Litchfield enquirer., 1868-06-25
Hougatonio Milk Company

WEST CORNWALL, June 22d, 1868.
 EDITOR ENQUIRER "A short item in the Enqui,- er of last week credited to the Winsted Herald, der the head of Falls Village news, contains so much of truth, and yet 80 little of that rare arti cle that few facts may not be out of place, so that no wrong impression may be fastened on the minds of any who have regarded the enterprise of sending milk to New York on the Housatonic Rail- road, with favor.
 The first day of last October this road started with 47 cans, increasing through the fall and win ter to an average of 75 or 80 cans per day, and reaching some 300 cans per day up to this time. This increase has been obtained over obstacles that would have discouraged less persistent men, or "a business of less importance to the Valley through which the road is laid.
 One serious obstacle was the failure of the Rail- road to deliver the milk in New York until too late for distribution. This has occurred some twelve or fifteen times in the nine months, and has en- tailed large amount of work on our Agents, be- sides loss to milk producers. Milk is an article that the dealers must have at about such an hour every morning, and when it in late, they go else- where for the days supply, and when the delay is so often repeated as it was at one time during the severe weather of last winter, some of the dealers leave. This obstacle will not be entirely over come until the quantity increases to 5 or cans per day, when we arc promised regular through mix train. The consequence of these delays is a surplus of milk for the next morning, and it has to be sold as it can be- here and there and usually at discount as sour milk. This is one cause for the delay in the return of empty cans
 Ru hv for% %bo mers themselves, in their not sending an article properly prepared, or in good order, and we have the most abundant proof, that the quantity of milk might have been GOO cans, now instead of 300 per day. When in New York, recently, with the chairman of the executive committee of our milk association, we found 250 cans Out of 2SO to 29C per day, sending to regular customers Some 1s cans were entirely unfit for any market except the pig-trough 1; the taste and smell of the worst wal tainted, stabley and like rancid oil, few can, mainder on inquiry were found in almost every in stance to be dairies, though good now, which hat been so bad that their customers had refused tt take take them, and not only left the dairies but the road also. The cause of this bad milk was in part for lack of cleannesss in all the operations of preparing it for market, in the milking utensils. cans, milking, &c, and in not being prepared with conveniences for cooling and curing. Taking the names of these, inquiry was made as to their con- veniences, and it found that as late as the first week ln June, some were cooling their milk in tubs standing right in the sunshine others in brooks which had in cold weather been sufficient, but failed as warm weather came on Some failed Tn cleaning and airing their cans. In every in stance examined, more than enough was found to produce the results we saw, and which had been 80 much complained of. The wonder is not that "every other can was sour," but that all of them were not sour, resulting in loss to the producers damage to the reputation of the road, and in- Jury to many of those whose milk was good Oft en customer taking several small dairies one of which coming in day after day in bad order as de- scribed, becomes disgusted, and throws up all tho dairies, and leaves the road. The milk from somo ot these good dairies as we'll as bad, accumulates and has to be sold sour milk, and of course the cans are delayed. The producer all the while is wondering what has become of his cans. little thinking that it is his own or his neighbours care lessness which causes all the trouble. The agents are charged with neglect, and tho business of sending milk to Gotham pronounced unprof- table. But there is curious circumstance con- nected with this state of things in the fact that many of the parties who have thus lost their cus- toners, and are notified of the fact and the cause of it, and are advised to stop until another can be provided, utterly refuse to do so all the time blow ing great guns because their cans don't come back, and because when payday comes it is sour milk pay. Thus the innocent suffer with the guilty, and the blame is charged upon the wrong parties. 8; @
 The facts admit the modicum of truth contained Ill the Item Tn question, (viz.) that the non-re- turn or ompty cans and sour milk are causing dis satisfaction, and that many of those who were pre- pairing to send their milk, had abandoned the pro- lect, and gone to making cheese and butter again. It is the carelessness and want of thoroughness o tho grumblers themselves that block up the road to an increase. Some of these dairies have been given up by three or four different customers saw one of these which had been stopped twice start again. and the first can opened was sour. the customer would look no farther, and left not only the dairy but the road.
 The other side of the picture presents different view of the matter. The first week in June there were 250 cans per day going to regular customers which, for richness and good keeping oual;ties was not exceeded by any other milk in marlet T saw milk on it's rounds perfectly sweet the second morning, and the general testimony was that tbey wanted no better milk. Keep it so, and we arc sat isfied and have not yet heard the first nrodncer wno mas succeeded in getting his milk to market. m tns condition, except as stated in another nlaca "no aoes not like the business, and thinks it tb.s Oess uisposislon he can make of his milk. The cans are returned very regularly, in many instan. ces, Wen cleaned, with but little sour milk tbe do lays or the cars causing both the delay and so,,r ing in most instances Each for himself can ;ndoa of it's prodtableness; if it were not SO doun. 2, so many would be so anxious to go into tba h,,.; ness as know there are !. ~1''-
 At Station Il, there are four farms ad;o;n;r, q. springs not 20 rods apart, milking 60 cows. The net average income per day per COW is 40 cents and this continue will for 25O days in the year Not one of the farmers would give dollar to be guar anteed this More than one of them has not had canof sour or strong milk from the first, and all of them will pot average one can in onehundred,