1899 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER. 
127 
“MAPLE SYRUP” FROM CHIPS AND PIGSKIN. 
A NOTED TR1AT, IK NORTHERN OHIO. 
Synthesis.—The putting of different things together; the com¬ 
bination of separate substances, elements or subordinate parts 
into a new form, composition, construction. 
Bogus Maple Syrup. —Can a synthetic compound, 
or mixture, no matter how closely it may resemble a 
standard natural product, be called a genuine , pure 
article , and be allowed to bear the name of the product 
of which it is nothing more nor less than a clever 
counterfeit ? 
That is the question that was fought out in Justice 
Wilmot’s court at Chagrin Falls, O., in January last. 
This trial involved a principle that has never before 
been brought to a court or jury. Although this case 
was brought to trial as one immediately affecting the 
maple-syrup and sugar industry, yet the principle 
that the defense sought to establish may be applied 
to those agricultural products that are forever and 
persistently being counterfeited. A manufacturer 
made a synthetic compound, and claimed it to be 
identical with the syrup and sugar of the maple tree. 
Following out this presumptuous claim, he labeled his 
product, Pure Maple Syrup. 
Assistant Feed and Dairy Commissioner Wm. Mar¬ 
tin brought the offender to book. After four days of 
wordy warfare of attorneys, and long and tedious 
examinations of witnesses, the jury brought in a ver¬ 
dict of guilty. The defendant was fined $25 and the 
costs; the latter, it is estimated, reached well up 
into the hundreds of dollars. 
A Principle Involved. —If the right to this prin¬ 
ciple should he established in court, anything resem¬ 
bling butter, or cheese, or egg, or potato, or maple syrup 
or sugar, or any of the many agricultural products 
that are so extensively counterfeited, may be labeled 
as the pure or genuine article, and thus overthi*ow all 
legislation relating to spurious productions. It is 
monstrous, and if the case be fought over again, every 
farmer in these United States may well feel an in¬ 
terest. This manufacturer had been doing business 
for a considerable time, and as his factory was located 
in one of the suburbs of Cleveland, he had, to a large 
extent through the Fall, filled the markets of this 
great city. Thus we who produce the true maple 
syrup and sugar find this most important nearby mar¬ 
ket well stocked, long before we can make it, with this 
spurious article, bearing the label of the pure product. 
Chips and Pigskin. — The testimony brought 
out by the State as to the process and methods of 
manufacturing this compound were interesting in the 
extreme, as it brought to light facts that the consumer 
has a right to know concerning what he is eating, but 
which are usually denied him. A witness, summoned 
by the State, and who was employed in the factory 
for several weeks, testified as to the process of manu¬ 
facturing this spurious maple syrup substantially as 
follows: 
Several large copper kettles were partly filled with 
water. Into these kettles of water, were put a quantity 
of maple chips, hewn to the size of a spool or there¬ 
abouts, and a considerable quantity of pigskin. This 
mixture of chips, pigskin and water was then boiled 
for a time, and skimmed occasionally. The resulting 
liquor, or decoction, was then filtered. This product 
was then considered to be the flavoring principle of 
true maple syrup, and was mixed with the syrup of 
granulated sugar, and put up in cans bearing tasty- 
looking labels, asserting that the contents were Pure 
Mai'I.e Syrup ; and adding by way of information to 
a confiding public, that all the objectionable features 
of the old-kettle process of making maple syrup were 
eliminated. 
What Answer was Made ? —The defense were 
compelled to admit the correctness of this witness’s 
testimony—pigskin and all. One would think that 
such testimony as this would be sufficient to convict, 
but the defense were there to put a doubt in the minds 
of a juryman or two, and thus bring about a disagree¬ 
ment ; so they sought to smother such testimony in a 
mass of other of less importance. The State summoned 
the writer, as the owner of a sugar camp, and the 
maker of maple syrup and sugar, to testify as to what 
pure maple syrup is. After defining what it is, the 
witness was turned over to the cross-questioning of 
counsel for defense. Then followed a tedious and 
long-drawn-out series of questions on the possibility 
of there being a process of making maple syrup of 
which witness did not know. The point right there 
was the milk in their cocoanut. By the admission of 
a farmer who made it from the tree, that there might 
be some other way of making it besides the way he 
made it,they sought to put a doubt in the minds of some 
of the jurymen, and thus bring about a disagreement, 
which would mean a victory to them. Here is a sam¬ 
ple of a question that was asked, and turned about, 
and twisted into all manner of forms, but in effect, 
was the same old thing : 
Counsel for Defendant: “If I take a flavoring 
that is exactly like the flavor in -maple sugar ; and if 
granulated sugar made from cane or beet is the same 
as the sugar made from the maple sap ; and if I take 
this same flavoring and mix it with syrup of granu¬ 
lated sugar so that they are of the same consistency 
as common syrup— you do not know but what that 
would be maple syrup— do you ?” 
This is a direct question and demands a yes or a no 
for an answer. The question was shrewdly put, to 
get witness to admit that he did not know but such a 
mixture miflht be maple syrup. This point witness 
flatly refused to admit, and the attorney was finally 
brought to a stand by the court for asking the same 
question with different wording, so many times. 
Some Scientific Testimony. —But perhaps the 
most interesting, as well as important, testimony of 
all was that given by Prof. P. S. Hobbs, of Cleveland, 
who is the chemist employed by the State Food and 
Dairy Commissioner to analyze all samples of suspect¬ 
ed foods taken by him. Prof. Hobbs is a chemist of 
high standing, and had analyzed the sample of syrup 
made by the defendant in this case. He pronounced 
it a synthetic compound, and said it was not maple 
syrup at all. 
One of the things we all want to know, and which 
is of vital interest to all maple-syrup makers, was 
brought out in Prof. Hobbs’s testimony. He was 
asked, “ Is there any difference between maple sugar, 
and granulated sugar made from cane or beet.” 
He answered, “Yes ”. 
“ State what that difference is.” 
“ Maple sugar has no phosphoric acid in it, while 
granulated sugar has a small amount, which is easily 
detected.” 
“ Are there any other differences ? ” 
“Yes, the most noticeable difference is in the amount 
of ash that is left after burning the sugar. Maple 
sugar leaves from six to eight times the amount of ash 
that granulated sugar does.” 
This latter difference confirms, by the testimony of 
a scientific expert, the observations of almost every 
housewife who has “done off” maple sugar. When 
the boiling mass rises and boils over the edges of the 
pan or kettle, and falls upon the hot stove, the amount 
of black, blubbery ash that is left is considerable in 
amount, while that of granulated sugar is very much 
less. 
The Danger of It. —But in spite of all the con¬ 
vincing testimony offered by the State, the jury were 
out six or eight hours deliberating over the matter, 
thus showing that one or two of the jurymen had some 
doubts, for a while at least, whether a synthetic com¬ 
pound may not be the real article after all. 
It is time that the maple-syrup and sugar mak¬ 
ers of every State where it is made should see to it 
that this, one of the purest and fairest products of all 
nature, is protected by legal statutes from the rapacity 
of “ him who hasteth to be rich.” I call upon Ver¬ 
mont, New York, Michigan, and other maple-produc¬ 
ing States to have laws passed regulating this matter, 
that are identical, so that offenders against such 
laws may be pursued by the States, united by similar 
laws. Every such law, in my opinion, should enjoin 
every manufacturer of syrups, or sugars, or confec¬ 
tions, from the use of the word Maple, unless the 
product be wholly made from the SAP of the maple 
tree, with nothing added thereto. 
Maple !—How good that word sounds ! What sweet¬ 
ness it suggests ! It stands for the most delicious 
compound that ever Nature mixed, and we should rise 
in our might and protest against its profanation by 
its being used on any man-made mixture. 
Ohio. A. R. PHILLIPS. 
Events of the Week. 
Domestic.—A trust covering all grades of oatmeal and other 
breakfast foods, both in bulk and package, is now being formed 
in Chicago. The organization will have a capital of $33,000,000. 
. . . The Bethlehem (Pa.) Iron Company recently completed 
the largest steel shaft in the world ; it is 27 feet 10 inches long, 
and weighs 170,000 pounds. It will be used by the Boston Ele¬ 
vated Road, and will be driven by an 8,000-horse-power engine. 
. . . Three cases of smallpox in the Vendome Hotel, Omaha, 
February 3, caused the health authorities to quarantine the 
hotel and all the people in it. Guests are not allowed to leave. 
. . . Natural gas wrecked a hotel at Pittsburg, Pa., February 
3, killing one person and dangerously injuring others. 
A stock train on the Baltimore & Ohio struck a wagon at 
McKeesport, Pa., February 3, killing six persons. . . The 
Grand Pacific Hotel, at Atlantic City, N. J., is to be opened this 
Summer exclusively for colored guests. . . The snow blockade 
in Colorado was reported as worse February 3, trains being 
snowbound in many localities, and a coal and food famine exists 
in numerous towns. In Texas, it is reported that the losses 
among sheep and cattle will amount to millions. . . Afire in 
Philadelphia February 3, resulted in losses amounting to 
$750,000. . . At Denver, Col., snow had been falling for a week 
February 5, and many of the mining camps were cut off from all 
outside communication. Many travelers, including white and 
colored troops, were detained by blockaded trains at Gleuwood 
Springs. . . The transport Roumanian sailed for San Juan, 
Ponce and Santiago February 4, for the purpose of bringing 
home the remains of American soldiers buried in Cuba and Porto 
Rico. The vessel carried 500 metal-lined coffins, 13 undertakers, 
12 assistants, and gravediggers and laborers. . . Smallpox 
prevails among the Creek, Cherokee and Kickapoo Indians in 
Oklahoma. . . A banana trust has just been formed in New 
York. . . Intense cold and snow continued through the West 
February 7-8, the temperature at Cheyenne, Wyo., ranging from 
13 to 38 degrees below zero. It is estimated that 00,000 sheep In 
southern Colorado are dying from cold and hunger, and it was 
said, February 8, that a continuation of the same weather con¬ 
ditions for 24 hours would mean the death of 50 per cent of the 
cattle in Wyoming. Many people have been frozen to death. At 
Chicago, the most prolonged cold was experienced that has pre¬ 
vailed since 1871. In the. Northwest, the temperature fell to 55 
degrees below zero. Heavy snow prevailed over a wide range. 
On the Atlantic coast, the gale caused much damage. At Astoria, 
L. I , the high tide was forced into a warehouse filled with un¬ 
slaked lime, and the slaking of the lime caused a serious fire. 
. . . The new steel trust now in process of formation is ex¬ 
pected to Include a capital of $700,000,000. 
Congress.—The House passed the River and Harbor bill Feb¬ 
ruary 2 by a vote of 160 to 7. . . February 3, the Democratic 
opponents of the Peace treaty made a sudden change of front, 
refusing to allow a vote on any resolution declaring the Govern¬ 
ment’s policy regarding the Philippines, and then forced an 
adjournment by leaving the Senate without a quorum. The news 
from Manila, however, altered the attitude of the Senate, and the 
treaty was ratified on Monday, February 6, by a vote of 57 to 27. 
This was one of the most bitterly-fought contests since the Senate 
has been in existence. . . The Sundry Civil bill is increased by 
$20,000,000 appropriated to carry out the obligations of the Peace 
treaty. The entire bill calls for $42,927,301. . . The new Navy 
Appropriation bill recommends the construction of 12 new ves¬ 
sels, which will cost $28,225,400, exclusive of armor and ordnance. 
Philippines.—On Saturday evening, February 4, the Filipinos 
made a concerted attack upon our outposts at Manila, and a 
general engagement resulted. Fighting continued during the. 
nivht. the enemy occupying the trenches which they have been 
digging for some time past, in full view of the Americans. At 
daybreak, Admiral Dewey ordered the cruiser Charleston and 
the captured gunboat Callao to begin a bombardment, these 
being reenforced by the monitor Monadnock. Fighting continued 
during Sunday, the enemy being repulsed with heavy loss. Gen. 
King’s brigade charged a heavy force of Filipinos, driving them 
into the Pasig River, where they were drowned. Our loss is 49, 
about 200 being wounded. The troops engaged belonged to the 
First Idaho Infantry, First Nebraska, First Tennessee, First 
California. First Colorado, First Wyoming, First Washington, 
Fourteenth Infantry, Third Artillery and Sixth Artillery. Our 
forces captured live villages. The natives have been extremely 
insolent of late, and the attack was, undoubtedly, carefully ar¬ 
ranged; but their aim was bad, though they fought desperately. 
Aguinaldo’s secretary has been arrested in Manila as a spy. Im¬ 
mediately on the news of the battle being received in Washington, 
Agonclllo fled to Canada. The number of natives killed is esti¬ 
mated at 4,000. Desultory fighting was continued by the in¬ 
surgents on Monday, February 6, but they were obviously dis¬ 
heartened by their tremendous losses. The fire from the warships 
literally mowed them down by wholesale. The number of the 
American troops engaged on Sunday was 13,000, the insurgents 
numbering 20,000. The ratification of the Peace treaty enables 
Gen. Otis to assert American sovereignty over the Philippines, 
and to enforce the terms of his proclamation calling on the people 
to lay down their arms, or to be treated as rebels. Fighting was 
continued on Tuesday and Wednesday, and Aguinaldo pro¬ 
claimed himself dictator and declared war. We captured 4,000 
prisoners, and the Manila waterworks, six miles out of the city, 
which had been held by the insurgents. A number of Spanish 
soldiers served rebel guns. Later, on February 8, Aguinaldo ap¬ 
peared to be weakening, and asked for a conference, which was 
refused. Fully a dozen villages about Manila have been burned, 
and thousands of natives are homeless, but this was necessary 
because the natives concealed themselves in the huts, and fired 
on our rear. Reinforcements have now been sent to Iloilo, and 
if surrender of that city is refused an attack will be made. 
Cuba.—Gen. Gomez has accepted the offer of $3,000,000, not as 
payment to the army for its services, but as a reward from the 
United States to the Cubans. Other Cuban chiefs, however, re¬ 
pudiate the agreement made by Gomez. They assert that he had 
no right to make any arrangements regarding pay or disbanding 
of the troops, and they propose to maintain the army until Cuba 
is free and Independent. . . Gen. Breckinridge has discovered 
among the army rations distributed to the destitute at Havana 
hundreds of cans of spoiled beef. The meat was bought by the 
Subsistence Department, and originally sent to Porto Rico, being 
afterwards forwarded to Havana. . . The last of the Spanish 
troops left Havana February 6, the evacuation now being com¬ 
plete. . . Yellow fever has appeared in the 302nd New Y'ork 
Regiment at Gxianajay. . . Smallpox, which has prevailed in 
Holguin for 12 years past, has been practically wiped out by 
American sanitation. Over 10,000 persons were vaccinated. 
War Investigation,—The executive committee of the National 
Live Stock Exchange has adopted resolutions saying that Gen. 
Miles’s charges have severely injured their business. . . The 
Pennsylvania Dairy and Food Commissioner says that Gen. 
Miles is right as to chemicals being used to preserve beef, but he 
does not think these chemicals injurious. . . The last wit* 
nesses to testify before the Investigating Commission were chem¬ 
ical analysts who found that no chemicals were used in the 
canned roast beef. The Commission turned in its report 
February 8. Its findings have been kept secret. . . Gen. Eagan 
is found guiity, and sentenced to suspension from service for 
six years. He receives regular pay during this term. 
Hawaiian Islands.—Agents of Hawaiian planters, in London, 
are trying to collect 1,500 Portuguese laborers for the Islands. 
They will be recruited mainly in the Azores and Madeira. The 
British steamer Lenox brought 800 Japanese laborers to Honolulu 
January 31. 
Porto Kico.—The secretary of the Porto Rico treasury esti¬ 
mates, as a result of his investigations, that the Spanish author¬ 
ities have made away with between 300,000 and 400,000 pesos of 
trust funds deposited in the treasury here. These funds consis t 
of deposits made by foreign life and lire insurance companies; 
public contractors, litigants, judicial officers, and others. 
Tlie Navy.—The cruiser Bullalo reached Manila February 2, 
after a rapid trip, having left Norfolk December 10. 
General Foreign News.—Count Caprivi, ex-chancellor of the 
German empire, died at Skiren, Prussia, February 6, aged 08 
years. . . The arrival of the French communist Rochefort at 
Algiers has increased the anti-Jewish feeling, and grave disorder 
is feared. The city is under martial law. . . Chinese rebels 
have seized the district of Chang-To, and massacred all the offi¬ 
cials. An attack was made on the mining plant at Pao Lu, and 
the American manager saved his life only by flight, all his prop¬ 
erty being destroyed by the mob. 
