The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1903-04-16

beef, as was alleged; owing to the
heating process to which it is sub
jected in course of manufacture it
is just as healthful as the suet fat.
Then there was a further investi-
cation made by the N. D. U. to as
certain the average amount of caul
fat in the beeves slaughtered, and
when this average was learned and
compared with the amount of oleo-
margarine put on the market it was
found to be onl y small per cent
age of the oleomargarine output,
showingvery conclusively that other
ingredients were used of which no
mention had been made.
1t was known that the oleo law
of 1886 required the manufacturers
of oleo or butterine to file with the
proper authorities at Washington
their formula of manufacture, speci-
flying the ingredients, the cost of
the same, and where they were sold,
and that this formula was guarded
as a trade secret. Realizing the i'm
portance of the N. D. U. being
properly informed as to the true
composition of oleomargarine, Hon.
J. A. Tawney, in the interest of
public health, introduced in con-
gress a resolution calling upon the
proper officials to disclose the form
ula used in the manufacture of oleo-
margarine. This resolution was
finally passed, and it was then that
the public learned that this pure,
sweet and healthful product called
the poor mans butter was COM
posed of 1s per cent caul fat of the
beef, 4s per cent any old fat of the
hog, and per cent butter oil,
which at first was thought to be the
product of the COW, but on investi-
cation proved TO be a grade of cot
ton seed oil. A certain percentage
Of cotton seed oil, stearin, or stearic
acid, and parafine was also used.
This compound of low grade greases,
with stearic acid and oils sufficient to
give it the consistency of butter, is
churned in skim milk as a rule, to
give it the flavor Of butter and to-
incorporate the required amount of
moisture, and colored, sailed and
packed the same as butter, and gen.
enerally sold to the consumer as
butter at butter prices. This was
demonstrated in several tests made
in the city of Chicago, which show
ed that fully 95 per cent of what
was sold at retail was sold as pure
creamery butter at creamery butter
prices, but proved to be oleomar-
garine.
After the n. D. U. had made the
Investigations mentioned in this
article and many more not alluded
to, these disclosures made and in
formation gained was used in the
following manner as capital to
prosecute their work in the protec-
ton of pure butter. There was
at that time compiled list of one
hundred thousand names, nearly all
of whom were actual users of cream
separators and hence very much in
terested in the dairy industry.
From time to time there was sent
from the secretary's office to these
100000 dairymen scattered all over
the United States good, strong
personal letters, circular letters and
literature showing to what extent
the manufacturers of bogus butter
were displacing the product of the
COW. In other words, the product
of the n. D. U. in 1899 was almost
wholly used in an educational way;
first, in making Investigations; sec
ond, in disseminating this knowl-
edge, gained through the one hun
dred thousand correspondents, show
ing that the two leading items in
the expenditure of the N. D. U.
fund was, first, printing; and, Sec
oIu, Pooo"S0.
The officers of the central or
ganization have never received any
salary, Ex-Governor Hoard bearing
his own expenses when representing
the dairy interests at Washington.
Now, what has been accomplished
by the N. D, U. is known and ap-
preciated by every dairy patron
when he receives his monthly divi-
dend, for it is shown that the pres
ent oleo law, secured by this organi-
zation, has added fully three cents
per pound to the price received for
his butter. This would mean to
the creameries of Steele county that
produced last year 5000, 900 pounds
800, OOO-and to the farmers of
Minnesota more than one and one
half million dollars annually. Such
a showing ought to impress upon
the minds of all farmers and cream
cry managers the Importance of
sustaining the N. D. U. organiza-
ton.