The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-02-24
HAD TO BE PEELED.
And Then Refrigerated Beef Was All
Right Says Major Osgood.

Right Says Major Osgood.
Washington, Feb. 24.-The testimony
of Col. J. F. Weston, who was at the
outbreak of the war assistant commits
sary general and who now is the sue
cessor of Commissary General Charles
p. Eagan, together with the appearance
of Gen. Eagan, was the feature of yes
terday's proceedings of the court of in
Quiry investigating the charges of Gen.
Miles as to the beef supply of the army
while in Cuba and Porto Rico. Each
cOntended that the canned roast beef
was wholesome and nutritious COM
pOnent of the army ration. and took
issue with the regular army officers
who have criticised it. Regarding the
refrigerated beef the testimony tended
to show tnat it was satisfactory. Gen.
Eagan took issue with Gen. Miles in re-
gard to beef on the hoof being the
best supply of fresh beef to the army,
insisting that such source was imprac-
ticable in Cuba and especially undesira-
BILE in any country where the animal
heat in the beef could not disappear
before cooking.
Gen. Weston reviewed at some length
the difficulties attending the embarka-
I ton at Tampa.
He then reviewed the first arrival of
refrigerated beef at Siboney, the Mis-
siSsippi bringing 200, 000 pounds imme
diately after the surrender. He saw
the beef on the Mississippi, and, reply
ing to Col. Davis, said it was not SO in
Tampa 1t was slightly discolored, but
not bad.
Speaking of the Ponce preventative
process experiment, Col. Weston said
the commissary department had moth
ing whatever officially to do with it.
Mr. Edwards, he said, representing
| Armour & Co., came to him and said
some beef was coming that would be
treated, and he asked witness if he
would not put it on ship and see how
long it would keep. The beef arrived
and witness asked Mr.. Powell what
| had been done to the beef and the latter
replied that nothing injurious was in
the treatment; he had furnished beef
for years to Florida hotels and he be-
lieved the beef in question would keep
seventy-two hours, and if so. and if the
government would contract, the full
process would be explained. Six or
| seven quarters were taken and put on
the ships. Some was in canvas and
some was not. The former held out
seventy odd hours, while the uncan-
yased beef went up pretty quickly
Col. Weston declared emphatically
that the government had no connection
with the experiment.
Canned roast beef in Cuba was not
spoiled, but the heat made it uninvit-
ing in appearance However. it was
wholesome and excellent for stew pur
poses, the witness declared.
Replying to Col. Gillespie, witness
said he did not know whether any beef
furnished the army had been treated
chemically.
Major Henry Osgood acting as assist
ant cOmmiSsary general prior to the
outbreak of the war and subsequently
assigned to duty with Gen. Miles and
who went to Santiago early in August,
where he looked after the issue of beef,
said he had to use some beef on the
hoof, but it never became firm and did
not compare faVorably at all with the
refrigerated beef, nor did it give such
satisfaction. Major Osgood said he
| formerly favored a beef on the hoof
| was forced to take water on that"
after seeing the use of refrigerated beef.
Responding to Gen.Davis, witness de-
| clared his opinion that many of the
| claims of officers that refrigerated beef
| was spoiled was false. The beef, he said,
often appeared offensive when merely
| viewed, whereas, if a knife were used
| to-cut off the outside the best beef
| you could find anywhere would be
| found. Snap judgment vas taken Of
| ten on that beef" the witness declared.
Speaking of the men and their COM
plants he said: "All their liverS were
| out of whack 1 estimate that SO per
| cent of them had enlarged livers and
| they were ready to complain at every
| thing-wanted to be fed all the time
| delicacies.''
Captain G.. L. Scott, Sixth cavalry,
served in Porto Rico and declared the
native beef was unsatisfactory, while
| the refrigerated beef was highly pleas
ing.
It was nearly o'clock when former
Commissary General Eagan who had
arrived from New York was presented
| to the court.
Proceeding in response to questions,
he said that in introducing canned roast
| beef it was the intention to use it as an
| incidental so that the men could take
it or not as they liked.
The first complaint about this beef
came from Captain Philip Reed of the
| commissary department. Witness was
surprised and at once ordered all Off
| GERS who had this beef to examine and
report. The responses Endorsed the
beef.
General Eagan said that when the
war came there were three plans for
| fresh beef supply-refrigerated beef,
| beef on the hoof to be furnished by con-
| tractors and for the government to own
| it's own herd. This experience taught
| him that undesirability of the govern
ment owning it's own herd. Refrigera-
| ted beef he considered first choice and
when the beef concerns offered it and
guaranteed it's preservation he accepted
| it.
Without concluding the hearing of
Gen. Eagan's testimony the court ad-
| journed for the day.
I