Litchfield enquirer., 1869-02-11


 4oes.ts-THe Feelings of tbe producers
 and propositions .for q Change.
 :, ..rse. NEW MILFORD, Jan. 26, 1869. ,a The annual needing of the Housatonic Milk Association was held at Mc-Mahon's g Hall, in this place to-day. The weather was admirable and the hall was crowded with members of the association and oth- CTS interested in this impo1tant and grow ing branch of bushes. A "milk train has been run over the Housatonic and New York roads for something over year, and the business has increased beyond the ex- pectations of it's projectors. During the past summer the daily shipment ran as high as $50 cans of, forty quarts each. The association of milk producers numbers nearly a hundred members, Nathan Hart of West Cornwall, being President, and T: s. Gold, of the same place Secretary and Treasurer. During the forenoon meet ing of the Executive Committee was held, at which various matters of interest to the body were discussed, and bussiness pre- pared for the meeting of the society. To. ward noon the members collected in and around the New England Hotel, Ia neat and well regulated house,) and earnestly discussed the questions appertaining to the traffic. At one o'clock the meeting was called to order in the hall, and continued until halfspast six. After the reading and acceptance of the minutes of the last meet ing, Dec. s26th,at West Cornwall, the re- port of the Executive Committee was read by MT. F. N. Hall, of New Milford. Itwas well written and clearly set forth the prog A1ess of the enterprise, and the require. ments for its successful prosecution. Milk had been brought twelve miles to the cars and delivered in New York in good condi. ton by the use of ice, and that practice was recommended
 i Itwas found by experience that there was practically no limit to the demand in New York for milk, but it was necessary that the supply should be steady, and that care should be taken to preserve the good reputation of the road already secured. Different plans for curing had been recon smehded, and opposite results arrived at with the same process, but it could be said that all should be careful to cleanse their cans, and cool the milk in springs, or oth- erwise, till the animal heat was expelled, and put the covers on tightly to keep out the ever-changing air. With these pre-. cautions the Aattering reputation of Hous. atomic milk could be kept up. The matter of transportation had been source of anx. iety,as two roads had to be used. Mir. Good. rich, of the Housatonic, had aided as fal as possible, and the New York road had shown friendly interest in the undertak- ing Increased facilities had been secured by the delay of the express train on the New York road, and it depended upon the farmers whether the business should be 9,~1l 1 causes which have prevented farmers from entering upoa the business was want of confidence in the agents at New York, and prejudice against a new and novel enter prise. 9 It had been shown that milk was the most profitable product of the farm. and with it's growth all property would ad. vance. The want of confidence in the agents arose. from the fact that the busi. ness had been made Q monopoly in theil hands which had led to the formation o1 this association, and efforts to reduce the commission (one-haf cent per quart.) In. stances were givin of parties who had giv. emp the business because of this agency. The complaints against the agency were detailed. They were charged with return fort to dispose of the increased supply, ,and
 
 Merwinsyille and Hawleyville had aban doned the road in consequence of theil dissatisfaction with three parties.
 The Executive committee had accepted the proposition of Baker & Cummings that they be given three months notice when a change was desired and had giver the notice. A subcommittee had made arrangements to this end with the Railroad and had conferred with the New York milh men. In this connection MT. R. Pratt ol q West Cornwall, was called upon for whal he saw and heard in New York;. and gave a statement. He attended meeting oi some seventy-fve men interested in the milk coming from this road He found a strong and unexpected feeling of dissatis. faction among them with the management of Baker & Co.,. They claimed that milk which belonged to them was sold to specu. lators. that some was increased in quantity and reduced in quality, and would not con , tinue their connection with the concern Some hitherto friends of Baker, were loud in their complaints. He was convinced from what he heard, that it was necessary to the life of the business, that the con. nection with Baker must be broken. up. He detailed some personal investigations of accounts, and the course and language of Baker < Co.,, and declared that the pres ent arrangement ii. continued, would prove disastrous to the enterprise. sef
 Mir. Hart resumed, and related his re. collection of the New York meeting. The charge that milk was sold on speculation, Y to the injury of the men for whom it was designed, was supported by afidavits which he read. Cummings. Bakers part. ner, had admitted that relative of Bake, had beenallowed to dispose of from 60 to 65 cans week to make up his salary.
 MT. Baker said that the man was thirty third cousin of his. Laughter.)
 Another charge was that Baker had been known to fill one can from another. so that the party in the lurch held his own at the expense of somebody else; still another, that more cans were sold than the way-bills covered, showing that considerable quan- 3 tlty was manufactured" He told Q man who wanted can, and it had been dipping Q little from number, and sold for $5. Milk had been sold at speculationiprices to dealers with the Naugatuck road. MT. Hart denied certain prevalent reports con. cerning his actions in New York. He did'nt examine the cans, or speak disparaoi nplv of the milk in the hearing of milk men. Some thin milk was shown him. which hs thought was owing to light feed. Had Int. tie conversation with milkmen on that oc casion. Saw one of , Bakers men-the e Skth nas1ssv' coN ..n i