58 



In a, letter accompanying the circular this firm says that as far back 

 as ten years ago they opened correspondence with the Commissioner of 

 the Agricultural Department, urging that something be done to pre- 

 vent adulteration of tea, as they believe the honest dealer would thus 

 be greatly helped, and that it would be the means of increasing largely 

 the use of the most wholesome beverage the world knows. 



Vinegar. Corn vinegar is sold as cider vinegar. The fraud consists 

 in the white wine or corn vinegar being sold for pure cider. The color- 

 ing used is made from caramel or burnt sugar. I learn from various 

 sources, quite reliable and in no way connected with the manufacture 

 of either cider or corn vinegar, that the latter is an excellent article for 

 keeping pickles and for table use, but when sold under a false name it 

 adds one more to the many frauds practiced upon the people. 



Water. While more disease is caused and spread in all probability 

 by the use of impure water than by any other one cause, it does not 

 come within my province to discuss that matter, further than to call at- 

 tention to the fact that many spurious mineral waters are sold, and it 

 is claimed that contaminated water from city wells is largely used in 

 the manufacture of these so-called beverages, because of their ability 

 to take larger charges of gas. The question of impure water, how- 

 ever, is one of so local a character as to call for legislation within each 

 State for itself. It is clearly outside of the province of Congress to 

 consider it. 



Concentrated lye. It is estimated by a manufacturer of acids, soda- 

 ash, etc., that a large amount of concentrated lye is adulterated with 

 salt to the extent of 35 or 40 per cent., the standard being 00 per cent, 

 caustic soda, while the average is actually less than 40 per cent. While 

 this extract is not directly in line with food products, I refer to its adul- 

 teration because it is an article in general use in every household, and 

 as illustrative of the general spirit of adulteration extending into nearly 

 every department of commerce, including the shoddy used in our cloth- 

 ing, the poisons used in dyeing various articles, notably stockings, from 

 the wearing of which sickness and in a few cases death has resulted. 



