Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-06-24
INCREASE IN THE DEMAND
Labor Cost Great Factor in the Pro-
duction.
MANY FARMS ABANDONED
Growth in Permanent Hotel Popula-
tion of Metropolis-High Prices
for Butter and Cream.
BY WILLIAM F.. CURTIS.


Special Correspondence OF The Star and the Chicago
Record Herald.
NEW YORK, June %. 1907.
The milk problem Is becoming very seri-
GUS In New York not only how to get pure
milk. but how to get enough of any kind to
supply the ever-increasing thirst of the in
habitants OF this great city. where milk is
now sold in the barrooms of the fashion
able hotels. at the clubs. at the soda foun-
tains in many of the drug stores. and at
other places to be consumed on the spot.
such as dairy restaurants, which are found
on almost every block in the business sec
lions Of the city. A milk diet is recon-
mended by physicians for almost every
complaint that affects the interior depart
ment of mankind. and men who have been
in the habit of calling for cocktail a
whisky straight at the hotel bar. or at their
clubs or at other places where wet groceries
are to be found, are now in the habit Of
asking for a glass of milk. or a glass of
glass of milk. Old sports who consumed
their share of strong liquors years ago and
who have placed themselves under the care
of physicians in order to obtain a little
longer lease of life are now consuming
quite as much milk the babies on their
block. and have increased the demand to a
remarkable extent. The milk wagons now
leave bottles at drug stores and saloons
regularly. as well as at hotels. restaurants
and private residences.
Immense Increase in Demand.
This demand has increased almost be-
yond the ability of the farming community
to supply. In 1894 the average consump-
ton of milk In New York was 1915. $50 gal
Ions per MONTH in 1904 the average was
13.2S6 $50 gallons per month, Willie in 1906
the average was 14.252,5sU gallons per
month. an increase of a million gallons a
month In two years.
Two-thirds of the milk used in New
York comes from farms farther away than
Albany. Half of it is at least thrty-six
hours old when it is distributed to con-
sumers; 45 per cent Is twenty-four hours
old. and not more than half Of 1t is MIXED
within twelve hours of the time of it's de-
livery. New York consumes six times as
much milk as Londonaa and 1t has a smaller
area to draw from because of the other
great cities in the neighborhood that have
to share the supply. Brooklyn consumes
all the milk that Is produced on Long Is
land. and gets a good deal from other
sources. In New Jersey the drift Is to-
ward Philadelphia. while New York reaches
out northward and westward until it comes
III contact with Rochester Syracuse, Buff
falo, and other upstate cities of large
population. The larger amount Of the sup
ply for this city comes from the central
part or the state. and much Is brought
from the very borders Of Canada. One
company receives a daily supply from a
farm upon the River st. Lawrence. 1872
miles distant. and is now endeavoring to in
crease the supply from that distant source.
Labor Cost q Great Factor.
The problem only be solved by in
creasing the number of cows and the num-
Der of COW farms, and finding some kind
of machinery that will take the place of
the hired man or the hired girl and do the
milking. for labor Is a very important fac
tor in the problem. A man or a woman
can milk only so many cows in a given
time. and that time Is limited to not more
than two hours in the morning and two
hours at night. Other occupations must
be found for them during the rest of the
day, because the farmer cannot afford to