New-York tribune., 1899-07-26
INDUSTRIAL COMBINATIONS.
MILK TRUST NOT PROBABILITY.
RUMoRs OF FALL TIE UP SENT OUT APPAR
r~r, " ron sOvE pr,RPOSE

MILK TRUST NOT PROBABILITY.
RUMoRs OF FALL TIE UP SENT OUT APPAH-
EMILY FOR SOME PURPOSE
Further investigation was made yesterday IN re-
gard to the alleged milk trust From the inforiia-
ton which could be obtained Il appears that 'he
Five States Alliance is entering on an autumn
campaign similar TO the campaign which met win
failure last March, and with no better prospects OF
success
A Tribune reporter called on Isaac Mibank. OF
the Borden Condensed Milk Company. which dis
tributes milk TO over ninety thousand customers III
this CITY, and which buys directly from the FARMERS
throughout an extensive territory much OF which
is covered by the alliance. Mr. Milbank Is an over
seer OF the company's receiving stations to which
the farmers deliver milk In speaking of the pro-
posed combination he said:
"A similar attempt was made last March. In the
preceding winter several leaders took the matter
in hand and induced many OF the producers 10 holu
back from making contracts with New-1orK ueaI-
ers for the ensuing six months. At one OF our
branches the farmers held daily meetings Tor some
time previous to the day when all contracts with
our company had TO be signed Meanwhile the
farmers were in communication with the promoters
in New York and in spite Of promise atter promise
they could not learn what they should DO with
their milk II they did not sell 1t 10 u.s. Al the last
moment they threw up the combination iuea anu
signed the contracts.
~
70 this city can secure a higher price, II would
only be temporary Producers living too far from
the railroad 10 realize any profit at the old price IN
hauling their milk TO the stations. who are MAKING
Il into butter and cheese. would instantly respond
to the rise in price and begin to send their mix TO
the city Such things therefore. are governed oy
the laws of supply and demand. l can give you
practical proof OF what l say. In 1874 we estao-
lshed a branch in dairy region on the New-fork
Ontario and Western Railroad which was said 10
have a production of five thousand quarts DAY
We paid a somewhat higher price than that PAID
by the creameries. and found the supply In 1888 10
be eighty thousand quarts. You see. the good news
spread" 49,. o..
pany which has a daily distribution OF ABOUT
fifteen hundred cans. when asked about the rufnoreo
milk trust said that the producers nave not the
capital requisite.
I'm Orange Sullivan and Delaware counties he
said (which produce a great part OF the milk con-
sumed in this city. the farmers do not own one
third Of the cans used. They haul their milk TO the
station in every kind OF receptacle. Now, IN
order TO be independent capital must be drawn on
not only for cans but hundred other important
facilities. Even when this is done ana the mix
arrives in New-York. who Is to be responsible
for 1t?
This report has gone out for q more profound
reason than the public imagines. Last winter pro
moters went around 70 the farmers and for the
small sum OF $2 a head obtained the power OF at
torney. The combination was scheduled 70 take
place April l. but we saw no signs of II. Since then
further assessments have been levied and in order
10 give the enterprise fair senblance of progress
the story goes out of tie up on october l.
mo, sir, there Is no more probability or milk
trust than Of a wind trust"