The age-herald., 1899-03-17
THE BEEF BOARD.
Plants of Cudahy and Swift at Omaha
 Inspected.

Omaha, March 16.-The board of inquiry appointed by the president to look into the charges. of Gen. Miles that the beef issued during the late war was of an inferior character, unhealthy and at times "em- balmed" arrived this morning from Chica- go, spent the day in the city and left this evening for Kansas City. This morning was spent in South Omaha, where the plants of Cudahy and Swift were inspected and testimony taken, after which the in- vestigation was continued in the court martial rooms at headquarters, department of the Missouri.
 At both Swift's and Cudahys the visitors were given every opportunity to make a thorough inspection of the plants. When Cudahys was reached the board was met by Daniel Cameron, general superintendent of the plant, and shown through the clean ing department. Mr. Cameron was pre- pared for their coming, and had mass of figures on the subject of the beef furnished the army during the war. He showed that Cudahy had furnished but very little of the canned beef, in all only 3,500 cases. Of vile, Fla, while the rest was sent to San Francisco and Manila.
 Special attention was given to the roast beef Dr. Bigelow took samples of average beef and followed them from the time they were cut until they were placed in the cans. In this department it was found that two ounces of liquid consisting of water, salt and a syrup, based on sugar. was placed in each can. The intention is not to preserve the beef by this, but to give it an additional "a board opened can of roast beef, and all ate some of it. It was found to be sweet and toothsOme.
 Returning to the offce the board took testimony for an hour.
 After leaving Cudahy's, the party drove to the Swift plant, where the department in which hams are cured was thoroughly in- spected. pr. Christine of Philadelphia, had testified that while here he had been shown through the Swift plant and saw some sort of a liquid being injected into the meat.
 Thomas Adams, foreman of the depart ment. was called, and testified that the op- eration was one having reference to the curing of hams, and was not used in beef at any time. The liquid injected was salt petre and water, and it's only purpose was to cure the ham more quickly.
 The man who shows the visitors through the house was next called, and stated that he had shown Dr. Christine through on his visit here and that the operation as wit messed by the board was the same as wit messed by the doctor.
 After hearing this testimony, the board adjourned and came to Omaha After lunch it reconvened at the army headquarters and heard the testimony of soldiers who had been through the campaign at Santa ago.
 Captain W. H. Beck, acting inspector general of the department of the Missouri a tn Cuba was a new ration to him. The men said the beef nauseated them They used other things with 1t in attempt to inn prove 1t. Some of the meat was soft, and presented an unsightly appearance. The men wanted to exchange it for bacon, but could not do so because they were in ad- vance of their supplies.
 First Lieutenant Isaac Erwin of the Six teenth infantry said that on the latter part of the voyage to Santiago some of his men complained that he could not eat the canned beef because they were tired of it. After the landing in Cuba, whenever they could do so, the men traded their canned beef for bacon A part of the time the meat appeared good when taken from the can but lacked seasoning. Later it did not present as good an appearance, but he thought the troops used 1t all He thought the refrigerator beef was most delicious at first but afterwards 1t was received in bad condition and had to be buried. His com pany only received two or three days good rations of beef while on the island and was insufi cently subsisted.
 Sergeant Albert T. Kase, of the Sixteenth infantry testified that the men abandoned the canned meat as ration on the voyage to Cuba Many of the men attributed their eichness to the use of this beef. From the time of landing until the refrigerator beef was issued the complaints continued and tbe beef was not used If there was any thing else to take it's place. The refrger- ator beet was good when issued early enopgh, but several times when drawing rations he had refused to accept the beef because 1t was covered with green mold.