New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-03-25
TUE CITY MILK SUPPLY.

THE CRY MILK SUPPLY.
AT the protracied conference yesterday after
noon between the officers of the Milk TX
change and the committee representing the
Orange and Sussex farmers, 1t was PLAIN that
each party stool rea ~ to compromise when
eyer the other acccd d TO its demands. The
pprsonal feeling between the extremists in the
councils of both interests was so bitter that
effective concession appeared impossible. And
vet there can be no question that the sober
sense of the conservative dealers on the one
hand, and the producers on the other, favored
an adjustment. a single cool-heaIeI dealer
like Mr.. Conlllin. president Of the Milk Ex-
change, aud a single representative farmer
like Mr.. Goomis. if duly empowered to make
treaty, could have settled the question IN
fifteen minutes to the satisfaction OF all con-
cerned. with the exception of few impracti-
cables who are gifted with greater talent
for calling hard names than for transact
in. business. After the conference had broken
ND the Farmers Committee met some of the
better class of dealers outside Of the Exchange
and agreed upon schedule of prices for q
year, and dispatches were sent To the various
stations on the Erie and Midland TO let the
milk come, and by tomorrow, and perhaps
this morning, the supply will be ample. The
price for March has been fzed-the dealers
paving what they offered for tho first fifteen
days and the farmers receiving what they de-
manded for the remainder OF the month
An ample supply of pure milk is such vital
necessity TO tho health and comfort OF New
York that every family in the city has di-
rect interest in the equitable adjust
ment Of this controversy. The city cannot
afford to have the traffic conducted in this de-
moralzed and uncertain fashion. And yet 1t
must be admitted that the difficulties to be
faced are neither slight nor ina ginarY. On
the one hand, it is certain that in the
long run pure milk will not be furnished I'M
less the dairymen are paid fair price for its
production. Under-priced milk means, at best.
SKINNED or adulterated milk. AT the rates
adopted last evening the farmers think they
will be able 10 live, but the margin of profit is
slender enough. On the other hand. the present
wasteful system of delivery eats up too large
| fraction of the dealers profit. 1t is est
| mated that the wagons on all the city routes
| carry on an average only three cans, or 120
quarts each, and something like DIG cents
must be added to the cost OF each quart for
'
| single driver could distribute fifteen cans if
his customers were confined to "A few blocks,
! instead of being scattered miles apart The
| delivery, therefore, costs five times as much al
it should under a proper system, and the loss
falls ultimately on the producer. Again,
oleomargarinc has played such havoc with the
butter market that it is difficult to dispose
proftably of surplus milk in times when it is
! produced in greatest abundance. But after
all it IL to the interest of reputable dealers, as
| it is a necessity to consumers that the milk
supply should be absolutely pure, and tC
insure this the farmers should be paid Tn,
reasonable prices which they have agreed Il
| accept.
| The milk war will not be barren Of good
results if it finally arouses consumers to lool
| more sharply into the questions involved. II