New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-11-23
ARISES or THE MILK TRAFFIC.

few weeks ago tho milk dealers OF the city
announced through the newspapers that they
would be compelled to add twenty-five per cent
to their retail prices and ask 10 ce2ts per quart
for nix. The protrscted summer dIouth was
cited In justification Of this advance. and con-
sumers offered no audible murmurs because they
knew that dry weather meant scant pastura9e
and a diminished supply. Then came the warm
autumn rains aud abundant grass with milk dow
ing freely once more. but consumers did not dig
cover any depreciation in the value OF current milk
tickets The heightened season evidently meant
that the farmers were enjoying brief prosperity
TO ohsot their losses in the dry and unproductlye
DAYS ~ Auqust. This was the natural SUPPOSE.
ton But the milk vendor is wise in his genera
tion and he proceeded to rs profits at both
ends by holding up the price at which he sold and
reducing the price which he paid He has an adj
vantage enjoyed by the dealer in no other commod
lty for he alone controls the two markets. to wit,
the one in which he buys and the one in which he
sells He levies tribute alike producer and con-
sumer. and, standing between them, his bank &C
count gro VS. at tho expense of both
In ordinary times the farmer ships his milk for
n MONTH ana after it is all sold and drank up the
dealer establishes price" to suit himself, which
ne paws unless he finds 1t profitable to fail, after
making certain deductions Tor Leakage, sour milk
and the like He has tue entne buSlnss IN his own
hands and of course he 1t in his own interest.
But ia this particular year his Offending has beeu
unusually hagrant lie established the price
beforehand and agreed through a recognized or
canizatiou to pay four cents a quart in October.
After he had received and sold the milk, however.
he changed his mind and reduced the price TO gig
cents per quart OF course the farmers are In
censed and threaten to bring test case In
tina courts. but no doubt they viii be " carried by
the laws delay and abandon the case before 1t is
finally decided The excuse offered by the dealers
for repudiating their bargain is that milk became
so abundart that they could buy the surplus on
rhe platiorm at the cheaper rate This may be
n,rtIy true But in times when milk is scarce and
sells for twice tho market price on the platform,
tina dealer never thinks of giving the farmer the
beneGt OF the situation. The rule is made on the
ratchet principle and works only one way.
Some plan should be devised at once to defeat
the abuses of this traffic If the farmers cannot
effect some organization sufficiently strong t. ex-
ercise some control of the market and defend them
selves against broken agreements, an authoritative
nr,ce committee selected by dealers and producers
abonld bo established. The price should then DO
txei invariably in advance SO that farmers can DO
assured of what they may expect If this price is
unsuti factory they would be at liberty 20 their
milk for the manufacture Of butter or in some
other wav AS the business Is now conducted they
arc entirely at the mercy Of middlemen-a class
which has never dhtngult he'd iJfelf for liberal
dealing.