The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1895-04-20
HOW CITIES GET MILK.
Description Of the Scenes at the
Crcamcries at Early MOrning-A Few
i Facts About the Cheese Industry

Description Of the Scenes at tho
Creameries at Early Morning-A Few
Facts About the Cheese Industry.
Special Correspondence of The Tribune.
Montrose, April 19-I doubt very
much If the average user of milk in the
city ever thinks of the source of his
supply Of lacteal fluid or how it is sent
him, save when he Is awakened at an
unearthly hour in the morning by the
resonant cry Of "meouk" issuing from
the lips Of the milkman, or when that
excellent lunged individual presents
his bill and perhaps occasionally when
a vague idea of mild faced COW pre-
sents itself.
In many small towns through which a
railroad runs enterprising wholesalers
of milk have established creameries and
milk stations.
The farmers of the section surround
ing twice daily bring their milk to
these establishments, where the cans
IN which 1t is brought are Immediately
placed in iced water watts. This reduces
the temperature Of the milk which is
but a trifie lower than animal heat, to
ABOUT ~ degrees Farenheit.
Certain milkings are noted for their
from Jersey or Alderney dairy
who have Jersey or Alderney dairy
are placed in the cream row; while the
Holstein, Durham and common grade
dairy are utilized for common milk.
The cream is separated from the milk
In separator by centrifugal force.
10 af A
we, of the city, term "sky blue" and
in the country is known as skim milk"
SKINNED Cream Cheese.
AT one milk station known to the
writer, an italian takes their entire
production Of skim milk and makes
several grades Of cream cheese from 1t,
even going so far as to make limitations
of Butiro, Cacciocarallo, Muzzarelle and
Provole Serfmate-famous goats milk
Italian cheeses.
At the milk stations some days the
supply exceeds the demand, 80 after all
orders have been filled the milk is
separated from the cream and made
into butter
At all well-regulated creameries and
milk stations milk is tested regularly.
The Babcock test is ordinarily used, as
1t is considered by experts to be the
fairest and most accurate test known.
The manner of testing Is simple, a
small glass caraffe with an exceedingly
long neck Is used-in it is placed GER
tain amount Of milk, to which is added
the correct measured proportion of sui
phuric acid. Ordinarily from fifteen to
twenty tests are made at a time.
The milk is Immediately precipitated
to dullish red hue and becomes, from
it's contact with the oil of yitrol ex-
ceedingly warm.
The caraffes are placed in a revolving
cylinder. which is operated by crank
turned by hand.
The Genesis of Butter.
Four minutes suffices the completion
of stage number one, when the glass
receptacles are filled nearly full with
boiling water, and again subjected to
further spin in the cylinder. When
the proper time has elapsed the caraffes
are removed and on the long, slender
necks Of the diminutive decanters is
observed the fatty substance which the
top Of its contents. The necks are pro-
portioned, or measured, in proper deci-
mails, showing per hundred pounds of
milk the exact amount of butter it will
make.
The law claims pounds 6 ounces,
and milk should average this amount,
however, when cows are new mixers,
that is cows who have recently given
birth to calves, predominant in a dairy,
the milk will never test as high as
those known as old mixers.
A recent test, witnessed by the writer.
showed some milk which would only
make 2 pounds ounces butter per
hundred pounds, while others varied,
some testing as high as pounds
ounces.
Each day these creameries or milk
stations ship their compliment to the
cities. A car Is placed at the switch
running close to the building. and the
large cans Of milk, each containing
forty quarts, are loaded. The cans are
made particularly for the milk traffic,
and in few hours reach their destina-
tion.
There, in the early morning light, the
milkmen await their milk and cream,
often far from the residence portion Of
the city, where most of It will be de-
livered, and in the grey Of the morn
ing, while other men are knitting up
the ravelled sleeves Of care" the milk
man is urging on his trusty horse pre-
pairing himself for his early rounds,
whilst singing with the morning stars.
Selden Munger.