Cost oF MANUFACTURE 219 
per case of 48 14-ounce cans and about 99 cents per case of 48 
cans for tall-size cans. 
The cost of coal varies with quality and locality. Under 
average conditions, the condensing and packing of one pound 
of fluid milk requires about three-tenths of a pound of coal or 
thirty to forty pounds per case. A good quality of “mine run” 
can be laid down at the factory in states near the coal region, 
like Indiana and Illinois for about $2.50 per ton, or in northern 
states, like Wisconsin, for about $3.30 per ton. The cost of coal 
per case, therefore, may vary from about three and eight-tenths 
to six and a half cents per case. Where natural gas or refuse 
from lumber mills is available, the cost of fuel may be reduced 
materially by the use of these substitutes for coal. Maximum 
war price raised the cost of coal to about 9 cents per case. 
Solder and gasoline for sealing the cans average about three 
and a half cents per case. The price of solder is about twenty- 
seven cents per pound and the solder used per case of forty- 
eight cans, amounts to about one-tenth of a pound. Maximum 
war price raised it to about 7c per case. 
For venthole cans the amount of solder needed is from .3 
to .5 of one ounce per case, making the cost in normal times 
about seven-tenths of one cent for tall size cans. 
In the case of the sanitary can and other cans with solder- 
less seals this item drops out entirely. 
The labels vary in price according to quality of paper, and 
elaborateness of printing. The average cost of labels is about 
four cents per case. Maximum war price about 8 cents per case. 
The box shooks and nails per case cost about eight to ten 
cents. January 1, 1920, the price of box shooks per case for I4 
ounce cans was about 23 cents and per case for tall size cans 
about 26 cents. In the case of fibre boxes the cost per case is 
about 18 cents. 
The factory labor for pre-war conditions was about 12 to 
15 cents per case and the administration expense about 5 to 
10 cents per case, varying widely, of course, with the type 
of organization and volume of business. January 1, 1920, the 
factory labor was about 20 to 25 cents per case and the adminis- 
tration expense about 10 cents per case. 
