Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-12-12
ALLEGED IMPURITIES
CHARGE THAT FLOUR Is INFECT
ED WITH INSECTS.

Drastic measures are to be taken by the
Commissioners to improve the storage and
sale of -four and other cereals in the Dis
trict Especial attention will be paid to
flour, as the Inspector Of -four Of the Dis
trict has reported that this food commodity
and, worst of all. that IN inspecting -four
which has been in storage during the sum-
mer months he discovered the presence OF
many worms and insects.
He reported that in separating 200 bar
rels of -four which had been carried
through the summer months, he found
enough worms and bugs to fill two large
preserve jars. Most of these insects were
alive according to the inspector. He stat
ed that the machine used in most of the
bakeries to sift flour is intended only to
crush the Jumps of -four. By this proceed
ure, he says, the worms may be crushed
served up to the public. He stated that
some Of the smaller bakeries have no IA
cilities for the proper and clearly storage
of flour.
I'm one bakery" he reported. Il found
that flour was stored in an unoccupied
horse stall, next to a stall which was oc-
cupied." He said 1t was not necessary to
make any comment as to the healthy state
of this flour.
Inspector Urgently Needed.
The inspector Of -four works. under the
supervision of the sealer of weights and
measures Of the District, and Sealer Has
kell has reported to the Commissioners that
there is urgent necessity for an inspector
to do nothing else but inspect cereals, and
for the enactment of such laws as will
protect the public from short-weight flour
and those selling and using impure -four.
IT am of the opinion" Col. Haskell said
today, that in respect to -four which is
found in such an impure state the matter
should be under the supervision and scru-
tiny of the health department Of the Dis
ID n..~s<.
sioners that the flour inspector be placed
under the immediate supervision of Health
Officer Woodward, and that the sealer of
weights and measures have jurisdiction
of -four is concerned. 1 fortified with
the necessary laws to protect the public
from short weight
Fearing that the above proposition would
sioner, Col. Haskell submitted the draft of a
-four bill, the provisions of which will regu-
late the sale and storage of -four in the
most stringent manner.
Referred to Health officer.
Before acting upon this matter the Com
missioners have referred it to Health Of
ficer Woodward to determine the steps to be
taken at once to remedy these alarming
conditions reported by the flour inspector.
and to advise the Commissioners il the
present laws are sufficient to correct the
condition. Although Dr. Woodward has
not made his report he. said today that he
is of the opinion that the present laws are
sufficient
The law regulating slaughter houses In
the District which the Commissioners are
seeking to have enacted at the present
Congress- and which is almost assured, &C
cording to DR.. Woodward, will cover the
cereal traffic in the District, as its stringent
provisions with reference to slaughter
houses can be made to apply to bakeries
and other places where -four and other
cereals are sold and stored. DR.. Woodward
stated that he was surprised to find such a
large percentage of offensive matter in the
flour He said this impure condition should
be remedied at once.