The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1899-02-24
THERE WAS AN EXPERIMENT

lHERE WAS AN EXPERIMENT
In The Treatment of Beef Says Ea.
gan's Successor, but the Govern.
ment had Nothing to do with il.
WASHINGTON. Feb. 23.-The worl,
of the court of inquiry In Washington
will be finished for the time being about
the middle OF next week, when the
board will adjourn to Chicago to look
over the packing industry in that city
and examine such witnesses as may be
most conveniently reached Mt that point.
From Chicago the court will proceed to
Omaha. Whether their duties will car
r. the members elsewhere before re-
turning TO Washington Will depend on
future developments.
Former C0mmissary General Charles
p. Egan was expected to be the first
witness to-day before the beef Inquiry
court, but a telegram was read an
nouncing his detention In New York,
where he went for consultation with his
successor, Col. J. +. Weston, He wifi
arrive here to-day. Captain Alexander
X. Piper, OF the subsistence department
OF volunteers. was called. He was as
signed as commissary OF the second br-
gade, first army corps. embarking with
General Brooke's expedition for Porto
Rice. He said that In Porto Rico beef
on the hoof. native cattle. in connection
| with canned corned and roast beef. was
Issued Native beef was issued, he
! thought five days out OF ten until An
gust II. after which under instructions
Of Colonel Sharp. corps commissary, he
| drew refrigerated beef from the Massa-
| chusetts.
Some complaint agains. the canned
roast beef. he said. wes made, out ii
amounted 10 little. The men had de-
Perforated in condition and were in a
mood 10 complain OF nearly everything.
No action was taken. The men COM
| planned of the native beef being too
irest.'
Personally. he thought a large pro-
portion of sickness was due to the ma
tive fruits. cheap rum and cocoanut
| candy witt! which the men stuffed
themselves.
General ]. F. Weston. successor to
General EaGnH, us commissary general,
was then called. General Weston was
| assistant comG,!ssary general jus;
prior to the war and told OF some of the
problems Of the war that we're discuss
cd and settled In the Office before the
fighting actually commenced. Hc said
the whole question OF fresh meat was
thoroughly gone over and the depart
ment decided that. the canned roast beef
was the best thing obtairabie. He said
the war department had made an hon.
est and thorough investigation OF the
subject and tool; the only course open
10 Il.
nj ha
complaints as TO the meat ration while
he was In charge at Sboney.
Gen. Wilson then reviewed the first
arrival OF refrigerated beef. the Miss
!ssippl bringing two hundred thousand
pounds Immediately after the surren-
der He saw the beef on the Misslss-
ippi and replying TO Colonel Davis said
It was not SO inviting in appearance as
the beef at Tampa. 1t was slightly
dIscolored, but not bad.
III: anS preserVatire had ever been
used on any Of the beef, the fellow that
used II ought to be whipped for stu
pidity-ior, as l told you |; would spoil
within twelve hours" replied Colonel
Weston to another question.
Speaking OF the Ponce preservative
process experiment. Col. Weston said
the commissary department had moth
Ing whatever officially to do with It. Mr.
Edwards. he said. representing Armour
& Company. came TO him and said some
beef was coming that would be treated
and he asked witness II he would not
put 1t on ship and see how long 1t would
keep. The beef arrived and witness
asked Mr.. Powell what had been done
10 the beef and the latter replied that
nothing injurious was in the treatment.