The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-12-14
THE CREAMERY BUSINESS.
Valuable Information Concerning
Cost OF Buildings and Outhts.

The attention of the Indiana experiment
station at Purdue University said c. S.
Plumb, director, has been called to the
fact that certain agents of creamery supply
houses are at present working in Indiana.
endeaYoring, to organize stock companies,
with the purpose of erecting and equipping
expensive creamery buildings. To express
it mildly, during the years 1S91-95 creamery
promoters carried on a work in Indiana
that did the dairy interests of the State
great damage. People unfamiliar with the
creamery business and the conditions essen
tial to success We're led to form stock COM
panies by promoters pledging themselves
to purchase of firms the promoters repre-
scented buildings and equipments costing far
more than circumstances would justify. AS
s. result of this scheming came q collapse
later on that greatly injured the dairy in
terests Of the State. Buildings were erected
where in many localities not enough milk
could be secured to pay for running the
plant. The excessive cost of outfit and
small supply of milk, coupled with lack of
knowledge of the business, swamped be-
yond redemption many creamery stock
companies. The writer has within his
possession a TeC0FdI of fifty CreamerieS in
Indiana that went into insolvency and are
now defunct which seost originally over
100000. This was a dead loss to ,stOCkhold-
ers, to say nothing OF other losses beside
the original plant
Creamery buildings may be erected in
which first-class butter may be made for
from $500 10 81 900, and equipped with ma
chinery for handling 1000 to 10000 rounds OF
milk per day, at q cost of not over $l,J0O,
or an estimated total cost of s.. 500 at the
outside. In some places $4,000 will estab-
lish this plant. Outside Of building, the
two heaviest items of expense are for Sepa-
ratOr and engine and boiler. The very best
separator may be bought for from $400 to
$9gO, SEPARATING from 00 TO 2,oOO pounds
of milk per hour. An engine and boiler
costing new from $500 to $500 viii be neces-
Sary Milk watts holding 600 gallons of milk
may be purchased fdi' S30.otsless a cream
vat holding 200 gallons for about $685. stand
ard butter worker for $40. churn about $50,
with many other items in the way of equip
ment. mostly in a small way.
There are reputable, Wel-establiShed
supply houses that viii sell persons one
thing or everything necessary for use in q
sist in locating creamerles where desired.
People who wish to establish a creamery
will be wise to get bids from different sup
ply houses, and SO secure the most favora-
BILE terms. First, however, they should be
guided in their new work by cIear-headed,
creamery management and equipment, who
are not in the employ of parties interested
in selling buildings or machinery. With
such a person looking after the stOckhOld-
lished that will answer all purposes and at
reasonable cost.
mo cooperative creamery should ever be
established before q contract has been
made and signed among the several stock
holders and patrons to guarantee a specific
minimum amount of milk during the year.
If milk cannot be assured the future of the
creamery will hang in the balance