The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1899-01-22
DEVELOPING THE
BEEF QUESTION.
Surgeon Days Evidence as to Chem
icaIs is CorrobOrated,
GAVE SATISFACTION IN The NAVY,
witnesses Testify that Canned Beef
Used There Gave No Evidence OF
Any Chemical TrcatmeB--Com-
mission Makes Personal Test

WASHINGTON. Jan. a.-Profcssor
CLARK. OF tho United states Geological
Survey. to-day reported 10 the War In
Vcsuration Commission that his test OF
the powder furnished by surgeon Daiy
as being tire rosiduum from the boiling
aown of "a portion OF the condemned
beef ON the Panama. disclosed the pres
oncc OF both boric and saiicyiic acids.
professor Clark took the witness stand
and was closely examined lie said ihat
pov-dcr was OF a brownlsh color, while
ptro borax f. white. but did not explain
fhe difference. Witness said he could say
ratbinc OF the origin OF the materials
tested nor could hc say the propanle
amount Of these chemical agents use"
that would bc extracted Son making tea
from the beef without more mattildl anu
longer time. Large quantities OF sue"
rbemicais for preseryauves, however ne
ssta would be unnecessary. and would
pe am expensive waste. The noric acio'
ne said. imparts no odor Whatever 10
neat The sancyic acid also Doe sdlu'
was odorless. and be could not say
whether Il forms any compounds WIN
The aosh OF cattle that would produce
odOr ...,.,.,,e,
Asked AS 90 the effect ON health OF
,,einr beef injected with the BORE eclu
witness said IL would bc relatively harm
l.s- h,,+ that the use Of saiicyiic dttt
,,o,,ld he different and was prohibited
hv most European countries. The use
of the boric acid ON meat inrnisheu
troops IN his opinion. would he OF very
,tle Importance from health view
bnf the salicyhc acid would De onJe'-
tiousbic. The effect Of the preserNa-
tlves. ne said. was to make the meat
keen longer ~ the meat was h'P'
t,vontv-four hours after leaving the re-
fricerafer The chemicals might Telaiu
purircfaction. a..
"If the boric acid were used IN the
meat wouid ID impart. as has been tesu-
red 10. a taste so bitter nauseous ana
nuoalatable as 10 make 10 unfit for use.
witness was asked, and be replied.
no. sir"
Pavnastcrs Henry c.. Colbert and
Thomas r. Hicks. United States navy
both testified. The former told or large
purchases Of beef De bad made for the
navy from the same firms which sup
Piled the army lie said the meat gave
general satisfaction When asked il
fhore were any evidences of chemicals
being UrNN. ne tlIcfFft NN iAA NAtf tNNn'
Mr.. Hicks. who is assistant store
feopcr al the New York naVy-y ara
tes,aed that the timed roast beef was
satisfactory 90 the navy. was paaiaoit
and good and that Doe saw 40 reason
why il should not be "a good emergency
ration for the army. as IL was "a reg
ular ration n the navy. he went ON 10
snv he had noticed no material amer
ence in the timed roast beef when lakcf
20 "a tropic climate Re said can OF
tho beef. II hole should penetrate d
would decay and give ont an offensive
ofor. hut IL would not hurt the othe
cans 4 can. DE said. would last som'
hours after opening.
NOT ALL PALATABLE.
Tie admitted that there r. q good dea
of beef that IS not palatable Much col
the beef used 40 BIS yard had com'
from Libby. Mcneil and Libby. whicl
was generally satisfactory, but last jun
he had occas sion 90 reject some Furnished
because Of the dry and unpalatable char
actor. He illustrated the method o
opening the cans and two cans horgh
On open market at random were opcne
and their contents tasted by the nom
hers OF the Commission. Each membe
declared A. Of good flavor and taste