In view of the great hardships to which this firm have been exposed by the
action of the French Government, based upon false reports as to an
extraordinary prevalence of trichinosis among the hogs of this country, I
will thank you to bring the complaints of Messrs. S. Davis, jr., & Co.
to the attention of the French foreign office with a view of obtaining for
them such relief as may be practicable.
[Inclosure in 363.]
S. Davis, jr., Co. to Mr.
Blaine.
Cincinnati, March 26, 1881.
(Received March 13.)
Dear Sir: It has been suggested to us that we
advise you of the course pursued in Paris with our meats, and to offer
letters.
We send copy of one entire, with comments below.
In contrast with it, where our hams passed “with honor,” another house,
with hams packed the same day here and forwarded
by same steamer, were rejected in Paris, and lot
sent back to Havre. This, too, after passing inspection at Havre.
[Letter from Havre.]
Lot per “Volner” found sound by the government inspector, and, with
authority of consignees, forwarded to Paris. (Second lot.) But they may
be rejected at Paris like the first. Here they do not find trichina, but
it appears they find some in Paris, and then
immediately destroy the meat.
Mr. P. returned us here nine crates (from Paris). We will try and sell
the hams; but it is a pity to see how these hams
are damaged; the covers are off, and they have
holes as big as a thumb.
Paris,
March 4, 1881.
S. D., Jr., & Co.,
Cincinnati:
Your invoice of January 22 reached me to-day, after passing the
ordeal of microscopical examination with
honors.
The delay and trouble and consequent expenses
are so great that I can hardly say whether I am glad or
sorry that the invoice of January 4 has at last reached Havre. *
* * * Many persons are, of course, prejudiced against American
pork. This was, no doubt, the only object of the recent
decree.
I hear that some members of Bordeaux chamber of commerce, who
were deeply interested in the American pork trade, came here
recently, and, choosing some freshly killed French pigs at the
abattoir, had them analyzed with the result that several were
found to be more or less infected with the newly-invented
disease.
That I understood to be with the object of showing that trichina
is possible in French pigs. Many here contending that, in the
way they are fed, they are more liable to have them than ours,
as we have sounder and fresher food.
S. DAVIS, Jr., &
CO.
[Page 408]
We desire to state that this has been the most favorable season for
curing meats that we have had for years, and with consumers here and
abroad the cure has been pronounced better than last season.
We take great pains with meats for export, being drier than domestic
meats when shipped, and for two years have had double covers.
And one matter, very important—for there have been complaints that meats
are sent over not fully cured, and sometimes true, and so ordered by
French people—we have not this season, or at any
time, sent any hams but those
fully cured. We have, by cable and letters, given a portion of
this information to Governor Noyes, who has our hams for his own use,
and whom the writer well knows.
You can see our losses are likely to be severe and portion of meat may be returned here, and some destroyed.
Very respectfully, your obedient servants,
S. DAVIS, Jr., & CO.
