Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1872-02-29
fer with the railroad relative to freight.
and nrpgentnd A

icl Will tIit IdllTodu Te1dtlFo 10 lTolgut,
and presented
LETTER FROM MOSES Y. TILDEN.
New YORK, Feb 90, 1872.
j. b. McNaughton, Esq,
DEAR SIR,-Your favor of the 18th
reached Lebanon after left for the city,
and has been sent me here, where I am
hard at work on the very subject you
enquire about.
| am aware that the expectations OF
our farmers have not been realized, nei-
ther have those of the managers of the
railroad Both have been disappointed,
and although we have not fully met our
expectations, think you will agree with
me that the effort and progress we have
made has been a very important one. |
regard the establishment of the fact that
milk can be safely sent from the line of
the Harlem Extension, as one which is
tohave an influence for good on the whole
line of the road, and with all the sacri-
fees we have made.
There was no intention on the part of
Mr. Cummings, when that estimate for
prices was made, to deceive any farmer.
| The first question naturally asked by the
farmer was about prices. l asked Mr.
| Cummings if he could make an estimate
He replied it was difficult, as so many
causes were operating to unsettle prices.
| When he made them up and wrote the
circular, asked him upon what he based
his estimates. He replied, from prices
realized for the previous years, that he
| thought he had made allowance enough
so that they could safely assure the far
mers that they could realize, for them,
the prices named, and their offer to
| guarantee these prices, to those who
would enter into contract for the year,
| should be a sufficient evidence Of their
faith in the circular.
That circular has been misunderstood
and misrepresented. If any candid man
will re-read it carefully, he will not find
in it any such proposition as many have
claimed it contained; and, after so re-
reading, | don't see how he can reach
any other conclusion than that it is per
fectly plain and fair. They did not
offer to guarantee the prices, except on
a contract for the year, and, | am in
formed, that but one or two ayailed
themselves of the proposition and enter
ed into agreement to furnish tW0-thlrds
as much during the fall and winter
months as they furnished during the
spring and summer months. Nearly
every man had great doubts of its sue
cess, and were unwilling to make any
positive agreement for the fall and win
ter months, but were disposed to feel
their way along very carefully; some,
with large diaries, sent but can or two,
and would not engage to furnish any
given quantity for the year This made
the introduction very slow and difficult,
as One-can diaries were Objectionable.
1t has frequently been claimed that
Cummings, Baker Il Co. were bound to
pay the prices named In the circular. II
respective of the quantity sent, the tim"
of commencement. or of stopping.
Those who claim this may honestly
think so but, think. no fair man among
them, when he reads the circular over,
will still claim that there was an Obliga-
ton on the one part and none on theirs
and until they learn that obligations
are mutual, that both have duties to
perform, there is danger of misunder-
standings.
have looked to the milk interest for
years as perhaps the most important
one for our section. One, that when
fully developed, as giving to the farm
ers larger return for their inCesSant
labor than any other branch OF farming.
| had seen the farmers Of other sections
grow sick, producing and selling milk,
and | could see no good reason why our
farmers might not also when the taCil-
tiles were offered them for getting their
milk to market Every investigation
and comparison, | have been able to
make, ended in arriving at the same re
suit, that is; that selling milk where
there is fair market was the most pro
titable branch of farming. | learned a
few DAYS since from the President of
the Dairvmcns' Association Gov. Sey-
| mourn that the dairymen of Oneida
county would not realize over forty dol
lars per COW the past season. From
! various reports published for years past,
except when butter and cheese ruled
very high we have the same evidence.
Having been so anxious on this subject.
I endeayOred to induce parties in this
city to make a contract with our farm
crS on their milk. but without success.
A prejudice existed among dealers here.
AGAINST milk brought from so long dis
tapcr. was told IF we 20 up so far
for our milk we must have an extra in
ducement." ! was not discouraged. |
felt that the way would be opened, but
lust how. | must confess, was not clear
to me. saw that farmers making but
few cans per day could not afford to
make the trip to New York to seek Gus
TONERS: that if they did, and found one.
they were liable to lose their money 10y
selling to strangers who were irrespon-
sible. | know that farmers on the IIar-
lem claimed to have lost large sums.
To build up the business so as to make
an income for the road, and at the
same time. make a safe and profitable
business for the farmers were the OBJ
iccts to be attained After trying, rs
have said, to induce parties here to take
hold of the business without success, |
heard of Mr. Cummings, and opened a
correspondence with him. lie came to