The Newtown bee., 1893-01-06
w Washington.
A MODEL MILK DAIRY.

The Washington Branch of the Echo Farm Co., Model Plant and Equipment. Able Sup ervison of Superintendent Manly o'Hara.-A Big Ice Houss,-List ofthe Dairy Patrons,
 One of the best equipped milk dairies in this section of the state is the Wash ington branch establishment of the Echo Farm Co, which company also mainta ins successful dairies at Litchfield and Ban tam. The Washington branch was es- abolished nine years ago and has been a great benefit to the farmers of the town. The Echo Farm Co. handle about .OOO quarts of milk per day, all of which is bottled and shipped to New York and Brooklyn. John s. Palmer is the pres- dent of the company and A. E. Webster is secretary and treasurer.
 At the Washington dairy about 1000 quarts of milk is bottled each day, at present, although the average is about 45O0 quarts for the year. The Washing ton dairy Ia an interesting place to visit, and the editor of TIE BEE enjoyed a chat, recently, with Superintendent O'Hara and was piloted through the es- tablishment. The dairy is
 A MODEL OF NEATNESs.
 To begin with, the floors are kept as clean as water and soap can make them and everything throughout the estab- lshment is in apple-pic order, The dairy building itself is a model. It is a large square wooden structure, two stories and a half, and in the rear is q large ice house, on the brink of pond, from whence the ice Is obtained.
 Mir O'Hara has been in his present po- sition for about three years. He is evi- dently the right man in the right place, for he not only has the confidence of the farmers, but is held in high esteem by all who know him.
 The farmers bring the milk twice day, between and 8 in the morning and 6 30 and 7.30 at night.
 The milk is discharged at rear plat form where 1t is received by employees of the dairy and measured in sealed cans. The milk Is then poured into a receiving vat, which holds something like 1900 quarts.
 FROM THIS VAT
 the milk is drawn into the bottles. The bottles are placed in wire cages and about 20 are filled at one time. Two men fill 2OO0 bottles in about two hours. These cages with the bottles are then placed in Vats of water to cool the neck of the bot tie coming quite a distance above the wa ter.
 The milk is kept air-tight by pat ent metallic cork. After being corked, each bottle Is sealed with a slip of paper passing over the cork, which gives the name of the dairy, date of shipment, etc. The patron who gets his milk in Brook lyn or New Iork, can tell at once if the milk has been tempered with.
 After being corked and sealed the bot ties are placed in cases. Four men at tend to the corking, sealing and casing. The product of the Washington dairy fills a car and q half. The cars are seal ed on leaving this station and not opened till they arrive at their destination. Five women are employed in washing the bot ties. Great care is given this work, as cleanliness is an important factor. To clean the wire cages, Mir O'EIara got up a tumbling barrel, filled with water and sand, which keeps them clean and shiny. Nearly all the product of the Washing ton dairy goes to Brooklyn. The Echo Farm Co.,,
 MARKET THEIR OWN MILK, having depOts on Fulton street, Brook lyn and on Broadway, New York. They have their own delivery teams in these cities and carry the milk direct to their customers.
 Each farmer Is only obliged to have two sets of cans, which are washed at the dairy. By doing this they are sure that they are clean.
 The price paid to the farmers Is based on the quotations of the New York ex- change. The price paid has averaged Sc for the last six months.
 The patrons of the dairy have the ad- vantage of those who ship to New York direct, as they can get along with less cans and there are no freight expenses to be deducted. Those who ship direct are obliged to have four or five set of cans, Go say nothing about the bother of wash ing them.
 The patrons generally receive their pay on the second day of the month. Dur ing the last two and one half years, the patrons of the dairy have never had their milk refused.
 MIX that comes from the Echo Farm dalries has good name in the New York and Brooklyn markets. The nights milk is bottled at the dairy soon after being received, the company having two sets of men. This of course
 KEEPS IT FRESH.
 1t would be more economical to allow the milk to stand over night, but 1t would not be nearly as good. Including the su- perintendent, 17 persons are employed at the Washington dairy.
 The amount of money invested in a dairy like the Washington branch in not incons.derable, which cost something like $6O,OOO. Another important factor in the success of the dairies of the Echo Farm Co.,, is the careful oversight given the farmers cattle.
 The company employs a medical ex- amlner, who regularly visits each farm CTS establishment, to look after the health of the cattle, their feed, etc.
 This IS one reason why the Echo Farm milk has so good name in the markets, as no roots which affect the taste or cot tonseed are allowed to be fed.
 The big ice house of the Echo Farm Co.,, at Washington is q model of it's kind. From the pond 50 feet from the house, the blocks of ice are pushed into a sluice way and go flying down to the house, where they are seized by tongs and by power furnished from the engine by rope transmission are hustled into the house in lively fashion.
 THE LIST OF PATRONS.
 The list of patrons of the Washington branch is as follows: B. Calhoun, A. Cal houn, E. E: Seeley, O. A. Titus, G. s. Bryan, c. Y. Woodruff, J. G. Fenn, c. c. Ford, c. II. Mason, c. II. Nichols, W. H. Spaulding, $. Hartwell, c. J. Warner, II. | H. Warehouse, Mrs $. n. Welton, k. Johnston, Baker & Rydene, Ford tS Me Ilravy, Thomas O'Hara, c. NJ. Main, II Q. Averill, II. E. Bradley, c. l.. Hickox, 3 II. w. Seeley, Mrs Polly Seeley, ". T. Odell, A. Irwin, s. E. Smith, I. Bronson, w. Newton, A. Hollister, William Hur- | burt, Frank Farrand and II. W. Farrand. |
 NEW GRANGE OFFICERS.
 Washington grange held it's annual election, last week Wednesday evening. The popular master, H. o. Averll, was unanimously reelected. The other off | cers for 1893 are as follows Frank l. Kill | born, overseer; Miss Julia Averill, lec- turer; Howard Cogswell, steward Lew IS A. Mason, assistant steward; Frank | r. Hallock, chaplain; Charles c. Ford,