Litchfield enquirer., 1873-03-06
MILK MEETING.

curslon train for Washington. As we went along through the pine swamp and at other points along the road, the cause Of the recent delays was sufficiently evi- dent in the enormous accumulation oi snow near the track. Its average depth is differently estimated from two to four feet. We judge the former figure is near CT the truth, but in many places the banks each side of the track are from four to six feet high, the roadway itself making but a narrow ditch, which even light snow with high wind fills level full At Bantam and the various stations on the line accessions came in, and by the time the train had reached Washington, some fifty farmers were present to join in the rather toilsome procession up the old turnpike to Judea Centre. A gentleman who has recently joined the insurance per suasion was there and nobody. dared to struggle for fear of being picked off and insured before assistance could arrive. A dozen or fifteen of the excursionists en- joyed an excellent extempore dinner at the St. Nicholas; the rest picked up what solid refreshment they could else where (nothlng liquid for sale).
 At 2 P. M. the meeting was called to order at Farmers Hall Hon. Seth s. Logan, of Washington, was appointed Chairman, and Geo. B. Jones, of Litch- field, Secretary -The chairman requested Dr. Buel to state the objects of the meet ing. Dr. Buel, of Litchfeld, replied that he was novice in the business, but suppos- ed the object of the meeting was to orga- nize some sort of company that would secure the farmers fair value for their milk.
 Chairman ''Have you any plan to sub- init to the meeting?"
 Dr. Buel.-'I should think the proper way would be to appoint committee to perfect some plan. Farmers want to know why they do not receive as much as they ought for their milk. I suppose the arrangement will be that of placing our own agents in New. Yorkfor the sale of our milk, and then, after taking out expenses, the fair price will be returned us for our milk" f-.-.... s~. .
 MrM. D. F. Smith, of Goshen, stated that most, probably three quarters, of the milk is sold to agents or middle-men in New York. The average price netted by the producer is about B cents per quart. That seems small price when we compare it with what the consumer pays. It does not seem so small when compared with the profit realized on making milk into butter and cheese To net 8 cents per quart, butter would have to bring Az cents per pound cheese, 19 cents.
 MT. Horatio Benton, of Morris, enquir- ed about the Association that proposed to take all the milk from all the roads and employ their own agents to distribute it.
 No one responded at that time.
 Mir. Amos Hallock, of Washington, told his experience in the milk business. He estimated the net return from milk sold in New York at about double that re- sulting from the making of butter and cheese.
 Mir. Enos B. Pratt, of Goshen.-''I have kept full accounts of receipts and expen- ditures in the milk business. I have been looking over these accounts for three years past and find that my sales have been as follows
 In 1870 1880 cans at cents, $3.05O
 In 1871 1847 's B 2,315
 In 1872 1792 |" B s' 2,519
 Total, 5569 " 3l 1885
 ''This is what the milk brought, deliv- cred at the depot. Calling butter 30 cents pound (reckoning 12 quarts of milk to the pound) and the product of the milk of these three years would have been but $5,51O; loss of $2,315 on that realized from the sale of milk. have always sold to middle-men. had AZ COWS, the first year, and made 5000 more that year than I could have done on butter and cheese. It costs me about 20 cents can to get the milk to the station. bought 50 cans the first year. had them marked and made record of cans sent, crossing them off when returned. have lost but one can in three years, although some have been missing for considerable time, now and then. I should think I had paid from $5 to $7 for repairs on them during the three years.
 On enquiry whether the skinned milk was not of considerable value towards feeding hogs, MT. Pratt said that up to about four years ago he calculated that to be worth some $1OO to $125 yea= to him, but at present prices he did not consider that anything was made on pork. From March 25 1870, to March % 1871, his cows averaged him $82 apiece after de- ductiug amounts paid for meal, ,$56 apiece. He considers them in much better condi. tion than if they had only been fed on hay.
 Dr. Buel thought it evident from all the 1 statements, that the milk business was more profitable than making butter and cheese. In order to determine whether enough farmers were interested in the matter to organize an association for the disposal of their milk Tn New York, he moved that committee be appointed to prepare plan of that kind.
 The motion was carried and the follow. ing committee was appointed by the chair H. W. Buel, M. D. F. Smith, s. H. Vel ton, o. R. Hodge, Horatio Benton.
 During the absence of the committed MT. Wickwire, of Berkshire, Mass, ar officer of the Farmers Milk Company, ex.