St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1907-05-08


ventiOn.
correspondence of the CALEDoNIAN.)
AT former controversies over pure
sodn promise to be eclipsed by the one
,hed,,led in connection with the use of
chemical preservatives in pickles, ketchup,
..r,s preserves and other table delica-
o;.s For long time the attention of
onre food experts has been devoted to
tbe whiskey question which was settled
T., The famous decision that what is
,rhiskey is whiskey and what is motifs
.omething else. That principally af
fcted the male population. Now a
problem confronts the National Food
commission which is likely to get them
;n+o hot water for it intimately concerns
+be household and the table. Let them
beware of the wrath of the energetic and
devoted housewife. All other forms of
vengeance pale by comparison. Politi-
oons NAV fatter themselves that, in
tardily enacting pure food law they
have evidenced their manhood and re-
soonded to the protecting instinct.
Nothing of the kind. 1t was Mrs. A or
Mrs. B. who aroused their somnolent
soouses to action. Having settled the
trading question of what is whiskey 7"
we are now turning to a scarcely
secondary consideration of the use of
oreservatives in foods entering into inter
state commerce. Some years ago, when
the agitation for national pure food
law was yet in its infancy, certain I'M
scupuous canning and preserving
factories explained why it was essential
that benzoate of soda should be used in
the manufacture of ketchup, why it was
necessary to put hay seed in pure rasp-
berry Jam; why jellies should be COM
posed of glucose, favored by coal tar ex-
tract. Later, arguments were presented
to the House and Senate Committees to
prove that Congressional action looking
toward purity in food would deprive the
poor workingman" of table delicacies
to which he was accustomed but which
bis limited purse would not permit him
to purchase unless adulterated. DR..
Wiley, the chemist so closely associated
with pure food agitation, confessed his
inability to understood why tomatoes,
pickles. preserves, ketchup, etc.. could
not be manufactured commercially ac-
cording to the formulate employed by our
mothers and grandmothers. Although
not commercially inclined, they put up
stuff to last and no contemporary of
mine blessed with such provider, fails
toremember the stolen hours in the jam
closet, nor the pain subsequent to dis
COyery
In view of the somewhat general de-
mand that the use of limited amount
Ofbenzoate of soda and other chemical
preservatives should be admitted in the
putting up of ketchup, pickles and other
5 table dilicacies, the claim advanced by
the H. J. Heinz Company of Pittsburg,
that all such foods could be adequately
preserved without the use of artificial
preservatives, compelled the deepest
interest of the Pure Food Commission.
Ata hearing given by the Commission
recently the representatives of the Heinz
Company produced two-horse wagon
load of various pickles, ketchup. pre-
serves and canned goods of all kinds
which they showed to be absolutely free
from artificial preservatives. "How do
] you do this ?" asked Dr. Wiley of Vice
President Mueller. by the use of pure
raw materials and the most complete
sanitation of our plant" replied Mr..
Mueller. He explained that his COM
pany had been experimenting for years
reproduce products which would bare
! transportation and storage without
j preservatives and it was satisfied it had
solved the problem. What we can do"
! he said Others can do" and he urged
E upon the commission the necessity of
absolutely prohibiting the use of even a
small quantity of preservatives in such
I foods.
The Heinz Company being one of the
largest, if not the largest packer of such
s products in the country, it's attitude
toward the use of preservatives will at
tract widespread attention and will
Il probably lead to further controversy
between the Commission and packers
desiring to continue the use of benzoate
oisoda and other chemical preservatives,
The National Rifle Association of
america has taken up the introduction of
Tine shooting in universities, colleges,
academies and schools. An opportunity
VIII be given to organize clubs in all in
Snrutlons of learning These rifle clubs
Will De divided into two classes, one com
posed OF students in universities, colleges
ana institutions comforting degrees, and
sle other of students attending public
%lools academies, preparatory and pri-
saie schools. 1t is proposed that these
uuOs shall practice indoors as we'll as
Indoors and a code has been adopted
W. ~, qualihcations under both conditions.
l oo work will be carried on with a
,1z caliber rifle or with reduced charges,
anu S the subtarget rifle machine; out
S M1 work with the U. S. Military rifle.
bOa will be given for qualifications on
o CUih INDOOR and outdoor ranges and the
a an. Will receive prizes for competitions
O ,"ong their members. Each club will
r ri'. OF at least twenty members. APP
ptatlons from such clubs for utilization
W. the National Rifle Association must
! tbos approved by the proper school au-
SI Iba.ee and should be made to Lieut..
t i,"e' H. D. Jones, Secretary of the Associa-
I w. ]99 Broadway, New York City.