New-York tribune., 1872-05-23
THE FRAUDS IN FOOD.
THE MEAT AND MILK DEALERS.


rsn,cNATIoN OF THOSE EXPosED- GKAiIIlU Ill,,o,,
TIoN OF THE TRADE GBNERALLY-OIhfl Ihfn EN-
METHODS OF swINDLING BY Dhl'EHo W
MILK, ICE AND COAL CARTS
THE TRIBUNE Office was besleged' yeS'oiu"yr 80,
nv dealers In milk some Of whose adulterauon'O v o
stock had been exposed, and many more OF "nor
% tbank the Editor Tor the publication Of the
cernins the abuses Of this trade. All unteu ~
tha, ,be article was true In every important
exeent where IL named them and their trieh"s ~ 49,
OF ire adulteration. They admit that tne ., %
Is very general, and praetieea " ~. q, foc,
those named in THE IRIBUNhs ono
nv all exoept the ones eompHalnns' w
" ,,'oso nap,ed cave plausible reasons which
,naeated ossble errors the part OF inc Reporter
,i been ordered into these cases, ana II 9usuce
has boen done and can be established the luies1 reP
e. ,viu no made. One gentleman explained tha'
numbers Of milkmon got the water win "nlou my
a1nltcracd their milk from the hydrant IN ms stoIc
ond insisted that Il in this way his wagons had beeh
oonfounded with those OF dishonest dealers AS mus
tratipe how general aduleTatiOn was tins gentleman
stated that he had 20 employ police to drive olher nA
men from his hydrant.
Other dealers after expressing qualification at the
work accomplished by THE TRIBUNE and the hope that
further inquiry would be instituted into this as well as
other trades called attention to common praence ny
winch not only the consumers but the dealers tnenl
selves were swndled BY dishonest drivers MIX wagons
tre generally driven by men who receive sim"
wages aud they have system OF NnooAins
down by which the purchaser suffers IN the
Vino ~ tho article he gets and the dealer In repu-
tstion Each driver receives for distribution daily
.oertain amount of milk, say three 40gaon cans lie
has TO account night for 1O quarts but II he chooses
10 replace the first 25 quarts distributed win as much
water the dealer the WISER the consumer poorer
by his share Of the aduraton and the driver rcher y
n co. which he receives from customers whom mS en
ployer knows nothing about lie thus doubles his wages
daily and appears TO ALL except those who detect nm IN
committing the aduteraton TO be an honest man. lhL
Tn1B,F is assured that in this way many honest ana
reputable dealers misrepresented by lhelr neu'
whom they never think Of watching, because suherns
no loss money by rascay operations OF the drivers
The same swindle, small in its way but large in the
AGGREGATE is perpetrated in the distribution OF Ice
shreJd and dishonest driver charged with the dsrDu
tion Of un OF ice to househoders who do not weigh
whatthey receive. can, without much difficulty pocket
the proceeds OF hundred pounds and yet return his
employer receipts for the fun tun The Trick hes II
furnishing underwelghtto the regular customers, who
nav by the month OF week. and selling to irregular Gus
toners for cash the surplus thus made by cheating Tho
regular dealers general is this cheat that drivers
refuse to deliver ice all to hOusekepers who insist OF
weighing it, aud must be content to be swnd'ed o
60 without ice.
etn greater frand is pcrpctated in the delivery o
coal. Drivers have been known TO stop at their owl
houses and help themselves few buckets Of coal fol
their own use load which they are on the way
deliver to customer is asserted, further that fire.
ouently the coal drivers have an understanding with
corner grOeorymen who retail COAL and that they de-
liver 10 them fractions of loads at low rates, realizing
cash for their seangs OF the coal dealer does
not suffer except possibly in reputation, but as pur
ebesers have no Of weighing their coal the cheat
cannot be detected unless witnessed The dealer has nc
direct interest in watching his drivers closely and the
consumer has little opportunity for he does not know
when the delivery is 20 be made 1t is difficult indeed
o7srF his orOvy 10
constant aud repeated exposure of it in the public prints
secomuli-hes reform.