Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1871-03-02
THE RUTLAND HERALD.
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY "a, 1871.
The New MILK Enterprise.

A considerable number of the promi-
nent milk producers of the town of Rut-
land end vicinity, met according to ap
pointment, at the office of the Harlem
Extension Railroad, at ten o'clock yester
day. to consider the proposals which are
offered for opening an avenue by which
their milk can be conveyed directly to
the New York market.
The parties who propose to inaugurate
thisnew enterprise are Messrs. Cummings,
Baker & Co, Wholesale commission pro-
duca de4lers, at No 46 Vesey street. New
York, and Mr.. P. c. Cummings of this
Arm, wa. present at the meeting, to pre-
sent his plan and explain all its details.
The proposals offered are that the milk
producers along tho line of the Harlem
Extension road shall deliver their milk
In cans at the various stations. beginning
with Rutlsnd. where il will be taken by
the consi4neee, in refrigerator cars special
" provided for the purpose, and sold in
New York on commission The cams are
to be purchased by the farmers, the con-
signee. furnishing them at cost. The size
intended for general use will hold forty
quarts, iaeubstantially made of galvanized
iron, aud will ne furnished for about six
dollars each. The commission charged is
eighreru cents for each can Of forty quartz,
the accidental loss of cans by misplace,
ment AT the varioua stations to be borne
by the sender. For an additional charge of
two cents per can, however, this risk ia
Assumed 10y the consignees. The milk is
t. he received pure and fresh at New
York, and any deterioration in its quality
from souriug will be at the risk of the
producer. For milk which may prove
sour, however, Mr.. Cummings guarantees
to ray half price
Mr.. Cummings estimates that pure
mix from good dairies can be sold 40 as
to pay the freight and commissions, and
average clear to the farmers at least the
following rates For the month of March,
A cents per quart; April, cents: May,
2 1-2 cents June, 2 l 2 cents; July, 3
cents; August, 8 cents; September. 3 1-2
cents; and for the five following months,
cents This estimate is made on the ba-
sis of receiving two-thirds as much milk
during the fall and winter months as is
received during the spring and summer
months. These prices will be guaranteed
by Messra. Cummings, Baker x Co. to all
who wish to enter into a contract for such
an arrangement, rather than depend upon
the market price.
Mr.. Cummings stated that it was the
intention of his firm to commence run
ming refrigerator car from the depot in
this village on the first of March, should
only very few be induced to accept their
proposals The car will be connected at
first with the 10 a. m. mail train, but
should a sufficient number of cans be
secured to make up, with the additions
at other points on the line, train of five
cars, it is the intention of Superinten-
dent Faulkner to make the train special
one. IT will then stop at any point be-
tween stations for the accommodation of
farmers who have twenty-five or more
cans to transport.
The company have such confidence in
the success of their proposed plan that
they have erected an ice-house near the
depot in this place, and stored it with one
hundred and fifty tons of ice for the pur-
pose Of supplying the refrigeratora cars.
A similar ice-house has also been erected
at North Bennington.
The consideration OF these proposals
excited good deal of interest among the
farmers present at the meeting, and con-
siderable informal discussion was held.
The general sentiment among them seems
to be one of uncertainty, and it is impos-
sible to predict how many will be induced
to enter upon the new enterprise. The
feasibility of the plan can only be ascer-
tanned by experiment, and as it is in the
hands of men of energy and experience,
who have been successful in similar enter
prises elsewhere, it may we'll be assured
that it will be thoroughly tested.