The leader., 1899-01-04
prior to the sailing of the shafter ex-
| Al l.. - III

prior TO the sailing OF the Shafter ex-
petition. and is as follows:
washington, Sept. 81. 1sss.-To the As
sistant Adjutant General, Headquarters
Of the Army. Washington: Sir-l have the
honor TO report in the Interests o. 1T the
made In the various camps and troop
ships at Tampa. Jacksonville, Chickamau-
ga ind Porto Rico. that i found the
fresh beef to be apparently preserved
with secret chemicals, which destroy its
natural flavor. and which | also believe
to be detrimental to the health Of the
While on duty at the headquarters OF
the army at Tampa, at the head OF the
embarkation of the Shafter expedition,
Col. Weston. the efficient chief coIninis-
sary, showed me "A quarter of beef that
had already. as a test. been so hours in
the sun without being perceptibly faint
ed, so far as the sense OF smell could
detect. II Is impossible to keep fresh
beef 80 long untainted In the sun in that
climate without the use OF deleterfous
preservattves. such as boric acid or nj
trate of potash injected into ID In quanti-
ties likely to be hurtfui to the health OF
the consumer. AT Ponce much OF the
beef arriving on the transport from the
United States was also of the same char
acter, being apparently preserved by In
jected chemicals to aid deficient cold
"Where efficient cold storage is impos-
sibie transporting beef alive is the meth
cd that should receive the fullest consid-
for the health of the consumer. When
detailed to take charge of the transport
Panama for conveying convalescents to
the United States / obtained 1900 pounds
of fresh beef from the commissary at
Ponce. IT locked well, but had an odor
similar to that of a dead human body
after being injected with preseryatives
and tasted. when first cooked. like de
composed bodies; after standing a day
for further inspection II became so bit
ter, nauseous and unpalatable as to be
~ ms Gi FOR
II was, therefore. obliged. owing to the
condition, and the complaints OF the sick
about tho disgrstinGly sickening odor 1t
emitted when being cooked, and the
mawkish. fiat taste when served and the
safety of the patients, 225 convalescent
solaIers on board, to organize board OF
survey. condemn and throw J, 500 pounds
all we had, overheard, consequently the
convalcscents were entirely without much
needed fresh beef, making the duty Of
bringing the men to the United States
in an improved condition a very difficult
matter.
''In my inspection of the Fourth United
States volunteer infantry at jacksonville
recently, | observed the same odor ami
taste upon the fresh beef, but not so
marked, and at the camp Of the Sixth
United States volunteer infantry at Chick
amaugn, also. at several Inspections.
observed 1t markedly. ] there inspected
a lot OF beef just issued to that regiment
and while ii looked well. was of a sicken-
ing odor. like Il human body dead of dis
ease and injected with personalities, and
when cooked was quite unpalatable. con-
sequently likely TO prove an efficient
cause of il-hcalth. The men complained
of its insipid and mawkish flavor that
high seasoning could not conceal
believing that the Commissary depart
mcnt has been imposed upon by the mis-
directed commercial spirit of persons fur
niShing fresh beef. | respectfully recon-
mend that the matter be investigated by
experts making cumulative and quail
tative chemical analysis of the several
personalities suspected TO be used by
getting samples of beef furnished for ex-
port t. Cuba and Porto Rico.
"1f the question arises that a report
should have been made by me earlier ]
beg to say that / have endeavored with
all my opportunities to first inform my
self by observation of the conditions
above noted sufficiently to warrant my
drawing the attention of the adjutant
general at headquarters of the army to
the matter. Very respectfully,
wv. H. DAILY.