The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-12-01

A Cow Congress Miikmen in Council.
THERE assembled in Norristown, one day
last week, a curious kind of Convention,
and one in which all the housekeepers of the
Quaker City must take decided interest.
1t was a caucus of the dairymen OF Montgo-
merry and nearly all the counties adjacent to
Philadelphia, who met for the purpose Of
periectiDg monopoly by which our citizens
are to be still further defrauded. Their
object was to perfect q schedule of rates to
be asked for milk, which schedule was to be
a decided advance over the price at present
demanded. We are informed that over two
thousand cows we're represented, and the
body was noied for the earnestness OF its pur-
pose and the dignity OF department appro-
pirate to the possessors of so respectable
constituency. They unanimously agreed
that the price Should be raised, and that, as
they tersely expressed it, ''ii Philadelphia
won't pay the increase, she can go without
milk" We may, therefore, expect that before
many days are past, the present high price
will be further increased, and our citi-
zens be compelled either to submit to the
extortion or go without the milk.
Similar conventions to the one at Norris
town are just now being held in various parts
of the country, and the question is exciting
considerable attention throughout the North.
The New York dealers have held such a
meeting, and formed "Milk Exchange" the
precise object OF which we are at loss to
determine, unless it be to regulate by law
the proport ON of chalk, water, and milk TO
be sold to residents in the cities. We sup
pose that our NorrStown Convention will
probably resolve itself into the "Pennsyl-
vania Chamber of Milk" OF the "'Board Of
American MillSmen," and be Incorporated by
the Legislature.
We are continually told that the cost of
maintaining COWS is so great that it is neces-
sary that the price Of milk be advanced, in
order that the dealer be protected. The
Boston Post takes the trouble to give us
some figures. A good cow can be bought
for $40. The annual expense ofthe animal is
Interest on cost, at 10 per cent S1l
Fold and other eNpen es'','., .l62
l78
Worth OF mix produced in ten months. S2o6
making a profit of eight y-three dollars per
COW, or, for a farm with twenty-four cows
an income of nearly $4,000 for his animals
alone. We have altered the figures some
what from those of the Post, in order to
make them apply to our own dealers. Surely
this profit Of seventy-fve per cent on the
original investment is enough to satisfy even
the most aVaricious.
While speaking OF the subject, we may
note a curious fact in regard to The South
Although there are thousands of cattle all
through the plantations, and many of then
OF the finest kind, yet the thought OF making
butter or cream never enters the mind OF &
Southern housekeeper. Only a few days
since we read letter from Florida, written
by Northern lady, filed with exclamations
OF amezement that, on the plantation where
she was visiting, although there were sixteen
cows, all butter was brought from the North
ern cities. There is no idea among tho
people of the North of the vast extent of the
exports Of packed butter and canned cream
which are sent to the Southern States. Ar
exchange tells us that in Texas, in one
county, there are 100000 cattle, yet the peo
pie depend entirely on the North for butter
and milk.
This state OF country lite seems to us amaz
ing. There is no popularity of the Southern
people which more perfectly exempliaes theil
character, than this sending two Thousand
miles for what can be had at their very doors
From what we have said, our readers neeC
feel no surprise ii they be still further i'm
posed upon by the dairy men; and we car
give them no consolation, except that they
must, as our Congress OF miI1men" SO elo
quently stated, Aeither pay the additiona
price or 60 without the milk" We are afralC
that we will have to pay the additional price