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AN - EXPERT COMPARISON or THE. SYSTEM m
LONDON ' AND aims , m THE ' outrun "
STATES—THE POWER . VESTEDf'IN" THE 7 .—
HEALTH DEPARTMENT—THE CITIES’.
‘ DAILY consuanTION. ' "
In a consideration of .the various industries‘of
the greater city there is none which suggests
itself as being of more vital concern to the com;
munity than the milk supply. ,The humble milk}
man with his cart and bell,- wh’o'se' daily [sales
average a few gallons,” shares in_"the responsi-
bility with the wholesaler andthé purveyor of
large quantities. ' '
The healthiof the community is affected great»
ly by the milk sold in its midst, a fact which" is
attested by the extreme watchfulness' which is
kept upon this industry by‘ the .Health: De-
partment. There is, in fact, no line of business
to which a greater share of attention is given
by those upon whom dgyolve the sanitary re-
sponsibilities of the city. _
This fact does not necessarily detract from the
character of those who are engaged in'sell-
ing milk and must not be taken as an indication
that the milk dealer is an: irresponsible person
with no thought but for his own profit. Such is
certainly not the case, and the best evidence of
it is the fact that he frequently courts investi-
gation-voluntarily and is ready to aid the De-
partment as far as lies in his power. .
AN ENORMOUSVINDUSTRY.
There are in New-York 13,250 stores Where
milk is sold, and about 3,750 wagOns equipped
for the purpOse of‘delivering to these stores‘or
direct to the consumer. The following table
shows the number in each boroughi '
Manhattan..‘ Bronx. Brooklyn. Queens.
Stores . . . 13,050 1,300 4,300 1,200
Vi’agons . .1.800 350 1.200 300
The total 'consumptionnof milk in this city
Richmond.
400
100
averages from 16,000 to 25,000'cans a day, equal .
to from 640.000 to. 1,000,000 quarts. The'aver-
age consumption per capita is ll/S'pints.
In addition to the large quantity of milk used
this city consumes about6,00_0 gallons of cream
- and 1,600 gallons of. wndensed 'milk-every day.
The number of cows which'pro'duce the sup-
ply is estimated as followsz” .
Manhattan ‘ ' ~ .3
Bronx '
Queens
Brooklyn
......
Total cows in the city ............... ‘23.200
Total cows outside the city ..................... 183.120
This shows a tremendous increase since 1896
and is accounted for in a measure by the fact
trait-five, counties now contribute to the milk
su-pplyofflew-York that formerly sent no milk
to..~.the: city“, -
These counties are Montgomery, Ontario,
Rockland, Seneca and Schuyler. The milk, cream
and condensed milkgare-usually sent to the city
in cans holding forty quarts, and in quart and
pint bottles, packed in boxes; the cars used in
transportation are provided with iceboxes and
heating. apparatus, to prevent souring in sum-
mer ”and freezing in winter. The facilities pro—i
vided by the railroads are such that the milk
“is kept in good condition, and though in some
cases from. eighteen to twenty hours are re-
quiréd‘forfi transit the milk is still fresh when
delivered tozthe consumer. Allowing eighteen
hours from the shipping point to the city, the
trains leaving at 6 a. m., and taking into con-
sideration the fact that the milk shipped was-
that of the evening previous to shipment, and
that it is not ordinarily used until nearly seven
hours after its arrival, it will be seen that such
milk is at least thirty-six hours old before it is
used for food. .
WHAT MAY BE ACCOMPLISHED.
This is a fact which will doubtless sur-
prise many people. The _ plan for a con—
solidation of the business of the various
milk dealers of the city is still under con-
sideration, and progress is being made toward
that end. The original plan involving a capital
of $15,000,000 for the purpose of consolidation
has been somewhat changed, and it is likely that
the final consolidation will ‘call for the invest-
ment of a somewhat larger sum of money.
The milk dealers of the city have entered into
the consideration of the plan with considera—
ble interest, and the general opinion seems to
be that its consummation will prove advanta-
geous to all concerned. It is claimed by thOse
interested in the‘movement that the consolida-
tion will in no wise be a disadvantage to the
consumers of milk. On the other hand, they
say that it is not unlikely to be a real benefit.
The purpose of the consolidation is primarily
to reduce expenses. According to the statements
of some of the larger handlers of milk in this
city, the keen competition due to the large num-
ber of firms engaged in the business in this city
has reduced the margin of profit to a minimum,
and it is highly essential for the benefit 'of the
trade that an arrangement should be made
icokingi to a lessening of the expense of doing
The present plan, it is thought,
may reduce the expenses as much as 50 per
cent, and it does not necessarily follow, there-
'fore, that the consolidation will cause an ad-
vance in price to the consumer. It is by no
means unlikely’that the combination will be
effected before January 1. There are at present
two combinations of dealers in existence in this
city._ The Igarlern milk dealers have already
combined. and a small combination exists mom
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BUILDING.
Broadway and Reade-st.
The Dun Building, whose graceful lines and handsome architectural design are exhibited in.
the illustration above, stands at the corner of Broadway and Reade—st. This location is one
of the most prominent corners in the city. Thus situated on the great main artery of business
and travel, it has the additional advantage of immediate proximity to the Brooklyn Bridge and
all the public departments of the ’city. While not looked upon as one of the sky-scrapers of
the city, the Dun' Building runs up fourteen stories, which places a large number of fine oflices
at the disposal of tenants, It was the design of the owners to create an office building which
should be a model in its way. With this idea architect and, builder went to workLand. the «re-
sults achieved have more than come up to the ideal of the owners. The size and shape of the
property are such that it was possible to arrange the offices so that all were practically “outside
rooms." This is one of the most attractive features in connection with the other advantages
offered. for the reason that all persons desire the most pleasant outlook possible from the
places where they are daily required to occupy their time with the serious affairs of business
and professional life. ~
The exterior of the Dun Building has been constructed of granite for the first five stories,
light-colored brick and terra cotta ornaments being used above. Of steel construction from top
to bottom, it has been made more thoroughly fireproof than is usually the case by the use of
wood which has been treated to a fireproofing process. On the first floor the corridor runs
through the building from Broadway to Manhattan Place, and from this access is had to all
parts of the building by six fast-running elevators of the most improved type.
with the building there is an excellent restaurant.
In connection
Safes, telephones, lavatories and all the
other modern contrivances have been provided for the individual use of those in the building.
some of the dealers on the West Side. In case
the general consolidation is effected, these com—
binations will be merged into the larger con-
cern.
THE SYSTEM VABROAD.
The handling of milk in London and other
European cities, as compared with New-York,
is explained in the following extracts from a
paper read before the Farmers’ Institute: “After
the milk is produced it is shipped and delivered
to consumers in London twice a day. It is
shipped in cans holding twelve imperial gallons,
nearly sixty quarts (called three churns), made
cone-shaped, with the top arranged so that the
cover is on the inside. When the cover is re-
moved all the rain or dust falls into the milk.
The morning milking reaches London about 11
a. m., and is delivered between 4 and 6 p. m.
The evening milk arrives in the city about 11
p. m., and is delivered between {Lgndfi a. m.
the following day. The price is made. for the
milk at the terminals in London, and averages
from 1% to 214 cents per imperial gallon of 4 4-5
quarts. The greater portion of the supply comes
from within a radius of a hundred miles. Among
the many dairy companies in London. the
largest are the Aylesbury, Belgravia, Welford
and Express. All have extensive and expensive
city headquarters. The Belgravia .uses hand—
carts for delivery, but the Aylesbury has a reg-
ular horse and wagon'system. In each case
the milk is sent out in a sealed ‘can, which
the driver cannot open. He draws from a faucet
instead of the long-handled dipper used in New-
York. These dairy companies have contracts
with the farmers calling for 3%, per cent of fat.
These contracts are very rigid and severe upon
the farmer. The Aylesbury Company has its
factories, with separate churns and labora-
tories, in the city. There is practically no bot-
tled milk sold. The public does not want it.
a
and. the companies dc not wish to incur the
additional expense and labor. The absence of
a good supply oflice makes necessary the fre-
quent delivery. The retail .price is about the
same as in New-York. The quality of the milk
is no better, if as good, and the keeping quality
which American ice-cold milk has (making it
ready for- use any time in twenty-four hours or
more) is not known, because of the absence of
ice and other means of cooling in use in Ameri-
ca. New—York has no reason. to envy London
its milk supply.”
B. C. Sears, of Blooming Grove, Orange Coun-
ty,. N. Y., has written the following for The
Tribune on the milk trade of other cities:
“As to the milk supply of neighboring cities.
Boston is, I believe, well supplied with bottled-I
milk, as well as from cans, but from a very lim-
ited knowledge -I think it is all shipped into the
City in the small 8%-quart cans and bottled in
the city. But of this I am‘not well informed.
Philadelphia has for one of 'its largest dealers
_George Abbott, for many years, I think, a very
important factor there. He buys his milk upon
analysis, grading it as A, B and C milk, and
paying upon a scale graded by the fat content
of the milk. It is also sold for different prices,
according to the same content. ' The business
is carried on from a number of small stores or
shops in different parts of the city. In Philadel-
phia, and as far north as Trenton, milk is pur-
chased by the wine measure, so that the‘Phila-
delphia 40-quart can holds 45 or 46 quarts, and
the dealer sells at the Tsame .mcasure as We do
in New—York, being able to give large measure
with no loss in dipping,“'which in all cities north
of Trenton amounts to considerable.» As far-as
I have been able to judge from observation and
some experience, I think that New-York City
is better served. both as to quality of‘milk and
cream. The mode of delivery uses more glass
bottles than any other city. New-‘York is cer-
tain' of a supply in all sorts of weather. The
milk keeps sweeter under ordinary conditions
until the next delivery than in any other city
of the world. It is,~without doubt, thelargest
market in the World for milk, and is certainly
supplied by the largest territory."
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_ . ',.noaniNG BUSINESS ’ornrixrions wmcnr‘r . '
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_ Amoun'r AnNUALLx T0 $250_.000000.
#3,; whisking? grocer _.distfiéf‘ffif sew-Lurk.” - '
that bdgtlihngowity _on thef‘i‘owerwesthide in ‘
the vicinity of. Franklin :and
,vg-hich are known all-through the country.- ~, The
‘ yearly transactions are on a tremendous scale, '
and. the far-reaching influence of the operations
is. felt the wide world over. In this line New-
_York buys in almost everypart ,of the. globe,
and the principal centres of Europe give‘homes
to ,the American representatives of these fa-
mous dealers in' the good things of life, as well.
as the necessities. The annual business'of the
six'ty leading grocery houses of this city is over
$250,000,000 a year. During the present season
the *war with Spain created a new field for sales,
and many a local bid was accepted by the Gov-
ernment in the~ way of canned goods, provi-
sions, flour, sugar and coffee. While in the ma.-
jority of cases the Army contracts gave an
added zest to business, there were not a few in-
stances where losses Were incurred. This came
about tO'a large .degree through a rise in flour
duringthe first weeks of the struggle. 0f the
average total annual business there are seven
grocery houses which, combined, do at least
$100,000,000. . ; i
There 'is an air of activity in and around the
grocery district which cannot fail tointerest the
casual observer. _Huge vans rumble through the
streets, weighted down with boxes and bags.
Some are for loadingand others for unloading
at the warehouses. Shipping clerks bus-tie to
and fro, checking off bills of lading and hurry—
ing thedrivers in-order to have them catchthe
next. freight train or steamboat. In the capag
éipus. sales'rooms the goods are displayed 'in a
mannerxcalculated to tempt even the. most
hardened. buyer. ,Salesmen who know‘every
article offlthe. hundreds for sale - and the price
for each, on more than a dozen- different kinds-
of discount, are taking hourly orders the size of
which would ,make the quiet 'little’ keeper of a.
cOuntry store doubt his senses. The wholet-rade.
in all parts of the metropolis, and with its hunev
dreds-of ramifications, is said to give employ-
ment to forty 01‘ fifty thousand hands.
Three—Quarters of the immense supply of cof-
fee which comes into the United States is dis-‘
tributed by the grocers and importers of New-
York. The price of coffee, as well as all other
staples, is fixed and determined here. Of the
100,000,000 pounds of tea which comes into the
country fully. three-fifths is handled in this
city, despite the fact that quite a. large portion
comes by the way of San Francisco and the
overland route. . . , . Q
The"New—York grocers are the middlemen be-
tween the. producers and the small army of
jobbers throughout every State. Chicago,-— Boston,
Philadelphia, and all the large cities have their
big wholesale houses. ' There is one in Chicago
which is said to do as large a business as any
of the ‘big local concerns. Most of the jobbors
of the interior buy from the metropolitan
firms, and in this way distribute the food pro-
ducts and staples to the hundreds of thousands
of retailers. , ‘ , -
The wholesalers of New-York, to begin with,
have an exceptional field to operate in right here
at home. There are about ten thousand retail
groceries in the present New-York, which sup-
ply the 3,500,000‘ inhabitants with their daily
requirements. One of the features of the growth
of the business during the last few years is the
quantity of canned goods handled. This depart-
ment has grown to unusual size. ‘Many firms
have their own factories and individual brands.
The business as it has both enlarged-and con-
centrated has required greater administrative
skill and finer trade tactics. The; $250,000,000
gross transactions alluded to only yield-an e51
.timated return of 1 per cent net. Great houses
doing a $5,000.000 business a year, with perhaps
$500,000 or_$600,000 capital invested, ,_will have
at the end of the year ‘no more than $50,000 net
fur the risks and keen work that have. been
_used in juggling with their capital, laid. out in
cargoes and trainloads of groceries, subject to
conditions that the wisest trader can only guess
at ' _ ’ . " ..' . ' ' ‘ ' I
only a limited line of staples, has become the
purveyor of prepared foods: He is'the vehicle
whereby the manufacturer of things to eat and
of many household conveniences finds a mar-
ket. The principal business and the principal
profits of a wholesaler are not in sugar, coffee,
tea, dried fruits, cured meats and cheese, but in
prepared table articles. The wholesale grocer
is for the factory as against the kitchen.
——————o———————- -
MILLIONS FOR CANDY.
At the present season of the year no, one in-
dustry stands out more prominently in the eyes
of the little folks, and the grown-up children as
well, than the manufacture of confectionery.
Perhaps there is not so-much interest taken in
the process and annual output as there is in the
product itself as it is found in gorgeous display
in all the show windows of the town. New-
YOrk'factories not only are kept busy supplying
the demands of the thousands within the limits
of the city, but salesmen are out on the
theyear round, taking orders for the trade of
nearby States. Even in the Far ‘We’st the
brands of ,New-York candies have won an en-
viable name,. and are as popular as they are
right here at home New—York makes, not only
the cheaper grades, which are sold in the de«
partment stores and. by small retailers, but the
best and most expensive confections, which find
their way into the households of the rich and
ultra—fashionable, come from the Several firms
which have made this business a lifeldng study.
There is as much skill required in making high-
priced candy-as there is in making high-priced
machinery, and special training is required.
There are about 125 wholesale candy firms in
New-York City, and the business is reported
to be most flourishing and profitable. The
confectionery trade for the metropolis for a
single year amounts to $10,000,000. This seems
an enormous sum to spend on a pure luxury, but
Americans, like their European brothers and sis-
ters, must have the sweets of life, even if they
have to pay dearly for them. Doctors shake
their heads and look wise, butthe sales continue
on 'an ever—increasing scale. There is little
candy imported -. For the nine months of the
present year the total value of all Confectionery
importedwas only $16,000. The export t'rad'e,‘"on
the other hand, is constantly growing. Forage
presentyear the candy sent into foreign port;
will foot up' over 500,000. which will be a large
increase over 1896 and 1897. Chocolate candies
form the most important portion of the candy
trade. Most of this is made from pure sugar and
nuts with a chocolate coating. In point of popu-
larity this grade is the superior of all other. In
the realm of confection.
, .‘L
The wholesale grocer. who used to handle"
Hudson sis}, _‘co'n- .
.tains within: its .fl boundaries business houses
Norwalk Chronicler