Year: 1874

The trade in butter and cheese in New
York at this season of the year is one of
magnitude, and give employment
to large number of men, both by day and
night. Fresh butter especially, being an
article of a perishable nature, is required
in the market during market hours and
consequently preparations have to be made
for transporting it during the night, as the
heat OF the day is often too great to admit
of Its being carried through the city with
out damage. That class of butter, how
ever, which is packed for shipping or for
storage during the winter does not require
such prompt removal, as precautions are
taken generally during the packing to
prevent it from being readily affected by
the changes of temperature A reporter
of the Tribune recently visited the rail
road depots in the vicinity of New York
for the purpose of ascertaining the means
employed to get the butter and cheese
ear y into the markets of the city


\ large quantity Of fresh butter is
brought to the city by the New Jersey
Midland Railroad, the trains arriving late
at night twice every week. The butter is
brought from the following stations along
that line Stockholm, Ogdensburg, Frank
lin, Hamburg Deckertown, Quarryville,
Unionville, West Town, Johnson's, State
Hill, Circleville, Bullville, Thomson's and
Pine Bush four of these stations, Decker
town, Unionville, West Town, and Pine
Bush, supplying the largest quantities.
All the butter coming by this route is
consigned to various agents in this city,
the largest quantity, however, being taken
by four principal commission merchants
Each station is numbered, such as Stock
holm, I Unionville, II, and so on; and
the pals containing the butter therefore,
not only have the consignee's name, but
the number of the station whence it was
shipped \ manifest is sent on ahead to
the freight agent at Jersey City, who from
it makes out his bills and the receipts,
which the carmen have to sign. He also
makes out form showing at a glance the
number Of pals consigned to each person
and the stations from which they may be
sent. With this form he checks off the
delivery of the butter, and should any be
missing, he can see at a glance at what
station the mistake has been made, for
when the butter is loaded at the shipping
stations the car doors are locked and con-
not again be opened until the train has
reached Jersey City


On the night of the reporters visit over
80. 600 pounds OF fresh butter arrived. Long
before the train made It's appearance the
carmen were present with their heavy
trucks to remove the cOnsignments !; and as
soon as the freight agent had his bills made
out, the work Of delivery began, the trucks
being backed up to the car doors to
receive the freight The name of the
consignee was first called out, after which
the pals of butter intended for him were
sorted from the freight in the various cars.
As the packages were delivered to the
carmen, the number on the pail was called
out by the assistant, while the freight
agent personally checked off the delivery
on the form before mentioned. When the
truck was loaded the pals were counted
and had to agree with the record which
had been kept, or the error was rectiied
! on the spot. As one truck became loaded
it was moved out of the way for the next,
and the same plan Of operations was adopt
ed. the loaded truck fastening off to the
ferry-house for the purpose of crossing to
New York. During this hurry accidents
will occasionally happen, and one occurred
in the following way: A carmen, whose
truck was nearly loaded, being anxious to
get out of the way of his co-laborer, began
to fasten his ropes to the cart-rungs SO as
! L l. ho1 OH
pals, weighing over two tons, on his truck,
and he desired to get the other two on so
as to make 80, which he considered load


1t was very dark, and the only light he
could obtain was from a lantern hanging
inside the car. While tightening the rode
at the same time keeping time with song
one of the pals of butter fell over, and the
lid, not being properly secured, fell out
the contents, 100 pounds OF soft butter


being spilled with dull splash on the
ground between the tracks. The song
ceased and look of agony passed over the
carman's face, made visible by he dim light
of the lantern. "What shall l do now 2


was his inquiry, as the thought OF having
to pay for the butter flashed on his mind
! LICK III up, suSSCoo0u "i0


''That is all very well, calculated the first


"but how that soft stuff is to be picked VI
7 should like to know y I'll show you,


said No. 2, as he leaped from his truck
The next moment carman No. graspeo
about 20 pounds of the butter with his moi
over-clean hands, and dashed it back int
the pail, repeating the operation severa
times until about SO pounds of the butter
slightly mingled with dirt, had been place.
hack into the pail He then smoothec
over the top with his hands, and telling hl'
companion to fasten on the lid said, ''There


no one will find that out" Having com


pIeted to operation, the second carmar
allowed his horse to clean oft his hands
with his tongue, and the animal seemed tf
enjoy the unexpected delicacy


Tba full nails having been removed iron