The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-05-20


myself have only been in charge since
the first week of April. 1t is Mr. Duncan
who has done everything"
Is Hard Worker.
Mr.. Humphrey gives generous measure.
lie is worker: can work with his hands
as well as his head. Since he was instru-
mental in stirring up the milk question
last summer, when other towns were
sending gallons of preserved cream adul-
terated with boracie acid to the hotels,
drug stores and restaurants of this city,
to be made into ice cream, he has been
well up in the official eye of the city
government. When the chief meat and
milk inspector Mr.. Duncan, was sent
by the city to finish a course in bacteri-
ology at Johns Hopkins, in Baltimore,
preparatory TO taking the position of city
bacterologist an office recently created
by Mayor Ward, Mr.. Humphrey was
sent for to All the place of assistant milk
inspector. and he is as has been stated
before, a hustler.
Furthermore. he is an authority on any
and all questions pertaining TO dairy and
milk inspection, and thoroughly up-to-
date. As Mayor Ward said, .IIe is pro-
gressive. conscientious and hard worker
and very much interested in his work.
Interesting Life.
Gerald W. Humphrey has had an inter-
esting life. He is the son of an English
gentleman one of the established edu
Gators of England, owner and head mas
ter of the Hush Grammar school of
Taunton, Somerset it was here that
Mr.. Humphrey was educated. grounded
thoroughly as the English mean ground
I'm the various branches of science as well
as collegiate proper. But he had always
had hobby from his kniekerbocker
days for cows and dairies generally. He
also had radical notions regarding
manual labor that is to say, radical for
a well-bred Englishman. He bound him
self over for tweve-month to one of the
model diaries in Somersetshre. "A pre-
MUM to pay, but 1t was worth 1t, he
said. He took the course" as it were,
from the first rung of the ladder up; he
fed, cared for and MIXED the cows, then
went through the different departments
of butter making. cheese making, ana,
In short, the production of certified milk
and its proper distribution, combining
daily practice with his theories.
Better even to have practice and no
theories at all than to have all theories
and no practice" he said THE thing to
get, however, is the combination of the
two"
So he took milk for his last and stuck
to it till he knew the business, managed
1t successfully and then because America
is freer and a man has a chance TO rise
on his own merits" he left England and
came to New York What money he had
he invested. This was his investment: A
tour over the states on a personal inspec-
ton of the best and most up-to-date
American daries When in England he
had supplemented his course at the
dairy with an apprenticeship In machine
shop where the various machines were
manufactured for dairy use. He was thus
able to bring on his American tour
trained eye and discriminating intelli-
gence in each and every phase and work
ing of the dairy.
When he got down to his last farthing-
or near to 1.-THE looked for job. For
months he was up against 1t" and 1t
was a struggle to keep above water He
accepted a position in New Orleans but
found he could not stand the climate.
First Job in Birmingham.
He then came to Birmingham two years
ago, took the first things that turned up.
job in the machine shops at the Dimmick
pipe works He always kept his weather
eye open for n job in his own line, and
hearing at length of the Shades Cliff
dairy farm. drove over with DR.. Berry
to inspect 1t. A look decided him it was
the place he wanted. and probably half
hours talk with the frank and honest
and capable young Englishman decided
-br. Berry that here was the man he was
looking for himself.
That is how Mr.. Humphrey became
manager of the Berry farm and brought
the standard of that dairy up to the high
place 1t holds today in the community.
Briton he is and he can't help showing
the mettle of his pasture. From Shades
mountain he surveyed the situation, in
formed himself thoroughly, then started
up the crusade for pure milk for the
whole city. along with Mr.. Duncan, whose
foremost ally he became. And now he
is doing Duncan's work while Duncan is
going up one more step in his own line.
There's a fellow worth the while. Good
stuff is in him, and he is on the road
to making something of himself-one of
Wards own men, perfectly fearless good
for the town and good for the country
His department is badly in need of
first-class laboratory and better equip
ment throughout At present ii cannot
be said to be equipped at all. such poor
apology for office and laboratory that
T. Is.
Great assistance has been rendered the
office by DIR. Hardness in every way.
He has often accompanied the officials on
their inspection tours and helped mate
rally in practical ways.
Regularly every week Mr.. Humphrey
submits a report to the Mayor, which is
published in the local papers. Following
Is this weeks report:
Milk Report.
Birmingham, Ala, May IA. 1906.
To the Honorable Board of Mayor and
Aldermen of Birmingham, Ala;
Gentlemen-T herewith beg to submit
my report of milk inspection for the week
ending May ~, 1906:
PerCt. PerCt Total
Name SpGr. Fat. Water Solids
j. n. Ridgway.... 1882 sc II
j. w. Edwards. 1854 So lis
r. II. Marlborough 1890 "a SIS liz
Metropol. Cafe. 1882 BE- So Ills
Walker Bros.... 1882 80 So lis
J. Y. Ridgway
(cream).. .... 81. -. 23
Below standards:
Albert Rest. 1889 1.6 800 81
The cause of poor milk in cafes is at
tributed principally to one thing, namely,