The San Francisco call., 1905-04-01
A. F. Gould Named
as Chemist by EX- !,
pert BigolOW.
Laboratory for Analysis Of
Imports to Be Located
in This City.
Warning Given That California Olive
Oil Is Being kduiterated by
Some Dealers.

Announcement was made by DR.. w.
d. Bigelow at the University of Cali
fornia yesterday that A. F. Could,
University graduate of the chemistry
department, has been chosen to serve
as chief of the newly established Gov
ernment laboratory for the analysis of
imported food products in this city. DR..
Bigelow is now directing the prelimin-
ary work of the laboratory He is
chief of the division of foods, bureau of
chemistry, of the United States De-
partment of Agriculture, a recognized
authority on expert analysis of food
products and the laws that relate to
such inspection.
DR.. Bigelow made his announcement
concerning Mr.. Gould's appointment at
meeting of the Agricultural Club,
held yesterday mornin~ in the Agricul-
tural building at the university. Mr.
Gould has been stationed at Mare ISL
and recently in the Government serv-
ice. He graduated from the Univer-
sity of California four years ago His
new post is regarded as an important
and responsible office.
The analysis of imported food prod
ucts coming into the port is in line
with the Governments policy of es-
ia blishing such laboratories in all
ports. when practicable, to aid in the
enforcement of the imported food law.
DR.. Bigelow lectured for an hour be-.
fore the Agricultural Club IN Berkeley
yesterday explaining this law and in
cidentally informing the club of the
history of food adulteration legislation
He said in part:
NOT A MODERN EVIL.
Food adulteration is not modern
evil Wines were adulterated in the
time of Pliny. Scientific methods for
detecting adulterated products, how
ever, are of modern origin. Sixty years
ago the first serious attempts were
made to stop aduIteration. England
passed a law of this sort, then Ger
many, then France. In America we
have had legislation, but often without
being able TO enforce il. There are now
laws Of this sort in twenty States. The
Federal Government is not able to in
terfere in inspection of food products
prepared and sold in a State, except in,
a few instances.
Politics often interfere with the en-
forcement of food laws by. State Food
Commissioners. Kentucky is an ex-
ception. In Oregon, Washington and
Connecticut chemical analysis of sus-
pected foods is made for State officials
at experiment stations of the Govern
ment and this expedites the enforce.
the laws
The national Government is able to
limit and practically to suppress adult
GRAFTON of cheese. butter and spurious
liquors, by taxing the adulterated prod
uct. The mixed flour bill, prepared at
the request Of American millers who
saw their jealousy guarded reputation
in danger of destruction in European
markets, through the mixing of corn
-four with the wheat. has done away
with that evil.
SUCCESS OF LAW.
THE imported food law is strictly
enforced. and it prevents the importa-
ton of adulterated food products with
marked success. The law was passed
in 1903. becoming operative in July of
that year. All American Consuls
abroad are instructed to send to the
Agricultural Department at home a
copy of invoices Of shipments that are
being made to American ports. We are
guided by these invoices, and able thus
to keep account of what is coming in.
Our agents secure samples, which are
examined, and, II adulterated, are con-
demned, after the importer has every
chance to prove that a mistake has
been made by US.
1.-The results have been so satisfac-
tory that many products, hitherto
grossly adulterated now come into the
country absolutely pure, among these
being olive oil, in which California is,
of course, interested. l have to say,
however, that while we are pretty GER
tain 10 keep out imported olive oil of
doubtful purity. still there is being sold
in this State much adulterated olive
oil. labeled as pure California olive oil.
We know that the producer is not re-
sponsible for this adulteration. Who,
then, is responsible2 That is a ques-
ton which ii will be UP to the State
of California to answer.