Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1899-04-09

WetoHIiAStOu, April o.-1 he army
court Of inquiry into the beef supplied
to the army decided to-day to adhere
to it's decision not to call the list of
witnesses submitted by Gen. Miles, The
reading of the official reports was con-
cluded.
MIR. Alexander Powell, the owner of
the beef process of which so much has
been said, was heard at the forenoon
| session.
MIR. Powell declared emphatically
that neither boracic or salycilic acid
was used in the process, nor, he added,
is there any injection or immersion
in chemicals. The process is applied
by fumigation.'
He said the process was applied to q
case of six carcasses of beef at Chicago.
owned by Armour & Co. He had made
the arrangement with Mr.. Connors,
the superintendent of Armour Il Co.,
agreeing that they should have the
preference in the use OF the process for
the use of the government These
cafcasses were taken to Tampa, the
latter part of May last, and Col. Yves
ton secured four of the carcasses, ex-
posing them in the sun for about eighty
hours. 1t was after this exposure that
Col. Weston, of the commissary de-
| partment, made his report, which was
commendatory.
He said later that not to his know
ledge had Armour & Co. used the pro-
| cess during the war; nor had it ever
oeen USED by any one except himself.
here were, however Otner beef preser-
vative processes in the market.
docs your process resemble the en-
Dalmlng process at all?" asked Mayor
Lee.
Not in the least" replied Mr.. Pow
ell, put see no reason why II could
not be so used-wny human BODIES
could not be preserved by its use.
However, there is no resemblance to
the embalmlng process"
Mf. oWeu said he had known Of
hotels III which beef prepared by him
had been used for the past five years,
and in which it gave the best OF salts
faction. He had been shipping to the
Comte du Barry for ten years, and he
would have no other beef.
He had only verbal contract with
Armour & Co., but the understanding
was that if that firm got the contract
tney were to have the exclusive control
OF the process during the continuation
OF that contract only. He was TO have
30 cents per hundred for its use-about
$500 per carload. He had not attempt
ed to make any arrangements with
Swift q Co., the successful bidders at
the time, but after the battle OF San
tlagO, had written to Mr.. Swift on the
subject, furnishing him a piece Of beef
that had been treated. Nothing, how
ever, had come of it.
Mr.. Powell said that he had made no
claim that his process would not dis
color beef. Any process would cause a
change in appearance. After the use
of his process, beef would look like
meat that had been in cold storage for
two weeks, darkening the grain and
bleaching the fat. There would be a
smell of sulphur for one hour, as sui
phur was one Of the articles used in the
fumigation.
The w.tress said that refrigerated meat
which had not been kept cool would look
Shiny and be dark or grain. He consider
ed 1t Impossible to keep fresh meat for y
hours after leaving refr. gerator without
preventative process, and he was of the
opinion that any agreement to keep it so
long in the climate of Cuba after taking
il out of the refrigerator must involve
some preventative process. He thought
that if thoroughly frozen it would keep
from II 10 20 hours, and not longer.
Col. Davis announced a the beginning
of the afternoon session that the court
had decided to adhere TO its former de-
cision TO summon only such of the addi-
tional witnesses suggested by Gen. Miles
as could give testimony upon points not
already covered by the inquiry.
The reading of the reports of army Off
GERS upon the canned roast beef as an
army ration was resumed and concluded
/ The reports read to-day included sixty
or seventy statements from army officers
nearly all OF which condemned the canned
roast beef as being not suitable for issue
to troops in Cuba during the hot season,
not palatable nauseating. etc.
Among them was the following from
Gen. Lloyd Wheaton, dated al Fort Leay-
enworth, January 1 last;
Having recently joined the Twentieth
infantry, to report the result of the ex-
periences of the regiment during the re-
cent campaign in Cuba, I have consulted
Lieut.. Col. W. S. McCaskey, Twentieth
infantry, the officer who commanded the
regiment during the active operations of
Santiago de Cuba and its movements TO
the present date: The following is the
experience of the regiment:
Canned roast beef is not suitable for
issue to troops in Cuba during the hot
season
The meat becomes soft and filthy and
unless the stomachs of the men are in
the healthiest condition 1t cannot be eaten
or retained. If Il can is once opened II
must be used or it will become mouldy
Enlisted men prefer any other meats.
My experiences while commanding the
First brigade, First division. Seventh
army corps in Georgia and Florida was
much as that reported by Lieut. Col Nc
Caskey, although but small quantities of
canned beef were issued to my command.
It being practicable TO supply fresh beef
from refrigerator cars
The board adjourned till Monday.