Chehalis Bets on Condensed Milk

The following interesting news is from the last issue of the Chehalis Bee-Nugget:

Now watch Chehalis' smoke! It won't be condensed smoke, either. It's a condensed milk factory that we have this time. Here for some time past we've been making fir doors by the thousands to keep out the chill blasts of winter for people all over the country; furniture to make the homes of men happy; and are soon to make mouldings, porch columns and fir gutters to add to the beauty of the homes. But now we are going to feed our fellow man. And you want to watch them come to our milk. Primrose Cream, manufactured by the International Milk Condensing factory at Chehalis, Wash.

That sounds good, doesn't it? And the cream will taste good, too, for our fame will spread from sea to sea, from the Klondike to the Philippines, from the logging camps of the South Bend branch to the sound.

Last week the Bee-Nugget stated that the International Milk Condensing Company had filed its articles of incorporation to manufacture condensed milk at Chehalis. Saturday by appointment, C. H. Bartlett of Tacoma, president of the company, and John P. Myenberg, Jr., of Kent, manager of the company, came down on the afternoon train and closed all the preliminaries for the building of their factory here. The site selected, and which the citizens will donate, is the vacant piece of ground north of the stockyards and extending north to L. Labree's residence.

A meeting of farmers was held at the Citizen's Club room with the gentlemen, and many matters were explained more fully. The twenty or more farmers whom it had been possible to reach on short notice seemed much pleased with the meeting. Some of the farmers suggested that possibly the new factory would not prove any more satisfactory than the creameries had. Mr. Bartlett replied that all they wanted was a fair show. If they were willing to come in and spend their money in starting a big plant of this kind, the farmers should be willing to give them a trial. They had no doubt but that the farmers would be pleased, but if they were not, after a fair trial it was their privilege to use their milk in other ways.

Mr. Myenberg proved very interesting to the farmers. Though a young man, he has worked at the condensing business the past eight years, and for four years has had charge of the milk condensing at the Kent factory, which is being so successful with Carnation cream. He answered all queries promptly and showed a most thorough knowledge of the business. He will spend a few days visiting the dairymen at an early date, and all who are inclined to will, no doubt, be able to get some good pointers from him.

The main factory building for the milk condensing plant will be 90x120 feet in size. Additional buildings for the 75-horsepower engine and boiler will also be required. Mr. Myenberg is expected to be here within a day or two to secure bids from the local contractors for the construction of the buildings.