The New York herald., 1877-03-16
CHEAPER MILK.

DECLINE IN THE PRICE OF THE TACTICAL
yLuID-FRoM TEN TO EIGHT CENTS
QUART-HARD TIMES AND upDER REASONS
FOR THE FALL-THE SKIM MILK swINDLERs.
Ever since the war the price of milk
has been maintained at ten cents per quart and al
though The rate exorbitant nobody seemed to ex-
pect that there would be any decrease Suddenly
over. there has been reduction. and although many
milkmcn arc still charging tho old rates the ruling
price now eight cents per quart with prospect
still further decline. The reason why some milkmen
are still able to command their old rates is because
people had learned acquiesce in the idea that the
price OF milk Is not governed by the ordinary laws OF
trade, and 50 not expecting decline ncy have not yet
discovered that there has been In the prco
among the largo dealers. 1t is their right however
to insist on paying only the market price, which is
now eight cents, and which may be low as six cents
within month or two.
3 DECLINE
The reduction began long ago as last November
with Sandord Woodruff, large dealers In West
Thirty second street, and although the trade slow
TO follow their example, general stagnaton in tho bust
and the daires have graau-
ally compelled acquicscence in IT, Within a few weeks
Smith, Decker and others OF tho large dealers have
reduced their prices, and in the end mikmen every
class Will be compelled to accept the situation Many
toAsous are coutTioutiue W priug tnlS ABOUT. Zen
cents for milk than poor people can pay
In these hard times, and families had
tent themselves with less than usual supply At
the time the wholesale market was dull and the
supply much greater than the demand. Ever since
the beginning oil the year 1t has been possible
TO buy surplus milk the platform four and tour
and half cents per quart by tho can, while the
farmers were receiving only three three and halt
cents per quart 1t Will be from this that even
IT eight cents the dealers have profit Of nearly 100
per cent while at ten cents their charge for delivery
To houschoders, would be six cents above cost AT
Buch rates tho milk business ought TO be tho
profitable in New York, and II would doubtless huve
continued to be so II combination to keep up tho
low dealers took advantage OF the situation to In
their sales by reducing The price, and result
this movement a great and, II 10 oe hoped, a
lasting benefit has been conferred upon people OF this
city, who, Tor ten or htecn years have been paying
from TWO to i've cents per quart more than II
worth. Six cents would be fair rate and desir-
able that tho movement TO bring down to that figure
will succeed.
SUPPLY.
There In this city alone IRON 500 to 900 milk
men, and IL Is said that fewer than 800 are
employed IN supplying milk TO the metropolis and its
suburbs, Brook IA Williamsburg, Long Island City
Jersey City and Hoboken These handle every
week enormous titles 0i the aceal fluid, the
consumption OF water and skim MILK to be sold the
genuine article 10 something which would exceed be-
lief. The following table win show what the supply
has been Tor this city alone or the month OF January,
the dates given below being tor the week ending tho
designated time The contain gallons, or
f.ru no Aaah