Litchfield enquirer., 1874-03-05
WEST CORNWALL. Feb. 27th 1a74

MR. EDIToR:-I propose in this paper to say few words in respect to the pres ent and prospective price of milk, and some of the causes that have operated to depress 1t. It is fact that the results of shipping milk to New York the past year have not been very satisfactory, to a great many shippers, and we must look for the cause of this in part to the general de precision of business and the inability of consumers to pay for so large quantity. Some classes have not paid at all, and still the retail price has been but shade below former years, the losses of the mid dlemen have greatly diminished their profits. Then again 1t can't be denied that the production of milk within ship ping distance has increased more rapidly than the consumption of it in the large cities. But these alone do not account for all the worst features in the case; for 1t is significant fact that one man in the city of New York has more to do with fix ing the wholesale price of milk from month to month than all of the 5000 or more farmers who produce it. There is milkman's protective union, with one of the largest dealers for President, which is we'll united and which meets monthly and votes the price of milk for the month and although large majority of the milk men do not belong to, and claim to have no sympathy with it, yet they very gener- ally insist upon calling that price the morket price, Thus they take advantage of the action of the few to get good ar- ticle just as the producers do, when any combination is attempted, to enhance the price, and the majority reap temporary benefit at the expense of the minority. Still milkmen are getting careful how they follow any such lead. It has become very much question of competition, and that route which has the best facilities for SUD- plying individual customers with a regt- lar quantity of pure, speet and cleaa milk that can be relied on at all seasons of the year, and under all circumstances. and those who can get and maintain that rep- utation will always have the advantage of market at some price. The facilities of course include sure and timely transpor- tation, and the opportunity to manufac- ture in some shape the surplus in seasons of oyer-supply to relieve both the produ- Ger and the retailer.
 Admitting that it is question of com- petition, or in other words, of supply and demand (which includes quality as we'll as quantity), the so-called contract prices amount to but little, for the almost uni versal experience is, that, if the market price is lower than the contract, it will be ignored, while, if it is higher, the produ- cer can't force 1t up.
 There. seems to be'no way of getting out of this condition of things, for all attempts to combine the producing interest to se- cure proper remuneration for their pro- duct have signally failed. It is each man for himself, and producers expect that responsible dealers will pay as much or more, than irresponsible'speculators. The indications are that healthier trade is in prospect. Butter and cheese rule high, and it is expected that business will revive and that the demand for all farm products will increase. But it is folly to suppose that the farmer can get more for his pro- duct from those who handle it than they can get from those who have control of the market. The farmer who has the best facilities for making good article cheapest, and continues to put it on an open market, year in and year out, is sure to realize fair remuneration for his outlay and labor. while poor article of of milk, though produced at great ex- pense, is sure to be losing business. h. deed, I cannot emphasize too strongly the necessity of producing good article, no matter in what line of industry.
 N HART