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. 1 
Average 
cost per 
month 
per 100 
filled 
daily. 1 
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 
5 740 
7 1,685 
5 3,800 
16 7.906 
523 
1,114 
5, 756 
9,446 
20, 135 
90,050 
70.6 
66.1 
151.5 
119.5 
86.3 
133.4 
$27. 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 
1: 0.8 
1: 1.7 
1: 2.5 
1: 5.3 
1: 8.8 
1:13.0 
21 
1,001 to 2,000.. 
13 
2,001 to 5,000 
14 
5,001 to 10,000.. 
15 
10,001 to 50,000 
Over 50,000 
13 
4 
23, 332 
67, 500 
17 
19 
1 Based on 1917 prices. 
Dealers' estimates. Estimates were not received from all the dealers. 
The problem of keeping down 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 particular 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 drivers for bottles returned. 
Education of consumers as to the great loss. 
Efficient milk-bottle exchange. 
No bottle, no milk. 
Special bottles for the wholesale and store trade, and charge made for the bottle. 
Compel the use of bottles with name blown in the bottle. Must be used by the owner 
only. 
