The Mathews journal. (Mathews C.H. [Court House]) 1903-1937, 1907-02-28
THE COST Of MILK
HAS Been INCREASED
figures Given IN the Census Bureau
Report.
FLOUR AND GRIsT MILL REPORTS.
Cream Has Particularly Gone Up rs
the Result of the CurtaiIment of the
Supply to the Factory and the In
creasing Market in the Larger Cities
Smaller Creameries Absorbed.

Washington Especially That the
cost OF milk, and particularly cream.
mas advanced enormously since 1900
as the result of the curtsilment. of
supply TO the factory and the in
creasing market i'm the large cities
is indicated in a census bulletin inst
issued relative to the manufacture
OF butter, cheese, condensed milk.
nour and grist mill products and
Starch Tor 1905. A substantial in
crease In the manufacture of all these
products is shown since 1900. ex-
cept starch. which declined markedly.
cost OF cream increased 2479 and
MIX d. per cent. The statistics
given include only such establish
ments as were engaged primarily in
those industries, plants engaged pri-
marily in selling milk or in separat-
ing cream from milk not being re-
garded as engaged I'm manufacturing.
According to the statement there
were S,926 establishments engaged
IN the butter. cheese and condensed
milk industry In 1905; aggregate
capital, $47,255, ,566; employing 49,
oo1 wagearners. who received sS.-
4iz,9S1 i'll wages. The cost of ma
teriais was $142, 2,92O,277. and the
products were valued at SI6S.1S2-
lS9. With the exception OF estab-
lishments, all of these items show in
creases since 1900. that in value of
products amounting to sS7.S99.44O,
representing an increase of 2S.6 per
cent, or over one-forth.
Consolidation.
The decrease in the number Of es-
adjustments was principally due TO
the consolidation or absorption of
smaller creameries into larger plants.
The hand separator, which enables
the farmer TO separate his own
cream, was a prominent factor in this
tendency TO Capitalization, enabling
easier hauling and making il possi-
Die for a single creamery to obtain
It's supply from wide territory. As
a result the larger plants. in which
butter was manufactured at less
expense, gradually crowded out or
absorbed smaller plants.
The total cost Of materials in
creased over 81 per cent. There was
a decrease OF 131.7O7,S11 pounds.
or IA per cent. in the quantity of
milk used In making butter. and an
increase in the quantity of cream of
5S4,512,513 pounds, or 1883 per
cent
Condensed milk manufactured be-
tween the censuses of 1900 and 1905
increased in quantity 65 per cent.
and in cost 6g.5 per cent. The quan-
tity of butter produced increased over
20 per cent. and cheese over IL per
cent. Great Britain aud Canada are
the chief foreign markets for these
products. Importation of cheese has
shown steady growth, both in guam
tity and value.
Flour And Grain Statistics.
The statistics for -four and grist
mill products include only the re-
turns of establishments engaged in
merchant milling. At the census of
1905 there were 10.051 of the mer-
chant -four and griSt mills in the
United States; total capital, $685.
III 7,434; employed 39.11O wage
earners, paid $19.S22.196 in wages,
consumed $6I9.971, ,161 worth of ma
terials, and manufactured products
TO the value of $713, ,033,S95. These
figures represent an increase of over
per cent. In number of establish
ments, 40 per cent. in capital and
AZ per cent. in value of products.
AT the census of 1905 the grain
reported as used by the merchant
-four and grist mills of the country
amounted TO 754, 4,945, 729 bushels and
cost $5S5,065, ,067. Wheat formed
over Go per cent. of the total quantity
and as per cent. of the total cost of
grain.