58 ANNUAL REPORT. OF THE Off. Doc. 



THE MONTHLY BULLETIN IN DEMAND. 



The official publication of this Bureau known as the "Monthly 

 Bulletin" is about entering upon its third volume. During the past 

 twelve months its combined pages aggregated almost seven hun- 

 dred. Under authority of law, nearly 2.j,00() copies are distributed 

 each month among the retail merchants of Pennsylvania, the demand 

 from grocers for the publication being especially great. As a means 

 of informing the public as to' the work done by this Bureau, the 

 "Bulletin" is meeting with a cordial reception at the hands of the 

 thousands who are not only closely watching the work of the Bureau, 

 but who are in entire sympathy with its purposes. The publicity 

 accorded to prosecutions, and the equal prominence given to analyti- 

 cal reports, whether favorable or otherwise, command attention, 

 because of the entire absence of favoritism. The legitimate manu- 

 facturer and dealer declare that the publication is of decided value 

 and benefit to their trade, while the dealer who handles inferior and 

 adulterated goods has no commendation for the "Bulletin," because 

 of the unlawful commerce in which he may have been engaged, and 

 the consequent exposure of his goods. The "Monthly Bulletin" has 

 proven itself an efficient ally in more respects than one, and the 

 amount expended in its preparation, publication and distribution is 

 money well spent. The "Bulletin" in addition to a resume of the 

 work of the Bureau, also contains a monthly list of all the oleo- 

 margarine and renovated butter licenses issued by the Common- 

 wealth. All such licenses are issued by the Dairy and Food Com- 

 missioner, and cannot be issued through the medium of any local or 

 county court, as some have erroneously supposed. This list shows 

 clearly the names and addresses of all firms and dealers who have 

 taken out license certificates for the sale of oleomargarine and reno- 

 vated butter. 



ANALYTICAL WORK OF THE BUREAU. 



In the mind of the general public there is but an imperfect con- 

 ception of the magnitude of the work involved in examining and 

 analyzing the thousands of samples purchased in the open markets 

 of the State by the special agents of the Dairy and Food Commis- 

 sioner for that specific purpose. The bulk of such analytical work 

 in the past has been done at laboratories located at West Chester, 

 Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, while additional chemical investiga- 

 tions were also made for the Bureau by chemists at the State Col- 

 lege, Wilkes-Barre, Scranton and Erie. The frequent delays experi- 

 enced in obtaining chemists' reports as promptly as desired, and 

 the resultant delay and interference with legal procedures, has 

 strongly impressed the need for the establishment of a first-class 

 chemical laboratory at Harrisburg. With proper equipments and 

 help, such laboratory can be made to not only expedite the work of 

 the Dairy and Food Division, but its usefulness and scope can also 

 be materially enlarged at no greatly increased cost. This proposi- 

 tion was made and urged in the preceding annual report, and the 

 Board of Public Grounds and Buildings has recently agreed to sup- 

 ply the necessary space in a centrally located business block at 

 Harrisburg. The rooms are suited for laboratory and office pnr 



