Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1907-06-26
Chief Chemist of Agricultural
Department Leaves For France
on Important Mission
TO STUDY WINE QUESTION
Hopes to Learn Much That Will Aid
Pacific Coast Wineries in Improving
Products-lsthmian Canal Commits
sion to Be Reorsanized for Econ
omy.

balmed beef, pie, whisky, molasses,
wine-all of these look alike to Dr.
Harvey w. Wiley, chief chemist of
the department of agriculture, provided
they show, signs of adulteration. In
pursuit of the Goddess of Purity Dr.
Wiley has left Washington for trip
across the briny deep. He departed
this week for Bordeaux, where he will
be the American member of a jury
which is to pass upon the pure food
products shown at the maritime expo
sition. The commission will give es-
pecial attention to wines, in an entire
ly impersonal sense, of couse.
DR.. Wiley has obtained leave Of alb
sence from the agricultural depart
ment until August 1. He is also a pro-
lessor Of agricultural chemistry in the
George Washington University, but as
the university vacation is on, the loss
Of his services will not be felt by stu
dents. A number of other scientists
and officers Of the government, who
are connected with the educational in
stitution, also are absent from the city.
The association of these men with the
university has been advanced as an ar
gument in support of the movement
under way to enlarge its sphere Of in
1uence until it shall become typically
national in an educational sense. DR..
Wiley has been investigating closely
the production of French wines and
most of his time will be devoted to
continuing this investigation.
When he lands in Bordeaux, DIR.
Wiley will probably find the riots and
agitations among the grape growers
Of southern France at their highest.
Apparently, he does not share their
views that the tremendous falling off
in the demand for French wines has
been due to authorizations by the man
ufacturers. Just before leaving he
said:
Respecting the alleged adulteration
of wines by the adn1ixture Of sugar,
which is just now such an important
question in the wine producing prov
ince of southern France, the addi-
ton of sugar to wine Is carefully con-
trolled by the existing French law,
and it is only by neglect or violation
hof this law that the abuses COM
planned of could exist. The fact is.
the Increased production of wine in
France, due to the replanting of the
vineyards with American grape vines.
has so increased the production of
pure wine, as to reduce the price pret-
ty close to the cost of production.
This is probably the chief difficulty
with which the viticulturists of the
Midi have to contend. should ex-
pect during the time of my stay in
Bordeaux to learn of many things
which will be of interest and value
in connection with the expectation of
French food products to the United
States"
DR.. Wiley has been much interested
in reproducing on the Pacific coast the
peculiar chemical conditions of the
soil that have made the French grape
so famous for the manufacture OF
wine. He has devoted much time to
personal laboratory work and to dis
cussing the problem before his classes
in the George Washington university.
The climate Of California and in some
Of the southwestern states, is very
similar to that Of southern France,
All that has been necessary was to
supply the soil with the chemical
properties found in the soil of the
French champagne producing prov
inces. This has been done with more
or less success and connoisseurs de-
clare that in many instances Cali
fornia wine is equal to the best vint-
ages Of France.
BY direction Of the president there
is to be another reorganization of the
isthmian canal commission. This Tune
the principal branch of the commission
affected will be that in Washington,
which has been executing the orders OF
Chief Engineer Goethals with reference
to the dispatch Of labor and supplies
to the canal zone. Now, however, the
president has given imperative in
structions that "the most rigid econo-
my consistent with the highest degree
of efficiency shall be the policy. AS
result an order will be issued ON July
4 abolishing the auditors office ana
placing the work of auditing the &C
counts of the commission under the
auditor for the war department. The
purcha sing business will be intrusted
to an officer of the army.
Joseph Bucklin Bishop of New York,
who has been in charge of the office
here since the reorganization some
months ago, may proceed to the 18TH
mus and perform the duties of secre-
tay there. The ACCESSIBILITY of this ,ac-
ton is now under consideration. The
president has stated emphatically that
Mr.. Bishop must be retained at his
salary of $4,000 per annum.
David R. Ross, purchasing agent,
and Ernest S. Benson general auditor,
who also received $4,000 each, have re-
signed to take effect in July. The for
mer probably will be succeeded by
Mai. Hodges of the engineer corps of
the army. whose army pay will be in
creased to $4,000.
During the two days he was here
Secretary Taft was busily engaged in
carrying out the orders of the presi-
dent. 1t is said the latter expects
criticisms of the canal administration
during the next session, both from
democrats and from representatives of
that element in his own party which
is not in sympathy with his policies
generally AS rigid economy is the
surest way to avoid just criticism, he.
has instructed Secretary Taft to cut
expenses to the bone, while at the same
time seeing to it that the dirt is, kept
flying.
Secretary Taft has forwarded to the