New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-12-16
THE LONDON CAN EXCHANGE.
AN ORGANIZATION FOR RECOVERING STOLEN
MILK CANS.
From The London Nail.

From The London Mail
There are many curious societies in London about
which the outside world knows nothing OF such
In the basement of one OF the huge. grim blocks of
buildings In Chancery Lane IS snug little office
ing from it is a larger room. dark and a trihe
musty and hed tF8m wan 10 van ana aiInoSf rom
cans giant that would hold gallons. and others
quench the thirst OF baby. This is the head
quarters Of the Can Exchange
cety and incidentaliy related some interesting ex-
lost and stolen cans These belong to the milk
robbed, Of close upon 1900 cans and 500 ehurns
70 Se tllr lii deaia- % attaS
1000 vessels of different kinds November comes
list with 100 although strange say, in the pre-
vious month the can snacher almost entirely ceases
Ii is the societys duty restore these thousands
employs Inspectors or detectives who operate under
the personal direction OF the secretary Suppose
mysteriously disappeared in the Chaplain Road dis
trct and thae the local police have raied.as they
the society sends its own inspectors 10 shadow the
one OF me carriers II "a b me sfon him and exsm
inc his barrow The results this system are
admirable Last year no fewer than II 7s2 cans and
by the society. The question naturally presents IT.
self OF what use are these misappropriated cans
them is this: When ne leaves his employers dairy
with his usual allowance OF milk he makes for the
nearest news other places furnished with a tap.
Having secretly added considerable amount or
water to the milk he fills the stolen cans with the
aduterated stuff and delivers 1t TO his own Gus
toners. The danger his employer Is unconseiously
running will be apparent for the sanitary fnspec-
tor may at any moment come across the carrier
and take a specimen OF the milk" for analysis.
prosecution ano fine would inevitably follow, but
the dairyman and not his dishonest servant would
suffer II,
rounds may short OF cans. he mas on the
doorsteps or on the area ratings the cans or an
opposition firm. Nothing is easier than 10 appro-
pirate these TO his use. Many sucn cases OF
shines have TO the society notlce lnou-
sands Of these are never returned 10 thelI
owners One day an officer OF the Exchahse
espied a mIlkman meandertng toward ms own
home bending under the weight OF a sack wnich
he was carrying on his shoulders. The sack was
found TO contain nothing but belonging TO an
other Arm in the neighborhood. =.
The most extraordinary case the society mas oeaIt
with lately was one In which an East End Jew was
the offender on his premises between thirty ana
FORTY missing churns were found. The Israelites
bed was built on hidden churns. The washing basin
rested on two Enthusiastically draped; three
others decorated in a similar way. served as
dressing tablet The furniture was air churns.
In anot her case a camdentowp logger lett torty-
seven stolen churns liquidation OF long stand
Ing arcountl IL is the duty OF the Exchange TO
ferret out these leakages of milk cans and churns.
and while restoring the missing articles TO their
ouynars 10 prosecute the offenders As rule, milk
deliverers are an honest class OF men, but there
are black sheep among them. AS illustrating the
vsiue Of the work done by the Exchange u may ne
added that last year It recovered property worth
over e4Ooo