Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-08-05

ton showing the disposition of every AMI
NAL which is tagged by the first inspector
And as these tags are numbered consecu-e
lively 1t is impossible that any condemned
meat should get away.
Under the present regulations this is the
extent of the government inspection. IneIe
are today about 100 inspectors employed in
Chicago alone. Under the new regulations
which have just been promulgated, apou.
100 additional men will be required. ana
these men will be charged with the duty OF
examining every piece of meat which goes
into the sausage machine or into the can,
and each package of sausage and each can
of meat, any food product. whether
Drawn. extract soup or whatever 1t may De
termed, must bear government label
showing that it has been inspected and
passed and thereby guaranteeing it's whole
someness.
Improved Sanitary Conditions.
Whatever the sanitary conditions might
have been three months ago. It is certain
that to-day the packing houses are as clean
and sanitary in every particular as 1t is pos
sible to make them. The lavatories and
closets, and In fact the whole plumbing
equipment is of the most modern. up-to-
date construction. The walls and ceilings
of all the rooms are as clean as white
wash and paint will make them. Wherever
1t has been possible to do cement and
asphalt have been substituted for boards
on the floors and zinc-lined carts are in evil
dence everywhere. But wooden vehicles
are, of course. used in many parts of the
establishments for carrying out iiyers, hides
and offal. and these carts are not attractive
to look upon, nor can they be. AS to the
appearance of tie employees themselves the
uniform of the pig sticker" is blood stain
ed within ten minutes after he begins his
daily labor. and the man who slaughters
the OK does not wear a tuxedo coat But
the girls in all the sausage rooms and in
the canning department of every establish
ra cd ont IN xxybf TO
Bingham dresses. which are washed every
day in laundres supplied for the purpose.
The same care is taken Of the clothing of
men in these departments, and on the whole
1t would be difficult to suggest where
changes for the better in the way of clean
liness could be made. Even the floors in
these rooms are Sprinkled with salt each
morning, in order to prevent the decomposi-
ton OF any particles of meat which may fall
upon them.
During the past four weeks representa-
tives of many foreign governments have
made official inspections of the Chicago
plants. Lieut.. Col. Hobbs of the British
army was commissioned by his government
to examine for the subsistence department
of the British army the conditions In the
chicago packing houses. Mr.. jacobson
there on like mission from Norway. The
Japanese consul stationed in Chicago and
in fact the entire consular body there, has
been engaged in similar investigation and
without exception these officials have re-
American meat products are wholesome
sound. healthful and packed under sanitary
conditions, which make them in every re-
spect desirable.
Loss in Foreign Trade.
The "big SIX" which really consists of
seven firms, do % per cent of the slaughter
ing and packing business in the United
States. Every one of these firms, with the
exception of Swift & Co who can no
goods. has suffered falling off of from rs
to 90 per cent in its foreign trade during
the past three months. Few of them are
packing any canned goods today, except to
fill contracts. and each and every one Of
them Is anxious that the meat inspection
law shall be put into prompt operation ev-
erywhere. because they realize that under
federal guarantee only can they expect a
restoration of their trade. Millions Of cans
of meats and meat food products are now
on the shelves of the jobbers the whole
salers and the retailers throughout the
world which are unstable. But just so
soon after the first of October as the new
law is put into complete operation Secre-
tary Wilson will, through the State Depart
ment, invite foreign governments to exam
Inc the packing plants working under gov
eminent inspection, and the Secretary eX-
poets that the result will be reports which
will restore confidence in American meat
food products
Effect of New Regulations.
Secretary Wilson is just as deeply inter-
ested IN the restoration of American meat
supremacy in Europe as is any packer, and
he Is determined to force the European gov
ernments to recognize the efficiency Of the
American meat inspection law. He de-
clares enphatically that no government on
earth has moro rigid regIllattonc IN insure