The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-01-04
BEEF PACKERS DENY
That Their Wares are Not
Choice and Honest Stuff,
BOARD OF SURVEY MEETS
10 Inquire About Beef Thrown
Away--MiIes and Eagan.
OF SURVEY MEETS

Washington, D. C, Jan. s.-Commissary
General Eagan has been steadily prose
cutting the inquiry into methods followed
BY the big meat packing houses OF putting
up pthe meats supplied to the army during
the war Last week he made public for
NAL statement from the Armour company
and today he gave out for publication the
following letters addressed 10 Lieutenant
/ Colonel o. NJ Smith. purchasing commits
ssry at Chicago, which came from all save
! one of the firms which supplied the army
meat. either refrigerated or canned:
/ Swift & Co, Chicago, December 2s-"Re-
plying 10 your letter OF the 9th instant,
we wis hto state that We do not put up
I timed beef. therefore are not able TO an
swer your interrogations with regard TO
/ timed beef.
/ I'VE are slaughterers and shippers OF re-
! frigerated beef and in ali of our expe-
rience have never used any chemicals
/ whatsoever with refrigerated beef.
! I'VE have made shipments of refrigerat-
( ed beef to Santiago. Cuba and orto Rico,
ana have supplied the United States army
| during the month of December at the fol-
/ lowing places: Admission, Ala. Huntsville.
/ Ala, Knoxville. Tenn, Savannah, Ga.
I Augusta Ga, Greenville. S. c. Somerville.
( S. C. Columbia 5. c.
Beef shipped to Santiago, Cuba, and
| Porto Rico and to various United States
camps has been handled in exactly the
same way as that used to supply our var
ious branch houses at different cities and
towns in the United States and England,
with which anyone can become familiar by
visiting our branch houses and slaughter
ing plants.
I'VE are. respectfully yours, etc.
SWIFT & CO.
by. G. F. SWIFT. President"
Libbie, McNieI & Libby incorporated,
Chicago. Dec. 2s-'In reply TO your letter
Of the 9th. in regard TO roast beef. We
first commenced packing il twenty-five
years ago. It is sold by all wholesale gro
GERS and RETAILERS and used by the mass
Of people, especially in mining camps.
Large quantities have been consumed by
the Alaska trade the last two years; also
in South Africa, in the mining regions. We
also ship large quantities of it 70 our for
eign trade, especially Scotland. and large
quantities have been used by other gov
ernments and especially the French army.
IN cooking the beef before putting into
cans there is naturally more or less juice
that comes from the meat, the same as
there is when cooking it at home, which
Is sometimes saved and used in making
soups. The beef is not cooked for the ex-
tract.
In Il ~ he n rOc (
we consider it as much cooked as corn
beef TO make it tender, the same as corned
beef. but it is done under a higher degree
of heat and, consequently, does not take
as long to cook it.
Answering your question in regard to
foreign ingredients and scraps being used
in putting up this meat, will say we use
nothing but good, wholesome. sound gov
ernment-inspected beef and no scraps of
any description are used. The fat in our
can is part Of and belongs to the beef
which is packed IN the can There IS none
poured in We do not handle refrigerated
beef. Respectfully yours.
LIBBY. MNETL & LIBBY.
"By ". P. BURROW, Secretary"
Nelson Morris & Co. Chicago-"Your IA
vor Of the 9th instant. requesting infor-
nation according to extract Of letter re-
ceived al your Office, has come 20 hand and
we herewith beg 10 submit to you all the
Information at our command.
1--WE repeat the questions FOR couve-
nience, putting the reply after each ques-
ton.
"Q.-state the extent Of the timed roast
beef industry.
"A-Our business in this article is verp
large. extending all over this country and
throughout England and to the continent
OF Europe.
"Q.-How long has this article been IN
use, where used. and by whom?
Ave have manufactured and sold the
article in question the last twelve years
or therea5outs. selling it principally to the
wholesale grocery houses and provision
dealers: and timed roast beef s and has
been used by all classes OF people We
have for years supplied this article. direct
u or Indirectly. to the British government
for use Of the navy. also the French gov
eminent and TO our government for the
use OF the navy: in the latter case before
during and after the Spanish war. and
made our sales upon samples inspected
and approved by the proper board OF in
speCtors.
-Q.-Is II largely used IN this country: e
50. by whom sold and the elias sof people
VINO generally purchase ~
"A-As stated in answer % previous
questions. We have sold il very extensively
in this country for years. principally 20
wholesale grocers and provision houses
throughout this country. We understand
these people have n turn supplied the re-
tai grocers. ship chambers. exporters and
country merchants. 50 that L IS and has
been used and consumed by ali classes o..
people. In addition. as re have stated
large quantities have been used by the
American navy
Of il has beer sold 20 foreign c0un-
tries. about how much. and who vas it,
"A--Our principal sales % this 1roduc,
have been 70 England. where ~ have ship
ped many thousands q cases every wear
for long period o. years; also 70 France.
Our principal customers have been ire
governments and wholesale grocereas ana
provision houses: ard xe are informed thar
this prodVct : sod by the later % retail
ers who again distribute l. 20 ali classes
O. people, especially Those tho need The
fcod fov long sea voyages and in other
cases where preserved meats ara reglfrE.
'Q--Do al packers make seup ont az
A1:@ vITALiS