The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-01-10
DEFEND THEIR BEEF
CHICAGO PACKERS DENY CHARGES
OF ARMY OFFICERS.
Testimony of G. f. Swift and His EN-
pIOyes Before the War Investi-
eating Commission.
NO "EMBHLMING" FLUID USED
METHODS OF KILLING CATTLE AND
COOLING MEAT DESCRIBED.
tBearded" Beef Preferred by Chicago
ans-Chemist Wiley to Make an
Analysis of Canned Meats.

WASHINGTON, Jan. 9.-Fred w. Wilder
general superintendent for Swift & Co, of
Chicago, appeared before the war investi-
eating committee to-day. The witness said
he had general charge of all the packing,
canning and Strengthening of cattle for the
Chicago plant, and gave general account of
the practical workings of the meat business.
He said that all the cattle were bought
from commission firms at the stock yards.
and there given an ante-mortem inspection
by a government official and then driven to
the abattoir. being well cooled before kill
ing. skinning gang of $50 men, he said,
would butcher about 100 cattle an hour.
The cattle were then subjected to post
norton examination also by government
inspectors who examined the lungs, liver
and intestines. The company had had as
many as twenty cattle week condemned
at this inspection, being about twenty out
Of 5000. The condemnation was mostly due
to tuberculosis. The condemned animals
are tagged by the government inspectors
and the carcass goes to the refuse tank
where the only use made of it is to render
out the grease for lubricating purposes and
convert the remainder into fertilizers. The
good meat is stamped by the government
inspector and certified for the market.
The beef is cooled for forty-eight hours
before shipping. the temperature being run
down gradually from 40 to Sc degrees. The
shipping cars are thoroughly washed and
aired between each shipment, and are cooled
by ice and salt. The temperature in the
cars is from SO to S6. Export beef is in
closed in a cheese cloth bag to keep it clean
and to prevent chatting. There are icing
stations everv twenty-four hours on each
railroad SliDDinR line. and the %
iced that often.
Witness said different cities took different
grades of beef. Boston demanded the best
In the country, and Baltimore about the
cheapest. New York stood between the two
Part of the beef ordered by the government
during the war was sent from Kansas City
though most OF it was from Chicago. The
contract with the government called for the
best fat steers, not less than 600 pounds for
dressed carcasses These specifications were
complied with.
BEARDED" MEAT
Referring to the much-discussed beard
on the refrigerator meat, Mr.. Wilder said
the large wholesalers who supplied the best
hotels in Chicago "aged" all their beef be-
fore selling it. and got an advanced price
for 1t after it had accumulated the beard.
He said the meat was better in every re-
spect after being aged AS to complaints
regarding the army contract beef, he said
the Manitoba shipment was the only one
condemned. This was shipped July 80 and
was not thrown overheard until Sept is.
Witness had been in the export business ten
years. and in the Liverpool and London
trade where the beef was from ten to
eighteen days in transit, he had never lost
one quarter of beef.
Witness denied that any chemicals were
used in preserving any of the meat sold by
his firm. and said that in addition to other
objections it would be useless, would be
detriment to the beef ard an extra expense.
The beef for export was not the best beef,
but fair quality.
DR.. Connor sought to bring out how they
determined lin half a minute" whether beef
is or is not, or has been, tubercular.
Colonel DENLY objected that the govern
ment inspectors were the ones who were
responsible.
"Al right" concluded Dr. Conner. IT will
wait to examine the government of the
United States
Edwin Buckingham. for eighteen years
employed in the stock yards of Swift q Co.
also testified that their beef was absolutely
pure, and had never. to his knowledge been
chemically treated. He said all the beef
furnished for the war was in good condi-
ton; that his duty was to supervise prep
aratiOn for shipment and the beef after
reaching him had not been treated in any
way and nothing was done save cut ii up.
John j. Murphy. supervisor of the hand
ling of the refrigerator cars. and for fifteen
years an employee of Swift & Co. testified to
the same general effect. Witness said he