Year: 1874

through special express agency. The
freight is transported across the North
River to Pier No. l, where the express
wagons receive it and subsequently convey
it to the consignees. No general average
can be ascertained of the amount thus
carried, as the Railroad Company keep no
record, the freight being carried in chartered
cars containing other express matter.


In addition to the above specified sources |
from which butter and cheese are received,
a large quantity is brought to this city from
various points by means of propellers,
steamers, sloops, &c AS private dealers
and grocers generally purchase the butter
and cheese thus brought to market, there
are no accurate means of ascertaiEing or
even estimating the supply thus furnished.
a small quantity of both commodities Is
brought by other railroads, but not of such
sufficient amount as to warrant any special
reference thereto. The small supplies are
generally consigned to special agents, and
are carried by the railroads as ordinary
freight, whereas in milk producing districts
special contract rates are generally charged
to regular shippers, the various roads seek
ing to monopolize as much as possible the
carrying trade of each particular district.


BUTTER AND CHEESE FOR EXPLOITATION.


A large quantity of butter and cheese is
exported from this port for use in other
countries, but statistics show that there are
other sources of supply which to great
extent exclude American butter and cheese
from foreign markets This disadvantage
in trade also arises from the abuses practiced
by those engaged in the American butter
and cheese trade. In the first place there
is very little good butter produced that is
not actually required for home consump-
ton, and in many cases the butter which is
packed for expectation is simply that which
will not find a ready sale at home. This
fact has been discovered from the entries
at the Custom house, the exporters rating
the butter sent abroad at price so far
below the market price as to lead to inqul-
ries Which resulted as above stated. A
want of proper system of handling has
! also tended to deteriorate butter or cheese
after it has been packed at the daires. The
packages are first carried to the railroad in
! farmers wagons, often-times in the middle
of the day and under broiling sun. The
railroad transportation usually takes place
at night, but sometimes during the day, on
which latter occasions the packages are
mingled with other freight, the butter
especially absorbing whatever vapors may
exhale therefrom From the railroad the
packages are transported under the heat of
! the sun to various warehouses, some Of
which, being underground, do not permit
of the proper appliances for ventilation.
! Many of these are also used as storehouses
for other classes of goods. 1t matters little
what may be the nature of the other ar
ticles stored with the butter, should any
deteriorating atmosphere be created, both
butter and cheese will absorb it, no matter
how securely they may apparently be pack
ed. After lying, perhaps for days, in these
warehouses, the products are again carted
through the streets, of course in the day
time, to the vessels where the packages are
slowed away in the hold, that being the
more economical plan Of transportation. 1t
is needless to speak Of the disadvantages
that must arise to so sensitive an article as
butter or cheese from the close atmosphere
of vessels hold, filled with all sorts of
freight Part of these disadvantages might
certainly be remedied by the establishment
of properly ventilated and regulated re-
cciving houses, or storehouses, for butter
and cheese intended for transportation.
Such storehouses should be built at the
waters edge, thereby removing the neces-
sity for carting these products to and fro
through the city, the transportation to the
vessel being carried on by means of tugs,
barges, &c. AS the special butter and
cheese cars of certain railroads are conveyed
across the North River in floats to the city
freight depots, the same plan could be
adopted with regard to the warehouses, and
the products could be stored at once, with
out the necessity of extra handling. This
would also prevent the evil of packages be-
ing knocked about on the exposed piers


perhaps, for days, as is now often the case


AS the continual handling Of cheese IL


boxes often causes damage, the value and


quality is thereby reduced and in addition tc


the saving of labor, any change in this direc


ton must prove of advantage. Tribune.