New-York tribune., 1900-05-27
HANDLING THE MILK SUPPLY
SUCCESSIVE STEPS FROM THE DAIRY TO
THE TABLE OF THE CONSUMER

Much has been printed in the last weeks con-
cerning a Wall Street mans effort TO organize a
company for the purpose OF handling the retall
milk business of this city, and the effort or the
Five States Milk Producers Association TO secure
higher return for the farmers Although milk is
Of the common food products. few OF
those who use the million and more quarts or
it which this city daily know of the sources
of the supply, the methods of handling 1t ana the
pains which are taken have it reach the con-
fresh Owing to its perishable character, the
uncertainty of the requirements of the market
each day and the margin which the business is
conducted. an elastic system is required in handling
milk When one remembers that a difference in
temperature may make a difference in a days con-
sumption Of 5000 1000 fortyquart cans, one may
gain some idea OF the adaptablity required in the
system. which is expected TO meet such an emer-
gency without showing loss anywhere The deal
must get mis- milk to the market within from
twenty-four TO thirty-six hours of the time 1t is
drawn. a system Of collection. handling and trans
portation has been evolved which meets these con-
ditons. BY Of receiving stations in the milk
producing counties. equipped with machinery for
turning the surplus stock into butter and cheese,
condition is met. Trains of specially con-
structed cars run at speed ranging from thirty
forty miles hour and having the right OF way
over all except passenger trains operated over
the different milk carrying roads.
Owing 70 the invention OF refrigerator cars 1t is
possible-and il is regularly done-to bring milk
from distance Of nearly 400 miles and get it into
New-York in good condition Milk is brought from
counties bordering on Lake Ontario. The counties
furnishing the greatest amount as might be expect
ed are those in the neighborhood of New-York-
Orange, Rockland and Westchester. But milk
comes also from Ulster. Sullivan. Greene Delaware
Schohare. Chemung. Otsego, Broome Tioga- Cort-
land Madison, Oneida, Herkimer. Ontario, Seneca
Schuyler and Cayuga counties and Pennsylvania,
New-Jersey, Western Connecticut and Western
Massachusetts.
All over this territory are scattered the dairies
which supply this city. These dairtes have fr m
10 TO 50 cows each, the average dairy containing
from % to 25. The average production of a
at the most prolific period is 10 quarts a day, so
that the average dairy will produce from 200 10 80
quarts.
At all the large milk producing points the deal
ers have erected receiving stations for preparing
the milk for shipment to New-York. These stations
are fitted with appliances for cooling the milk and
machinery for turning the surplus into butter and
cheese and for cleansing the cans. They contain
a boiler and engine, cooling vats cream separa-
tor power churns cheese vats, an icehouse, etc.
The average size Of station is S0Xl10 feet
station of this size will handle from 10 10 40
forry-quart a day.
The temperature of the milk when drawn is blood
heat 1t must be reduced for preservauve purposes poses
20 ABOUT % uesI IlIS I'J -, - Tya+ar iced AZ
The cans may De placed IN VhlS oA "dtSi I-
il be summer the milk may be passed through
coolers. One of the coolers used suggests WASH
hoard The milk IS allowed 70 uicAle 90 Gown M 5 osei
pipes through which cold water Is peins pdSs%tu- %
a pa+ Is a. hsen u,i+bfTawn and the animal
ma neat mas peen W. 49, , q 10 TinT The larger
part Of the milk which New-H orh IS cooled
by the New Yor dealers at the receiving stations
The stafions are on the railroad lines. The
are run alongside their platforms and the mix Is
loaded directly aboard. The cars are specially CON
structed for this service. They fitted with pas
senger car tgc6s "a and Go, air 9r9ae 50
After has been loaded II ls locked ana
rate for carrying milk, because of the speed and
the regularity which must be maintained, ana the
rar rVbia ha
The bulk Of the milk enters the city by way of
Jersey City, Hoboken ana Weehawken The trains
arrive about 10 People crossing the ferries 10
with the large trucks OF the dealers. laden with
empty milk cans, on their way over to get the
animated one. Every one is scrambling to get his
being thrown about rises above the hubbub. Be
fore O'Clock the next morning most OF the milk
restaurants. hotels, stores and institutions -
At the grocery stores in the tenement districts
milk may be bought for four d quart. The
retail dealers who deliver 1t charge six or seven
cents. and when bottled eight cents, TO cover
breakage and loss Of bottles.
Some idea of the amount of money invested in
the milk business may be had from an enumeration
of some OF the items which compose the primary
and teams cows average $40 each in cost 10
The dealers the thousand and
S5066 TO s. 600 each the i5o 900 cows the thousands
of bottles besides trucks delivery wagons horses.
The State has endeavored to protect milk by
series of statutes which provide for heavy fines in
milk that which contains than SS per cent of
less than per cent Sof butter fats; that drawn
from cows red on dlstiIery waste or any substance
in state of putrefaction any unhealthy
food; from cows kept in a crowded or unhealthy
has been removed, which has been diluted ute with
water or any other fluid; or to which has been
egn substance 1t prohibits the sale of aduterated
see that the milk sold meets with the requirements
of the law. There also legal provisions for the
suppression of disease among cattle