sold"
Forty SUITS continues Mr.. Mcguire,
were commenced during the year for the
Illicit sale of oleomargarine, and 26 cases
are still pending in the courts. A total Of
81. 800 has been turned into the State
Treasury for fines collected under this
law.
Forty special dairy Inspections were
made, So. $50 were paid to the State Trea-
surer in fines collected. OF the milk sam
pies, COZ were shown to be above the
State standard of u per cent. total solids
and IS below. Thirty-flve suits were
commenced for violations of the milk law,
IA of which are still pending, 21 having
been tried and settled in the courts. Dur
ing the year 81, 200 was collected in fines
under the milk act. OF this amount
$3.50 was paid in cases which were insti-
tuted last year and pending at the begin
ming of the present year.. and $3.50 for
fines in the suits instituted and collected
during the year.
We have been particularly solicitous
about securing a good milk supply. Oleo-
margarine 1t not hurtful, but bad milk IS.
New Jersey supplies much Of the milk
used in New York and Philadelphia, and
on that account the State has a great re-
sponsibility. We ave to be on the alert
at all times for bad milk and particularly
to see to the cleanliness of the diaries and
the healthfulness of the cows. There
were ~ samples of milk analysed this
year as against CSC last year, the percent
age of adulteration being about one per
cent. less than it was last year.
1.-The result of milk inspections indicates
a general Improvement in quality and a
greater care in handling market milk.
Since the organization OF the department
there has scarcely been a year that we
nave not been compelled to report one or
more instances where serious and often
fatal, results have occurred from the use
Of infected milk. and investigations which
followed plainly showed the cause of the
trouble to be carelessness and ignorance
In handling and storing milk for distribu-
ton, or a defective water supply.
'oThe publicity given these Investigations
has a a most beneficial effect on the
producers and dealers in milk, and from
official knowledge we are able to say that
there is greater care being exercised not
only by the producer, but by the creamery
men, thar ever, and as a class they are
trying to excel in dispensing a clean, pure
article and are adopting every modern
method to meet the demands of a criti-
Cal puDuC.
1.-THE work of the department could be
made far more useful, and the public
health more securely s~afeguarded were it
possible to have more systematic and-reg-
ular inspections made at places where
large quantities of milk are prepared and
handled for shipment. This Is not possible
with our present appropriation.
During the summer months nearly
every sample Of milk received was exam
ined for pre~seryatives. especially for the
presence of formalin. ] am pleased to re-
port that but five samples were ound to
contain formaldehyde. The parties were
promptly prosecuted, convicted and fined.
''Out of the $4,000 appropriated to the
department there was expended for in
spectors' salaries 1920; travelling ex-
penses, including cost of purchasing sam
pies. extra help. ETC., !, 2S5; chemists sal
airy. !, 75o; laboratory supplies and incl
dentals. 1897; counsel fees, 1920; printing,
etc.. So; clerks salary. $3.50.