74 ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc. 



RKPORT OP the: dairy and food 



COMMISSIONER. 



Harrisburg, Pa., January 1, 1902. 

 llou. John Hamilton, Secretary of Agriculture : 



My Dear Sir: I have tlie honor to make the following report of the 

 work of the Dairy and Food Division of the Department of Agricul- 

 ture, for the year 1901. 



We have had in employment the usual number of agents, chemists 

 and attorneys during the year. There has been collected by our 

 agents, and analyzed by our chemists and reported to the Division, 

 2,007 samples of the several food products, which are upon the mar- 

 kets of the State. Of this number, 1,152 samples have been found to 

 be true to name, or properly labeled, and 855 samples were found to 

 be adulterated, or not properly labeled. Under the oleo act, there 

 were issued 227 licenses, and we have received and paid into the 

 State Treasury, |21,606.00 for the same. In the enforcement of this 

 act, we have had collected and analyzed 903 samples. Of this num- 

 ber, 391 samples were found to be pure butter and 512 samples were 

 found to be oleo. We have prosecuted 353 cases, and of this number, 

 there were terminated 87 cases; there are still pending, 26G cases. 

 Prosecutions were ordered before the close of the year upon 159 

 cases, but as we had difficulty in getting a magistrate, they were 

 delayed and could not be entered upon this report. We have col- 

 lected and paid into the State Treasury under this act, |7,5G7.84 in 

 fines and costs. There are still in the hands of the sheriffs of the 

 several counties of the State, about ^3,500.00, which is being held 

 until the question of the right to deduct from this amount the 

 sheriff's fees is determined. 



We have experienced considerable difficulty in some sections of the 

 State in our efforts to enforce the law, owing to the public sentiment 

 being in opposition to it. In the month of June there were ignored 

 by the grand jury of Allegheny county, 123 bills and the costs placed 

 upon the county. In the month of September there were 394 bills 

 ignored by the grand jury of the aforesaid county, and the costs 

 placed upon our agent, James Terry. This action was opposed by us, 

 but to no avail, and I beg leave to call yonr attention to the copies of 

 petitions to the court, which are included in this report. These peti- 



