The professional world. (Columbia, Mo.) 1901-192?, 1902-06-20
Oleo and Dairy Interests.


We are asked to say something as to
the probable effect Of the new oleo-
margarine law upon the dairy interests
OF the country. The new law goes into
effect July 1. 1t imposes a tax of 10
cents per pound upon oleo II colored to
resemble butter. Over 100, 900, 900
pounds of oleo were made the past year
and sold at prices running from 8 to 10
cent? per pound less than butter sold
Tor. o of this oleo finally reached
the consumer as genuine butter, was
SO bought By him and so eaten by
hlm. Oleo can be made to closely re-
somble butter at q first cost Of about
III cents per pound, but as 1t passes as
butter II always rises and falls in
price with the genuine article which 1t
initiates. The profit connected with Its
manufacture has been enormous-more
than 100 per cent when butter was SELL
Ing at the high prices of the past sea-
SON. Ole uncolored is a distastefu1
looking article Of food, and. while lust
as good in every way or Just as bad.
as you choose, when uncolored as when
coloied. 1t will not In an unoolored
state find any market and the 10 per
cent tax will virtually kill the business
or IT'S manufacture. The constitution
atty OF the law Is yet to be tested. and
II Is barely possible that the supreme
court OF the United States may kill the
law. though hardly likely. One make
shirt has already been suggested by the
manufacturer in the shape of a cap
sule OF coloring matter which Is to be
furnished with the oleo, the buyer to do
MS own working over and ooloring.
This won't work, for the consumer will
| NOT hlU tho cf,tfp uha. H. z---- e.
sure that he Is getting oleo. Assum-
Ing that the law will stick. Il e
much to the dairy interests OF the coun-
try. 1t will mean the milking of half
q million more cows and possibly some
advance In price of butter until the sup
ply gets adjusted to the demand. We
DO n o think that II means any perma-
nent dvanc In butter prices, but sim.
ply a larger and wider market for the
product Butter can be produced or
the average farm at a first cost the veal
round OF about 13 cents a pound, and
the consumer may still expect to be
supplied at from 20 to Is cents, saw
under such conditions Of extra high
priced dairy rations rs have prevailed
the past six months. The claim tina,
the beef animal Is to be materially low.
cred in price, because Of the law which
VIII prevent the conversion OF his tai
low product into butter Is more of 6
togy than a fact, for the c~ottonseed OF,
men and the lard men have a hand IL
this oleo product a. well as the stee,
man. The law when In successful oper
alton will do this-it will give the PEG.
pie a genuine butter product, remov,
! from the dairy interests one Of the mos
r ingenious and rascally frauds which
ever beset a legitimate and important
Industry; 1t will give the poor man 6
wholesome and, If he shuts his eyes, ,
, palatable substitute for butter selling a
l a reasonable price; 1t will encourage
the further development Of the dairy
, interests of the country, which is some,
2 thing which cannot fail to be of tn,
' greatest benefit to agriculture as 6
whole, and, lastly, It is a step in ad
r vance In the line Of pure food legisla,
ton in many other lines.