Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1899-03-15
DINED ON TANNED BEEF HANCMAN' s BUSY DAY.
inquiry Court Tries the Much
Denounced Article.
SEEMED TO TASTE VERY GOOD.

Oniciai Surprise Party at the Packing
House of Armour g. Co. at the Chicago
Stock Yards-Try a Midday Meal of
Canned Beef. Potatoes and Carrots and
of the Trip.
Chicago, March 11.-Canned roast beef
which had been to Porto Rico and back
again was eaten with apparent relish
by the members of the beef investigat-
ing board. With potatoes and carrots,
1t constituted their midday meal, sus-
tanning them through several hours of
investigation and business. until they
reached their hotels for dinner. More
over, their appetites We're not impaired.
their digestions were not retarded. and
their opinions of Armour's canned beef
were much improved. The material for
this physical test of the quality of the
canned beef furnished the army was
provided by Arthur Meeker general SUI
perintendent of Armour's packing
house. pho assumed the role Of host OF
the investigating board. The members.
in their enthusiasm for the task IN
hand. had neglected to eat their midday
meal. After going partly through the
departments of the great institution.
the omission began to be felt 1t was
then that Mr.. Meeker told of the
choice old beef which he had stored
away for pust such an occasion-canned
roast beef. which had melted under the
torrid sun of Porto Rico. which had
lain in the hold of Atlantic transports
which had been shipped back to the
original manufacturers, and which, Mr..
Meeker said still retained the nutri-
ton and the freshness which made it
palatable to the healthy appetite.
Try Canned Beef Luncheon.
The prospect was alluring, and the
investigators accepted the invitation to
partake of this choice Wand. The IA
nous roast beef was served in the gen.
eral offices of the Armour plant. 1t was
temptingly garnished with potatoes and
carrots and was warmed to the same
degree which is infused by the Porto
Rican sun before being served. A little
salt was added and the members of
the board began an analysis of it's food
qualities.
1--WE ate it," said Colonel Davis. 1T
was all right
The investigating board descended
upon the stock yards packers without
warning. shortly after IL o'clock in the
morning. In the party were Major Cen
eral James F. Wade, Brigadier General
George w. Davis. Brigadier General
George l.. Gillespie and Lieutenant
Colonel George B. Davis. They had
met in executive session in the Pullman
building and had decided that they
could conduct more intelligent inquiry
IL they were familiar with the process
of canning. The general offices of Lib
by, McNeill & Libby were made the first
stopping place. Secretary Burroughs
did not have his roast beef plant in
operation. This disappointed the In
vestigators, and after a few minutes
spent there they proceeded to the gen.
eral Offices of Armour & Co. General
Superintendent Meeker was also taken
unawares. but Immediately made the
Investigators at home.
Examine the Plant.
The object of the visit was explained
to General Manager Conway, who sum-
moned w. E. Pierce. superintendent Of
the killing house. to show the party
through the various departments. Mr..
Meeker also accompanied them. The
members were taken through the plant
and spent some time carefully studying
the process Of canning the roast beef.
It was o'clock when the members of
the board finished the investigation of
Armour,s establishment. and were
driven to the office of Chief Inspector
w. s. Devoe of the bureau of animal
industry at Forty-Third and Halsted
streets. There an hour was spent In
consulting with DR.. Devoe. reporters
being excluded from the room. After
the conference Lieuts nant Colonel Davis
explained to the newspaper men that
the board had discussed with DR.. De-
voc the laws under which the inspec-
ton of meat was made and the methods
followed In the inspection. and had con-
suited with him regarding the proper
men to summon as witnesses in order
to bring out the information desired by
the board AS a result of the confer
ence, II was decided to summon as wit
nesses several of the .super!ntendents of
departments from each OF the packing
houses which have furnished beef to
the army. George F. Swift was also
selected as a witness. as charges are
made concerning the beef furnished by
that company.