The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-03-18
The Inspection Of Meats.

More than on e-fourth OF the entire ap-
preparation made this year by Congress for
the Agricultural Department goes to what
is called thu Bureau Of Animal Industry.
This name may onvcy only n vagu" i'm
preston to most persons, hut one impor-
tant duty Of the bureau is hat Of meat in
spection; and the extent to which this task
is now carried on accounts largely for the
outlay.
The matter becomes Of more interest
since the Meat Inspection bill passed by
the Bundesrath at Berlin restricts the i'm
portation OF foreign meats to certain ports
and stations in order to facilitate inspec-
tion, while it has been proposed to appoint,
under the coming legislation OF the Rcichs-
tag on the same subject, a German corps OF
inspectors, who shall go to such places as
Chicago and Kansas City, and there ex-
anime all meats destined for Germany,
issuing certificates that will be accepted as
conclusive in that country. 1t is urged that
this would be only an extension Of our
system of having American Consuls legalize
in Germany expectations to the United
| States.
But whatever Germany may do, there
lS u pDbl Nthl III bllltlul llSIttllil mere
already, and it includes all the beef and
the greater part OF the pork sent to
Europe, although not all that which enters
into interstate commerce. The last fiscal
years area of inspection took in thirty-tive
cities, and included 1875 abnttoirs, besides
many ~storkyards. The inspections COW
cred 0,22s,237 cattle, ~1O.O2S.2S7 sheep,
i6S, 1919 calves, and 81 ,610,675 hogs, max
ing n total Of 81, 800, 1913 animals. OF these
lO4 cattle, al sheep, 81 calves and 9,679
hogs, "A total of 1881, were condemned at
abattoirs, and 27,i9l cattle, 1854 sheep,
2,439 calves and 6O, O6l hogs, Il total Of
1855, were rejected in stockyards.
There were oops POI more animals IN
spccted that year than the previous one,
and I5.4l7,910 more than the year before
that. Tho number Of animals condemned
at abattoirs was 3,275 fewer than the
previous year, but the number rejected
in stockyards was 27, 247 greater. OF the
total inspections for the year 81 ,2l3,06
were set down as for official ahattoirs in
the cities where regular inspections are
made and 20, l2i, 432 for abattOirs in other
cities and for miscellaneous buyers. Here
are further statistics Of the years work
The meat inspection tag or brand was placed on
l4,sl5.7"3 quarters and 9dI,ol+ pieces Of beef
5.A4s.477 carrAsscs OF sheep. . 7.OlO carcasses Of
calves, $40, s7d car,ass's Of hoGs. and 3PA, 58S sackl
Of p1rk.
The meat inspection stamp was an Icd to ABR.
56I packages % beef products, 5.i63 packages OF
mutton. aud lo.l45,o4s packages Of hog products
of which 37<.i3I contained microscopIcllly eN
amincd pork.
The number or cars scaled containing inspected
meat for shipment to packing houses and othel
places was 1881,
There were issued n, 2G7 certificates for meat prod
uctS which hal received the ordinary lnslo c.iou
Th"so covered exports, comprising l,256. ~ guar
tiers, ~. 100 pieces, and 735.sI4 packages of beef
weighing asa. $50. O9i pounds; 5.l63 packages o
mutton. weighing 324. og6 pounds; 80, 2l2 hog car
cAsses. and 65s. 56t packages of pork, weighing
2t4, $50. 4s2 pounds.
Ths cost OF this work was Skov. Iys yo9. whicl