The times., 1898-11-19

Washington is to have a milk trust. AL
ready over 50 per cent of the milk bust
ness of the District has been purchased
by a syndicate of New York and local
capitalists. options have been secured on
nearly all that remains, and all the milk
from the surrounding country that comes
into the District has been contracted for
a number of years ahead.
Plans have been completed by Architect
y. T. Haller for a handsome modern
structure to facilitate the handling of the
milk, which will occupy a square of
ground in the northwestern section of the
city, alongside the tracks of the Balti-
more and Ohio Railroad " ork on the
building will be commenced soon and
within six months it is expected that 1t
will be completed. The syndicate will be-
gin operations on January l, however,
conducting their enterprise from several
of the largest dairy plants in the city.
The names OF the stockholders have
been jealousy guarded so far, and they
will not be made public for several days.
The negotiations have been carried on en-
tirely through Washington agents, but
as soon as the plans are per-
fected a public announcement will be
made of the names of those concerned.
The board of directors is composed of
men of wealth all of whom have resi-
dences in Washington and who are well
known here. 1t is said that the directory
which consists of seven men, represents
an aggregate wealth of many millions of
dollars.
The syndicate is capitalized at 81, 500. 900
The building and plant is to cost $50, 900
while $4,000 was paid for the block of
ground on which 1t is to stand. The pur-
chase of the business of the various milk
dealers of the District will, when it is
| accomplished, have cost about $500. 900
The operating expenses are expected to
be about $4,000 year
The building Is to be a modern four
story structure, equipped throughout with
the most approved electric machinery. for
the automatic handling of milk. A rail-
road switch will run into it, to facilitate
the delivery of country milk. 1t will con-
tain a condensing plant, a creamery for
the manufacture of butter a cheese fac
story and storage rooms for eggs
The third and fourth floors will contain
the living apartments of the employees of
the syndicate. 1t is proposed to board
each employe. in addition to paying him
about 10 per cent more wages than men
similarly occupied are getting now from
the smaller dealers. The hotel as the nm
per part of the building is called. will pro
vide Accommodations for about 500 men
Besides the living rooms there will be a
pool and billiard room, library and
smoking rooms.
Ihere VIII be uniform system of wa
gons and the drivers, and IN fact all en-
firm tr-f1 |,
Is thought that about $50 wagons will be
required TO do the work that now re-
quires 400. There are six hundred per-
mits for the sale of milk now issued from
the health department but many of these
are very small dealers who peddle their
supply on foot
The milk will be tested daily, by gov
ernment inspectors, by improved analyti-
cal methods. Besides tins precaution
every herd of cows that furnish milk for
the city will be inspected at frequent in
tervals and their surroundings will be
made to conform with sanitary require
ments.
After the milk has been delivered at the
building 1t will be run into porcelain yats
From these it is drawn and bottled auto
matically, the bottles Theoretically sealed
and placed in cases ready for delivery.
Thus the handling of the milk is reduced
to a minimum and chances of infection
greatly iessened
The retail price of milk viii be the same
as is generally charged now, eight cents
quart. 1t is claimed, however, that
much higher grade of milk will be fur
nished, at uniform price, and the public
Will consequently benefit. 1t is confident
ly expected that within short time
every quart of milk sold in the District
will be sold by the big syndicate.
The plant Ii is said will ha tho ,nost
complete and modern in the world, with
none of the Objectionable features of the
ordinary dairy plant about it. Cleanliness
will be the rule. On the same square on
which the building is to be built will be
erected modern stables for the accommo-
dation of the horses and wagons TO be
used in delivering milk.