Devils Lake inter-ocean and Devils Lake free press. (Devils Lake, Ramsey County, N.D.) 1905-1909, 1907-06-28
SEARCHES PURITY
Dr.. Harvey W. Wiley Sails for France
as Head of the Bureau Of
Chemistry

as 6oed0 OF 1ne bureau OF
Chemistry
June 28.-Butter, embalmed
beef, pie, whiskey, molasses,
wine-all of these look alike to
chemists of the department of
agriculture, provided they show
signs of adulteration. In pur-
suit of the Goddess of Purity,
DR.. Wiley has left Washington
for a trip across the briney
deep. He departed this week for
Bordeaux, where he will be the
Ameican member of a jury
which is to pass upon the pure
food products shown at the Mar
thine Exposition. The commits
sion will give especial atten-
ton to wines, in an entirely i'm
personal sense, of course.
DR.. Wiley has obtained leave
of absence from the agricultural
department until August LIST. He
is also a professor Of agriculture
chemistry in the George Wash
ington University, but as the
university vacation is on, the loss
of his services will not be felt by
students. A number of other
scientists and officers of the gov
eminent, who are connected with
the educational institution, also
are absent from the city. The
association Of these men with the
university has been advanced as
an argument in support of the
movement under way to enlarge
it's sphere of influence 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.
Chemistry expects to have some
stirring experiences during his
visit in Southern France. In fact
his troubles started on this side
of the wafer when he faced the
probability that he would not be
able to sail for three weeks, be-
cause of the heavy travel to
Europe. Every berth on every
liner was engaged for sailing
more than a fortnight ahead
and it was only through a per-
sonal friend, a patriotic Ameri-
can who gave up his stateroom,
that DR.. Wiley was able to get
away on schedule time. y
When he lands in Bordeaux,
DR.. Wiley will probably find the
riots and agitations among the
grape owners of Southern
France at their highest. Appar.
emily, he does not share their
views that the tremendous fal.
ling off in the demand fo1
French wines has been due tt
authorizations by the manufactur.
ers. Just before leaving he said
Respecting the alleged adulter
alton of wines by the admixture
of sugar, which is just now such
an important question in thu
wine producing province Of
southern France, the addition oil
sugar to wine is carefully con-
trolled by the existing French
law, and it is only by neglect OF
violation of this law that the
abuses complained of could exist
The fact isl the increased produc'
ton Of wine in France, due tt
the. replanting of the vineyards
with American grape vines, has
SO increased the production oil
pure wine, as to reduce the price
pretty close to the cost of pro.
duction. This is probably the
chief difficulty with which the
viticulturists of the Midi have te
contend. I should expect during
the time of my stay in Bordeauz
to learn Of many things which
will be of interest and value in
connection with the expectation
i Of French food-products to the
D United States. II.
DR.. Wiley has been much in
= terested in reproducing on the
/: Pacific coast the peculiar chem.
I ical conditions of the soil that
s have made the French grape Sc
B famous for the manufacture OF
!. wine. He has devoted much
I time to personal labratory work
4 and to discussing the problem
before his classes in the George
I. Washington ! University. The
& climate of California and in
y some Of the southwestern states.
u Isl very similar to that Of south.
] ern France. All that has been
( necessary was to supply the soil
" with fha chemical nrOnerties