American Milk-Condensing Factories. 143 
many affirm that condensed milk is cheaper than the milkman's 
crude milk, inasmuch as the latter is largely adulterated with 
water, and is liable to sour on your hands ; besides, from its fre- 
quent imperfections losses are entailed upon the consumer which 
amount to more, during the course of a year, than the difference 
in price between crude and condensed milk. City consumers 
who have been accustomed to the use of condensed milk, generally 
prefer it to the crude milk, as more uniform in quality, more 
convenient for use, more reliable in flavour, and more healthful 
as an article of food. But the class using condensed milk in 
America, as compared with that using crude milk, is very small. 
Indeed there are thousands of people who have never tasted or 
even seen or heard of condensed milk. 
Doubtless, if the public generally could be made acquainted 
with the cleanliness required, and the freedom from impurities 
or adulterations in condensed milk, it would soon take the place 
of crude milk in all our leading towns and cities. Immense 
sums are now expended in carrying the crude milk to market, 
75 per cent, of which would be at once saved, if condensed milk 
could be made to take the place of ( rude milk. 
But should the water with which the milkman dilutes his milk 
be also taken into account, the saving on transportation would be 
much greater. 
Up to the present time the condensing business has been in a 
few hands, and, as little has been known generally concerning 
the manufacture or its profits, prices have been controlled and 
maintained. Is it not to be feared thai any large and sudden 
increase in condensing milk (especially before people have 
become somewhat educated as to its use and character) would 
have a tendency to glut the market, and thus*prove disastrous to 
manufacturers ? With an increased manufacture there is little 
probability that present prices can be maintained ; and here the 
question occurs, whether a considerable reduction in rates could 
not be made and yet a fair profit realized in the business. 
I The price of crude milk in all our large cities will average 
nearly, if not quite, 8 cents per quart. Say that 1 cent (^d.) per 
quart be allowed the factory for manufacturing the plain condensed 
milk, and 4 cents (2d.) per quart as the cost of crude milk at the 
factory, then there are 3 cents {l^d.) per quart which remain to be 
expended in transportation and delivering it to city consumers. 
Upon this basis 4 quarts of crude milk, reduced to one quart 
condensed milk, would be worth 20 cents [lOd.) at the factory. 
This would give a living profit to manufacturers and pro- 
ducers. And now the question occurs, how much is it worth to 
transport and market the quart of condensed milk. Call it 4 
cents {2d.), and we have the quart of condensed milk in the hands 
