Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1905-05-19
Names Pure Food Law.

which INSCRIPTIONS manufacturers
seek to secure an illegitimate proht.
When food products are sold at prices
which would scarcely cover the cost OF
the raw material. il they are what
they are purported to be, 1t is well
that the public should be suspicious OF
them.
The representative of a New Eng
land firm which is noted for the high
character of its output, and which Sc
cures good price for its goods. called
upon a retail grocer and undertook to
sell him some strawberry jam. When
he quoted his price the dealer shook
his head. "I'm getting that make for
about half your prices" he said. point
ing to some bottles of alleged jam upon
his shelves.
"Very likely" said the travelling
man. but my strawberry jam is made
from strawberries"
$50 is that" declared the dealer
confidently.
"I've got a hundred dollars. my
friend, that there isn't a stra wberry i'm
one of those bottles" said the travel
ing man.
What is it made Of them" demand
ed tho dealer incredulOusly.
"Of apples cores and parings It's
waste product"
"But the seeds" expostulated the
dealer.
Are ordinary hayseeds," responded
the travelling man.
This was doubtless the fact. and yet
the consumers who had purchased this
output did so i'm the belief that they
were getting genuine article.
1t is difficult for the busy citizen who
has given the subject no special study.
to conceive the extent and variety of
food adulteratiO Some recent maya
zine articles by DR.. Wylie Of the
United States Agricultural Department
have thrown a flood of much needed
light upon this subject, and have coca
stoned no little amaZement to the
reading public. The whole matter
should. properly. be under Federal
control and supervision; but thus far
the United States Senate has hung up
the bills passed by the National
House of Representatives for the ac-
complshm-nt of this desirable result.
In the absence of Federal control of
the matter. the various states have had
to take ii up for themselves with all
the inconveniences that come from
lack of uniform laws.
The Maine law is similar to the
North Dakota law and provides that
no article of food for man or beast
shall be manufactured or sold In
Maine if fixed with any poisonous or
| delet erious ingredient or if it contains
any antiscptic or preservative. and no
article shall be manufactured or sold II
mixed with any substance that reduces
its value or injuriously effects its quail
ity or strength unless such substance
or substances be printed on the label.
Prior to The passage of this bill. the
of products were the laws in relation
TO fertilizers. animal food stuffS. and
laws i'm relation to the inspection OF
milk and cream. which were special
laws applying to certain cities and
towns.
The present law provides that the
director of the Maine Agricultural In
periment Station shall analyZ". or
cause to be analysed. samples of artl-
cles of food on sale in Maine suspect
ei ct being adulterated, and at such
times and to such extent as said direc-
tor may determine. And said direc-
tor, in person or by deputy, shall have
free access at all reasonable hours TO
any place wherein articles OF food are
offered for sale. and by rendering the
market price of any such article may
take from any person. persons or cor
porations samples for analysis"
Already Professor Wood has re-
ceived letters from manufacturers all
over the country asking for copies OF
the law, and expressing in most in
stances willingness to abide by its
provisions. "The law is practical"
saws Professor Wood. land after
few prosecutions l believe that there
will be an improvement i'm the quality
and purity of the goods sent to this
state. Twenty years ago the Legis-
lature passed law requiring the in
spection of fertilizers. At that time
the State was flooded with adultcra-
tons. Today the Maine farmer is get
ting the real thing. The law for the
inspection Of feeding stuffs Is ac-
cOmrlishing the same thing.
"The inspection of milk has raised
the standard of milk, though constant
prosecutions are necessary TO keep
milk up to the required standard. This
inspection is largely in the hands of
local officers
One of the best features of the new