New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-05-26
WIETlNG ON MILK WAR.
THE COMMISSIONER SAYS LARGE CON-
PANIES IN CITIES WOULD
BENEFIT FARMERS.

Albany May Is (Specia).-Charles A. Wieting. the
State Commissioner OF Agriculture expressed much
interest to-day in the attempt OF the members Of
the Five States Association sell the milk OF
their cows fer higher price and his hearty de-
sire that the attempt would be successful
THE farmers ought 10 obtain higher price for
their milk" re said. land that without the con-
sumner paying any more for his milk. 1t is obvious
that the middemen. the milk dealers. are taking
the profits Of the business. The price for mix
the railway stations is only Ga cents Tor
a so-quart OF milk. and the express rate
on each can is only three-quarters OF cent The
consumer pays on the average in New-York cents
q quart. Contrast what the farmer ana the
express company receive with what the consumer
pays. and you the profit of the nlddienlel
The farmer cannot afford TO sell milk for only
CO cents 4o-quart lie must kick, or go out
OF the business of selling milk Why the middle
men once only paid the farmers 90 cents for ~
quart OF milk, and they would force down the
price a quart If the farmers did not resist
them. il must be clear that something Is wrong
when the middlemen receive such profits. the farm
er IS paid such low price and the consumer is
forced 20 pay such high price The farmers are
not unreasonable They only ask a fair price IL
they could obtain two cents quart in summer and
three cents in winter for the milk of their COWS
they would DE satisfied. With the consumer pay
ing cents quart for milk the farmer ought to
receive al least cents quart
What do you think ought TO be done. Mr.. Wet
ing 10 bring about the giving 10 the farmers Of
correspondent.
II think he answered, that there should be a
thorough organization of the milk trade In the cities
by milk companies. The distribution of milk In
the cities is made far too costly under the pres
system. There many milk dealers and
many milk wagons Through one of the streets
here this morning there passed the wagons OF
wagon would have passed through that street
and delivered milk.
"A company, if managed with any skill would
reduce greatly the cost of distributing and selling
milk I'm New-York; il could afford to pay the
farmer and yet sell the milk less price TO
the consumer. Such concern would make a con
tract with farmer take just much OF his
present situation is that in the farmers
have milk than they apparently know what
do with, and fling IL the market at any price,
and thus lower the general market rate. A big cor
pofation would regulate the amount of milk to be
the cities: IL would not permit of the food
ing of the market with unnecessary amount of
milk. The farmers suffer great loss OF money
from irresponsible milk dealers. A corporation
would have sufficient money, if well managed to
guard the farmers from such losses. A big concern
also could send inspectors to the herds of cattle
and have them examined. and protect people from
harmful milk
rs there any big milk dealing concern in New
York;"
Yes; several. The benefit of ging this bust
ness in large way is made evident by the fact
that a gentleman of Duchess County who has
eight hundred sells the milk of those cows
directly in New York. and obtains 10 cents quart
for his milk. This milk is of superior quality of
course. He has his own customers; middemen
take his profits