New-York tribune., 1900-05-12
A MILK TRUST SAID TO BE THE AIM.
CIRCULAR FROM THE OFFICE OF FLINT &
CO. THAT sTIRs UP THE DEALERS HERE.

Some interest was aroused yesterday by the pub
lication In rather full detail Of story setting
forth the reported plans Of Charles H. Flint Tor
controlling the milk business Of New-York The
project is by means new one. and there Is
ground for believing that Mr. Flint. whose activity
as a promoter OF Industrial combinations has been
notable within the last year or two, has looked
into the subject of consolidating the local milk
business, going as far as to consider the ao-
visibility of organizing H25ooooo corporation for
handling It. Mr.. Flint out of town yesterday
and authorized to speak for him about the
milk combination project could be found at his
office.
The Five States Milk Producers Association Is
organization composed of milk producers IN
New-Jersey, New-York Pennsylvania, Connecticut
and Western Massachusetts,. The association con-
tends that II controls nearly all Of the milk Which
enters the city 1t was said that the association
had agreed sell all its milk to Flint & Co FOR a
term Of five years. and that Flint & Co. intended
to organize a company, to be known as the New
York Dairy Product Company. with capital or
s12 600 to handle the milk The price to be paid
the farmers. II said. would average 2h cents
quart A few days ago many of the milk dealers
of this city received the following circular:
New York May 4, 1900.
On and after May TO- 1900. and until further no
tice all milk from the members of the Five States
me- until the ineorporation Of the New,
VIII be Day & in
ers' cans. if desired; and delivery at DESTINATION
milk milk at receiving stations during May 1900 win be
quart and ve cents an adasd s1
entail rates shall be added to the price per can:
zone cents 3 cents
prices are net Terms cash , Al M appneaponss re
y. Y. care Flint Co.
This is one of the circulars referred to IN yester
days Tribune.
A circular. signed by Mr.. Graves, also sent
through the channels of the Five States Milk Pro-
ferred to in the circular to the dealers-to the
farmers composing 1t. informing them of the new
scale of prices and the date when It would go into
effect and directing them in regard to Withholding
their milk If the dealers did not accede to the terms
set. Some OF the dealers In this city who received
Mr. Gravess circular believe that it indicates an
effort drive them out of business for the pur-
pose of establishing a milk monopoly.
A Tribune reporter Of the largest milk
dealers of the city yesterday. 1t their opinion
that the dealers would not accede to the demands
of the circular They said that they could not af-
ford to pay the price mentioned The price which
they pay is about one and three-quarters
a quart. They believed that raising the price
would disturb the excellent balance which has ex-
listed between the butter and cheese and milk mar
kets by attracting milk into the market, glut
ting it, and thus working detrmentally to the
farmer and that Withholding milk will only
raise the price which the public will be obliged
pay They thought that several days would
elapse before the full effect Of the circular upon
the milk supply would be known.
At the present time the farmers in the main.
are not asked to do more than provide the milk.
The milk dealers supply them with cans in which
place their milk, and have established stations
the number of three hundred four hundred
different points for receiving and cooling the
milk. AS the farmers have no receptacles of their
own in which to place their milk and no FACILITIES
they are not in position 10 utilize their milk
should the dealers refuse accept the rate set by
Mr. Graves. Without cans they cannot ship II 70
the city. 1t has been the custom of the dealers to
make contracts for year with the farmers
for their supply Of milk. Following the directions
Of Mr.. CraVes's circular 1t is likely that of
the farmers will be obliged to break their con-
tracts with the dealers. 1t Is said that many Of
the farmers refused to make contracts this year
which would not permit them to withdraw when
the Five States Milk Producers Association should
be ready to handle their milk.