BUILDING AND EQUIPMENT 33 



tern of septic tanks with efficient filter beds may serve the 

 purpose. 



Where possible, it is advisable to take advantage of hillsides, 

 affording natural means to arrange and operate the factory on 

 the gravity plan. 



BUILDING AND EQUIPMENT. 



Material of Construction. Since the establishment of a milk 

 condensing factory involves the investment of considerable capi- 

 tal, those willing to invest must have faith in the permanency 

 of the business. For a permanent business, a building substan- 

 tially constructed is the most economical. Most of the factories 

 belonging to the most reputable concerns are built very sub- 

 stantially. However, there are in this country condensing fac- 

 tories in the construction of which cheapness was the govern- 

 ing factor. 



It is beyond the realm of this volume to furnish detailed 

 specifications and plans for the construction of condensed milk 

 factories. Such information would be of comparatively little 

 value, as such details must of necessity vary with locality, ca- 

 pacity of prospective plant, type of equipment, system of opera- 

 tion and preferences of individual owners. Such details are best 

 decided on and worked out for each individual factory separately 

 and when needed. There are a few fundamental principles, how- 

 ever, which apply to all factories and to which attention may be 

 briefly called here. 



Floors, Walls and Ceilings. Stone, brick, concrete, concrete- 

 steel, according to availability, are satisfactory materials of which 

 to construct a condensery. Intersecting walls or partitions are 

 best constructed of similar material. If constructed of wood, 

 they should rest on concrete, brick or stone, built up at least 

 two feet from the floor, or the lower two feet of which parti- 

 tions should be wainscoated with an approved quality of cement 

 plaster. 



All floors of the main building should be of cement, great 

 care being taken that the foundation of these floors be of uni- 

 formly hard material, thoroughly tamped and avoiding soft spots. 

 The concrete bed should be at least four inches in depth, con- 

 sisting of one part of cement, two parts of sand and four parts 



