MILK -PLANT OPERATION. 



31 



Many bottles are broken in the plant, though some dealers are 

 helping to eliminate this loss by instructing their men as to the value 

 of the bottles and the need for careful handling. Some keep records 

 of the number broken. Most dealers sell the broken glass to the glass 

 blowers for a certain price per ton, but many small dealers still pursue 

 the wasteful practice of throwing it into the dump. Unless the 

 bottles are too cold when washed, fewer are broken with the large 

 automatic washing machines now in use than is the case with the 

 hand-brush method of washing, for the reason that there is less han- 

 dling. It is very important that the bottle cases be in good condition 

 and hold the bottles firmly, especially where they are moved on 

 gravity conveyers. 



Table 9 is a summary of the replies to a questionnaire on bottle 

 losses of 50 dealers grouped according to number of bottles filled 

 daily. 



In some cities the business carried on by junk dealers is one of the 

 worst sources of loss in milk bottles; not only do they sell the bottles 

 to dealers in the city but often ship them to other towns. It is often 

 difficult to get convictions against junk dealers in cities where the 

 stores are charged for bottles, for the reason that bottles used for 

 family trade and belonging to the dealers can not be distinguished 

 from the store bottles which have been paid for. However, if a special 

 bottle were used for the store trade by all the milk dealers this trouble 

 would be lessened. 



Table 9. — Summary of 50 replies to questionnaire on milk-bottle losses. 



Size of plant (bottles 

 filled daily). 



Num- 

 ber of 

 dealers. 



Average 

 bottles 

 filled 

 daily. 



Average 

 bottles 

 bought 



per 

 month. 



Average 

 bottles 

 bought 



monthly 

 per 100 

 filled 

 daily. 



Average 



cost of 



bottles 



per 



month.' 



Average 

 cost per 

 month 

 per 100 

 fiUed 

 dally.' 



Average 

 number 



bottles 

 lost and 



broken 

 daily per 

 100 filled. 



Propor- 

 tion of 



broken 

 to lost 



bottles.2 



Trips 



per 



bottle.2 



Up to 1,000... 

 1,001 to 2,000... 

 2,001 to .5,000.., 

 5,001 to 10,000.. 

 10,001 to 50,000 

 Over 50,000 . . . . 



740 



1,685 



3,800 



7,906 



23, 332 



67,500 



523 



1,114 



5,756 



9,446 



20, 135 



90,050 



70.6 

 66.1 

 151.5 

 119.5 

 86.3 

 133.4 



S27. 60 



51.47 



238.00 



326. 50 



1.079.40 



3, 071. 00 



$3.73 

 3. 05 

 6.26 

 4.13 

 4.63 

 4.55 



4.6 

 2.6 

 5.0 

 3.8 

 4.2 

 4.3 



0.8 

 1.7 

 2.5 

 5.3 

 8.8 

 13.0 



' Based on 1917 prices 



Dealers' estimates. Estimates were not received from all the dealers. 



The problem of keeping downi the loss of bottles deserves the 

 attention and study of all dealers. Whatever radical change is made 

 in the system used at present to reduce the loss, cooperation by all 

 the dealers in a particmar city seems to be necessary. 



The following suggestions have been offered by various dealers and 

 health officers for the solving of the milk-bottle loss problem: 



A charge made for every bottle, all dealers to enforce this rule. 

 The use of single-service fiber bottles only. 

 Commission to driAors for bottle.s returned. 

 Education of consuTuers as to the great loss. 

 Efficient milk-l)ottle exchange. 

 No bottle, no milk. 



Special bottJes for the wholesale and store trade, and charge made for the bottle. 

 Compel the use of bottles with name blow n in the bottle. Must be used by the owner 

 only. 



