The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-11-12
Dishonest Dealers Will Continue
to Sell Adulterated
Milk.
PROMINENT DAIRYMEN TALK
H. A. Clifford Thinks That the Bust.
ness Can Only Be Saved by
Forming Trust.

The action taken by the dairymen OF
Marin County on Sunday last in the mat
Ter Of raising the price of pure milk to the
wholesalers OF this City has not created
that anounto OF CONSERVATION which under
different circumstances would be expected
One reason for this is that majority of
the San Francisco dealers have Iong-tim
contracts, consequently it cuts very little
figure with them, for some months at least,
whether the price is 10, 1215 or % cents per
gallon. Again the local dealera argue that
il mainly rests with them what the price
viii be, because the outside ranches must
either sell To them or establish routes OF
their own, all of which means an expense
totally beyond the reach of the average
rancher at this time. 1t follows then that
the City men are masters of the situation
as far as 1t relates TO the wholesale bust
ness.
However, the majority are net unmind-
full of the fact that higher prices mean
greater profit to themselves, but unfortu-
nately for them there are scores who pro-
less to believe that there is profit in milk
at 40 cents per can. Those who favor rails
ing the price of milk stoutly affirm that q
pure article cannot be sold at such a ggure.
Ten days ago the Milkmen's Association,
at an informal meeting, raised the price of
milk from 40 TO SO cents per three-gallon
can. Many of the members have since
this tlmerefused to go below that figure,
while others have not only continued to
sell ct 40 cents but dropped to 50, if bv so
DONG good customer could be secured.
1t naturally follows, say those who favor
increasing the price, that these men are
not honest. To put it more plainly, any
milk sold at less than 80 cents per can (it
costs that much to produce it, is adulter-
ated. This means, of course, that there
are any number of dairymen still willing
to chance escaping Dockery, hoping in the
meantime to make enough out of the
adulterated article to pay any ordinary
fine.
Such, in brief, is the milk situation as it
stands to-day. Dockery has done a WON
dertui work-probably without a parallel
IN any American clty-but in spite of this
adulterated milk continues to be sold. 1t
remains TO be seen whether Mr.. Dockery
VIII be physically equal to the task of
entirely eradicating the evil. In the
meantime this fight between the honest
ana dishonest dalrymen, as lar as 1t relates
20 the matter of increasing the wholesale
price to 60 cents per can, does not affect in
the least the actual consumer. Milk, both
pure and aGuiterated, has been selling for
years at given price per pint or quart,
and II is not thought that If the wholesale
would be CORES pondingly changed.
1T matters very little" said n. A. Cliff
ford yesterday, 'how high the wholesale
price goes, for l hardly think it will affect
the retail trade. Pure milk has always
sold by the month for 81 so quart, though
l understand there are many who have
been paying as low as 81 so per month. OF
course any one with common-sense fully
understands that milk at this figure must
of necessity be adulterated. l understand
that certain dealers, in spite of their prom
Uses to US, are continuing the practice,
hoping OF course to escape the eagle eye
of Dockery.
Il think the best way out OF the diff
Guilty IS for the milkmen to pool their in
terests. Under a scheme of this kind ex-
penses would be materially decreased, and
1t would only be question of time when
the retail price OF milk would also be
lowered. Under the present system-that
IS, every man for himself-it is not an IN
common thing to see as many as twenty
wagons on one street delivering milk. |
suggest that the dairymen form COM
pany, the capital stock of which shall be
milk, pure and unadulterated. Each dairy
man shall be entitled to as many shares of
stock as cans of milk furnished, and be
paid Tor the same at the rate of say 80 cents
per can. This money would be paid to
him every thirty days.
The company assumes all risk and re-
spOnSlbility OF delivery, and at the end of
SIX or twelve months a dividend on the net
earnings is declared. Suppose for instance,
that the men furnish 500 cans of milk q
month. They are paid $3.50, the company
undertaking to deliver it to the trade.
These 800 cans or 1900 gallons produce in
actual cash, say $3.50. The expense of de-
llyering and other incidentals, including
repairs, have amounted to $50, which leaves
a like amount 10 be divided among ten
NOxr- l.
furnished forty gallons, another 100 and a
third $50 gallons, then each shall receive
such portion OF the net profit as the num-
Der of cans or gallons furnished by him
bears 10 that profit.
This plan is now being agitated IN the
Milkmen' s Association. with some fair pros
pect of adoption at no distant day. I GER
tainly hope it will be, for it will mean the
salvation of the mil1men and at the same
time be of incalculable benefit to Mr.
Dockery."
G. L. Perham of the Boston ranch said
he would be glad to see the milkmen again
on a standard price and live up to it. He
did not think, in fact was positive, that an
increase in wholesale prices would not
mean q corresponding increase to con-
sumers.
George G. Smart of the New York Dairy
entertained the same views, adding that
there were men driving wagons every day
who, in spite of Mr.. Dockery's vigilance,
were selling adulterated milk at much
below the cost of producing the pure arti-
Gle. He thought the penalty should be
raised, and was also strongly in favor OF
the plan advocated by Mr.. Clifford.
l.. a. Haywards, president of the Milk
mems Association, did not see how the
consumer could be called upon to pay any
more than he was already paying, even
presuming that the wholesaler was forced
te give IS cents a can for his milk. He
anticipated no such figure as that, how
ever, but would be quite content if all the
milkmen would agree on go cents can
and stick to it.