The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1900-08-03
MAY FORCE PRICE OF MILK
Proposed Action Of the Five
States Association Would
Affect Us.

A new danger, entirely Independent of
the weather conditions, has arisen in the
proposed action of the Five States Milk
Association, which may force the price of
milk even beyond the point that was fear
ed a few weeks ago. 1t is stated that the
milk situation, if left to itself, is much
better than it was two weeks ago. The
continued cool weather has largely de-.
creased the demand for milk. and the
rains have been sufficient to improve the
pasturage very materially.
The Five States Associations PROPOSE
tion to withhold milk from the New
York market is district menace to Jer-
sey City, for the milk supply of both
cities comes from practically the same
territory and is governed by the same
conditions. William Graves, of Charles
R. Flint & Co., the New York represen-
tative of the Five States Association,
said Wednesday that his association had
notified the dealers that, unless its de-
mand for a two-and-one-half-c
quart rate for August was aceeded to,
the association would hold back it's sup
ply. That means that the farmers are to
get a half cent more per quart than they
are now getting, and a raise of that
said, in the consumer having to pay prob
ably cent quart more for his milk
that he is now paying.
The situation was explained by a local
member of the Consolidated Milk Ex-
change The demand of the Five States
Association had not reached his company,
he said but it had probably been made on
the exchange, by which it would later be
transmitted to the individual members.
The threat, he said, was made at a time
when it was most likely to be effective
For while the supply is equal to the pres
ent demand, there is no surplus supply
on which the dealers could depend to tide
them over in a fight against the associa-
tion. If the threat was carried out it was
more than likely that the dealers would
be forced to comply with the demand to
increase prices to the farmer.
The Five States Association some time
ago got the majority of the farmers to
give the association five years option on
their milk These options the association
then used as so much stock in trade. and
finally disposed of them in some way to
Charles r. Flint & Co., of New York.
The association then notified the dealers
that they would have to buy their milk of
Charles R. Flint & Co., to whom they
must pay a brokerage.
Last May, a demand similar to the one
now threatened was made by the associa-
ton. and, as milk was then plenty, many
of the dealers refused to comply with it.
The Five States Association then got the
farmers to withhold their milk, but the
dealers were able to get enough from the
ind 10 70
win their fight. Most OF these dealers,
when the farmers who had withdrawn
their supply wanted to come back, made
them sign an agreement to furnish milk
until October. In the face of this, the
member of the exchange said it was possi-
| Bile that not enough of the farmers could
be induced by the Five States Association
| to go out again to affect the market seri-
| ously.
| The danger, however, lies in the fact
| that, with the present scarcity of milk a
very few farmers, by going out. would
| affect the market more seriously than the
withdrawal of twice or even three times
| the number would have done last May,
when milk was plenty. There is grave
danger that. should the threat be carried
| out, enough farmers would withdraw
| their supply to force the dealers to ac-
| cede to the demands of the association.
| The effect Of this upon the consumer is
| not doubtful. He would almost certainly
it is aid have to pay more than the adj
vance made tthe farmer. The reaon
| for this lies in the fact that, since the
| first of June, several advances have been
made to the farmer, which have been
borne by the wholesalers and retailers
Very little, If any of the icreased ex-
pense, has been laid upon the consumer
If. now, another advance has to be made
to the farmer, the wholesalers and retail
! ers cannot longer bear the burden of it
1 And If they have to raise the price to
/ II you don't feel quite well. try bottle Of
Hoods sarsaparilia. It is wonderful tonic
/ and ipyigoratsr. It win help you