The Borden Condensed Milk Factory.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 2605, 23 March 1889, Page 2 (Supplement)

The Borden Condensed Milk Factory.

The leading condensed milk factory of the United States is thus described by tho N.Y, Tribune:—The roads along the valleys and over the hills aro good. In a few minutes one can drive to Wapsiac, a perfect gem of hill scenery just four and a half miles north of here. Wiissiac is the heart of the dairy country, and hero is located the original Borden's Condensed Milk Factory. The growth of trade has caused the company to build branches at other points in this State, and one in Illinois; but here it was that the old eccentric Gail Bordeu, who was regarded by his neighbours as a" oraulc," proved that pure milk could be preserTed and used on land or sea in a stute but little differing from the natural. Like all early inventors, his methods were crude, and he had a struggle against poverty and misrepresontation. Curiously enoutrh, his experiments originated in an attempt to produce an extract of beef, but as the cost of cattle for making necessary tests was too great for his narrow means, he turned his genius to milk as an article mere easy to get <m trust. Fortunately for him, and, :is tlio result shows, for mankind silso, large quantities of this preeioiH fluid were then thrown away by thy fiinners, us there were not the facilU ties fur sending it to market which exist in these days. Countrymen then drove their cattle to market on foot, and brought their milk and other products in carts and waggons. There was no Wassiac corresponding in any degree to the present village, and the region being over 70 miles from New York was too far away for a milk supply under the existing conditions. Largely owing to this fact the inventor was enabled to pursue his researches until his product was highly approved by doctors ami chemists, and finally met with immense favour as a ration for troops in tho field after the breaking out of the Rebellion, Its fame then spread abroad, and numerous European imitations were put upon the market; but it is generally conceded that none of them, either the Swiss, Dutch, English or any other, has attained the excellent standard of the Gail Burden brand. The town is simply a community of neat cottages, in which the employes of the factory dwell, and the shops and houses of such tradesmen as their thrift and industry support. The school and church are, of course, not wanting, and there is an air of comfort, contentment and prosperity about the people which gives rise to two convictions; that they are themselves progressive and intelligent, and that their employers have given them fair treatment. And such on examination are found to be the facts. The village is situated in a pretty little glen that is like a nest in the mountains. The high hills rising about it are densely covered with a growth of dark green shrubbery which is now taking on its winter aspect, and in a deep gorge on the west side, where a growth of tall pines obstructs the view, a torrent of clear water tumbles from a cliff. The drives hereabouts are extremely beautiful. The milk is brought in daily from all the surrounding farms. The rule is to have it delivered in 40 gallon tins,-each of which is thoroughly scalded over a jet of steam as soon as it is emptied at the factory. The standard of quality has been improved by the rigid inspection maintained in tho interest of the Borden works. The feed, stalls, and methods of handling milk have to conform to certain rules, as an article to attain tho excellence of the " Eagle" brand must be perfectly clean, pure and fresh, Each can is tested by an expert before it is accepted, and the slightest stale or mouldy symptom is sufficient to cause rejection. The milk is carefully strained into the tins at tho dairy, nnd again passes through strainers of the finest bolting cloth on its way into the great copper receiving vats. In the course of manufacture it undergoes further clarification, and finally, in the machine that receives it before it is filled into the regular one-pound tins, it is strained once more. The tins are made here on tho spot, as are also the packing | cases, and every comer of the immense factory is the pink of neatne3s and order. The employes aro mostly women and girls, and are all so well paid that they appear happy and independent. There is probably no more ingenious a device known than the automatic machine by which the tins are filled' with the thick condensed milk. It is operated by one person, and i capable of filling the whole product of the factory, and yet it never runs or spills a drop of the milk. About ono barrel of granulated sugar is used with 2000 quarts of milk, and no other substanoe whatever enters into the manufacture. A large quantity is manufactured for daily use in New York and Brooklyn which has no sugar added. This is probably the purest milk to be had in the metropolis. The sugar must be used in that which is tinned to preserve it.