Clarke courier. [volume] (Berryville, Va.) 1869-1997, 1902-06-18
oLEo LAW AND DAIRY rsrrnrsrs.

oLEo LAW AND DAIRY INTERESTS.
We are asked TO say something as to
the probable effect OF the new oleo-
margarine law upon the dairy inter
eSts OF the country. The new law goes
into effect July /. IL imposes a tax OF
10 cents per pound upon cleo IL colored
TO resemble butter. over t00.00OOOO
pounds OF oleo were made the past
year and sold at prices running from
s TO 10 cents per pound less than butter
sold for. Most OF this cleo finally
reached the consumer as genuine but
ter. was SO bought by him and SO eaten
by him. Oleo can be made to closely
resemble butter at first cost OF about
10 cents per pound. but as Il passes rs
butter il always rises and falls in price
with the genuine article which IL imi-
tates. The profit connected with its
manufacture has been enormous
than 100 per cent when butter was
selling ut the high prices OF the past
season. Oleo uncolorad is distaste-
full looking article OF food. and. while
just as good in every way or just as
bad, rs you choose. when uncOlored as
when colOred. it will not in an uncol-
Ored state find any market. and the 10
per cent tax will virtually kill the bust
ness OF its manufacture. The conSti-
nationality Of the law is yet To be test
cd, and il is barely possible that the
supreme court Of the United States
may Kill the law. though hardly likely.
one makeshift has already been sug-
gested by the manufacturers i'm the
shape OF a capsule OF colOring matter
which is TO be furnished with the OlcO.
the buyer 10 DO his own working over
and coloring. This won't work. for the
consumer will not buy the stuff when
he knows for sure that he is getting
oleO. Assuming that the law Will stick.
ii means much 10 the dairy interests OF
the country. 1t will mean the milking
of half million mere cows and posi-
bly, some advance i'm price of butter I'M
Ill the supply gets adjusted TO the de-
mand. We do not think that il means
any permanent advance in butter
prices, but simply a larger and wider
market for the product. Butter can
be produced on the average farm at
first cost the year round of about -
cents 4 pound. and the consumer may
still expect to be supplied At from 20
TO - cents, save under such conditions
of extra high priced dairy rationS as
have prevailed the past six months.
The claim that the beef animal is To be
materially lowered in price because Of
the law which will prevent the CONVEX
sion OF his tallow product into butter is
more Of a bogy than fact. for the
cOttOnSeed oil men and the lard men
have 4 hand in this cleo product ~
well as the steer man. The law when
in successful operation will do this it
will give the people n genuine butter
product, remove from the dairy inter
ests one Of the most ingenious and ras-
cally frauds which ever beSet a legiti-
mate and important industry; it will
give the poor man wholesome and. if
he shuts his eyes, a palatable suhSti-
tute for butter selling at reasonable
price; II viii encourage the further de-
velOpment of the dairy interests of the
country. which is something which can
not fail TO be of the greatest benefit 10
agriculture as a whole. and. lastly. It
is a step in advance in the line OF pure
food legislation which we all hope may
he continued In many other lines.