The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1898-03-01

Dairymen Meet.
two weeks ago, a number of dairymen
met in the Court House, on Saturday
afternoon, selecting ex Judge Wills as
chairman and Joseph EnRle as secretary.
The object of the meeting was to dis
cuss the low price that is being paid for
milk and to suggest remedy for the evil.
Nobody was in a hurry to rush in with
ideas. Andrew F. Lippincott was the
first to speak. He is the superintendent
of the Pemberton creamery. He said he
had heard a great deal about surplus
milk, but the creamery was not getting
any of it, nor Is there any oYersupply OF
any amount in Philadelphia. The deal
ers are going to put the wholesale price of
milk at three cents per quart during
March. One of the surest things to pre-
vent lack of surplus milk is to secure
high prices for it. Mr.. Lippincott had
doubts about farmer being able to raise
milk at three cents per quart. The Penn
berton creamery is not forging ahead as
fast as it should, but it has never refused
to take all the surplus milk offered to it..
Possibly, some good might be accom-
plished by the producers forcing dealers
to give good prices, but he doubted it.
Barclay White asked if the reduced
price of milk is not due to the large
amount shipped from other places, prin-
cipally New York state, from which re-
frigerator cars are run at much lower
freight rates than are charged in this
section.
Mr.. Lippincott was unable to answer
the question, but he did know that New
York shipper had told him that it does
not pay to ship milk at three cents a
quart. New York milk is shipped only as
it is asked for.
Barclay White said that in the last two
weeks in January milk was sold at Cam
den at one cent per quart. The producer
should receive at least four cents per
quart at his own station, while the city
consumer should not be compelled to pay
more than Six cents. Unless farmers can
do something to protect themselves they
might as we'll 60 out of business. Mr..
White ventured the assertion that there
is no more wholesome drink goes into a
city than milk, better in the city of Phila-
delphia than the water is, and the health
of the people as well as the cause of tenn
perance could be advanced by increased
efforts to secure the consumption of milk.
Joshua Forsyth thought friend White
had made some mistakes in his talk. He
thought milk should bring as much as
whisky Mr.. White had made some state
ments in regard to the cost of production
of milk. Mr.. Forsyth bad secured figures
from several milk producers in Pember-
ton and Springfield. In one instance
man who had 20 cows sells 120 quarts per
day at two cents per quart. This gives
him an average of 81 cents per day to pay
for the entire cost of production, includ-
ing feed, care of cows, cans, labor, carting
to station and 80 on. Other figures showed
a range OF 8 to IS cents per COW. No
farmer can feed COWS at three cents per
quart. Several things suggested them
selves as remedies. Milk organizations
are failures. A large majority of the
members will not be faithful to their OBJ
legations. Perhaps Joint law for Penn
sylyania and New Jersey might be advan-
tageous. One of its stipulations should
be price based upon quality. and no man
should be allowed to deal in milk unless
licensed to do SO.
Ex-senator Parry was the next speaker.
1.-TWO weeks ago." he said, lit was decid-
ed thatthe speakers should be those who
had had experience. Since that meeting
he had seen gentleman who said he
knew of two dealers who are to get %
cents per quart for their milk In March.
Those are the men who should speak.
Something must be done to handle the
market. One plan would be to hold
meetings in different localities to study
the situation. Committees should be ap-
pointed to keep milk producers posted on
the price of milk and the movements of
the dealers. The prices can be regulated
when the farmers show that they mean
business. On the point of oyerproduction,
ex-senator Parry said the figures show
that such is not the case in this state. Of
the 2l,000,000 quarts annually shipped
from New Jersey to Philadelphia, over
ons-half goes from Burlington county.
The old idea of securing relief by legisla-
ton is worn out. 1t is nonsense to think
that the Legislature can step in and afford
relief to men who do not show willing
ness to help themselves. Let the milk
men protest, let them take some active
measures to secure their rights, refusing
to take whatever price is thrust upon
them.
Ex-Judge Wills thought some good
might result from a combination of ship
pers who would formulate plans and stick
to them. When the old association was
in existence New Jersey members paid at
least 6ve-sixths of the expenses, while
the other states did the balance for awhile
at least
Henry l. Budd said this meeting might
continue talking until midnight, and then
the affair would end in about the same
shape 1t began. He offered motion that
call who are in favor of entering into an
agreement to fix prices and not go back
on such an agreement" stand up.
The question was put and "a of the 100
present arose.
Mr.. Budd then continued by saying
that organization without unanimity is
perfectly useless. Those present might as
we'll go home and continue to be trampled
upon. Dealers combine to give just what
they please and producers accept it.
There is no doubt that farmers might as
we'll abandon the milk business, as there
is no profit in it,
Joshua Forsyth then arose again and
made rambling speech, which seemed
to have for its purpose the ridicule of ex
Senator Parry.
Ex-Assemblyman Wildes was called
upon for some remarks He said that he
was satisfied that farmers would have to
turn their attention to other things than
milk. He was willing to do anything
that wonld aid his fellow- farmara Saw