The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-04-14
5vlRGlNlAis PURE FOOD Law v
Very Good on Paper, But Money
Needed for It's Proper
enforcement.


NEW YORK, April 13.---1n the April
number of What to Eat Rutledge Ruth
crford, In the course of an article on the
South and its considerations of health,
reports some rather startling conditions
in regard to pure foods. fle says that
as a result OF having lax food laws these
States are made the dumping grounds for
the cast-off foods Of the North. Foods
that the State food laws exclude from the
Northern markets find ready purchasers.
in all sections Of the South with the ex-5
captions Of two or three States
Few Southern States have any food
laws, and those that have suffer from
lack OF efficient enforcement. Lo usiana.
and Kentucky and North Carolina might
be mentioned as the only exceptions to
this rule. s Is
"In Alabama the only food officer is
the Commissioner Of Agriculture, whose
duty is confined to the enforcement OF
the oleomargarin law. There are no
food laws \; no system of food inspec-4
ton; no published reports, and the;
people cat amy thing the manufacturers
see fit to sell. III
"Florida is In as bad fix as Alabama.
Such food regulations as exist are poorly
enforced. sis:8 q. 4, 7s f5
Arkansas force Of food officers is con-
fined to an Inspector of wine, that pre-
sumably being the only food regarding
which Arkansas is particular about.
"a Georgia has no food Officers outside of
the State Board Of Agriculture, of which
I r.. q. Hudson is the commissioners. Any
kind OF stale or spoiled food can be sold
in Georgia.
North Cardinals Way.
.'Mississippi has never thought 1t worth
while to institute supervision over the
States food supply.
missouri Is nearly rs bad off rs any
of the other Southern States notWltll-
| standing the large numberof food manu-
1 fact,,rers there and the enormous cons
/ sumption OF food products in st. Louis
and Kansas City.
North Carolina has fairly efficient
food regulations under tho supervision Of
i the State Board of Agriculture, of which
4 S. r.. Patterson is commissioner; Tx
sBruner, secrctary: b. w, Kilgore, State
chemist: w. NJ. Allen, food chemist, ant
i C. D. Harris, concentrated feed chemist
an South Carolina the food condition!
are deplorable, and the people there shov
I the result OF the long eating Of cast-of
health, and defective food law which
is rendered imperative by lack of appro
Ispriation.
Law, But No Funds.
4 "Tennessce suffers the same handca
of not having sufficient means to pro
q vide proper food regulations.
! 'sVirginia has wocfully inefficient foo
laws and more woeful system OF In
/ forcemcnt. The only means of inforce
ment Is through tho State Department {
), Agriculture of which G, W. I<oiner
commissioner. and H. G.. Nagruder chic
!. chemist.
!, "Wcst Virginia is no better off tina
7 Virginia. james o. Thompson, secretal
, or tie state Board Of Agriculture, has II
means Of bettering conditions, and We:
Virginia Is content In eating those foot
for which no market can be found In Il
, North.''
/. The Virginia law. referred to In sue
|, uncompllmentary terms in the above,
81 good enough law to meet the case, 'lr
ample provision has been made On pap
q for its proper enforcement, but the Lesl
q latures have never appropriated anythil
: like enough money TO insure its inforc
Il mont
s The act was passed in 1900, was n
y proved February 9th OF that year N
{ was ordered to. be nut in effect on Ju
= lst following, but the Legislature whlt
u passed the statute made no appropriate
( whatever to pay the expenses OF carr
= Ing IL OUT, anu as y lUaltsr pl couise
!, MAS II dead letter.
!, Plenty Of Good Law.
" The principal sections of the act re
J. as follows!
\ l. BE 1t enacted by the general assent
T. OF Virginia. That for the purpose OF pl
10 teeting the people of tho state from mi
h sition BY the aduterution aud miHbrandi
- of articles OF food, the hoard . OF agrlo
~ ture shall Gauge to lie procured from III
~ TO time and under. the rules aud resu
II lions 10 be prescribed ny them, IN accol
l. ance With section nine of this act, samp
n or food, beverages. and condiments Offer
~ for sale Iii the state; and shall cause
= same, To be analyaed or examined mic
/, scoplcally nr otherwise by the chemists
~ other experts OF The department of as
of 8iculture. The board Of $agriculture Is he
A. byAnuthorzed 10 make such publications