26 History and Development 



The above figures serve to emphasize the rapid growth which 

 the condensed milk industry has enjoyed during the last decade. 

 The total output of condensed milk in 1917 was 975,000,000 pounds, 

 estimated at a value of $106,000,000.00. Calculating the ratio of 

 concentration at 2.5 to 1, this output represents the utilization of 

 2,437,000,000 pounds of fluid milk for the condensed milk industry. 

 The total production of fluid milk in the United States in 1917 was 

 84,611,350,000 pounds, of which 2.9 per cent were manufactured 

 into condensed m(ilk. 



The above figures largely represent canned condensed milk 

 only. Within recent years, the manufacture of condensed milk 

 sold in bulk, especially to the ice cream trade, has increased enor- 

 mously. If this bulk condensed milk were included in the above 

 figures, the amount shown for the total output would be materially 

 augmented. 



A new and unprecedented impetus was given the condensed 

 milk industry in America by the advent of the World War. The 

 concentration of the product, its wholesomeness and high food 

 value, the serviceableness of its package and its great keeping 

 quality render it indispensable as a food for the army and navy as 

 well as for the civilian population of the warring nations in its 

 dire need for food. In this great crisis in which the food supply 

 of the nations of the earth is playing a most important role, con- 

 densed milk has proved its worth and the demand for this com- 

 modity has increased to tremendous proportions. This demand has 

 been readily responded to by the industry on the American con- 

 tinent and has resulted in a vast increase of the output of condensed ' 

 milk and in the erection of many new and large factories within 

 the short span of the war. 



In 1899, there were in operation in this country about fifty 

 factories manufacturing condensed milk, distributed over fourteen 

 different states. New York and Illinois leading the list by over 50 

 per cent. In 1904, the Government estimated the total number of 

 condenseries in operation at eighty-seven. In 1914, there were in 

 the United States over two hundred milk condensing factories, 

 distributed over twenty-three different states, as shown on the 

 following page : 



