Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1903-03-24
MAINE DAIRYMEN.
Have Opportunity to Benefit by Con-
ditions Elsewhere.
Interesting Abstract from Circular of
N. E. Milk Producers Union.

Present conditions in the milk pro.
| ducing districts of Massachusetts ant
| New Hampshire, as shown by authen.
tic reports which have followed thor.
ough Investigations, justify the state
| ment that Maine dairymen never be-
| fore had the opportunity now giver
! them to more firmly establish them
| selves among producers of the Hubs
milk supply. Both in Massachusetts
| and New Hampshire the foot and
| mouth disease among cattle is preva-
lent, and the rigid quarantine and
great slaughter of infected animals has
reduced the product of those districts
almost to a minimum. The New Eng
land Milk Producers Union, in a cir
cular sent from the general offices in
Boston, says the nearby supply has
fallen off more than 80 per cent during
the past year and that the Boston sup
ply at present is very close"
Ii is evident that the milk must
come from somewhere and if the own
ers of cows in Maine do not look thor
oughly into the situation and make a
bid for the opportunity offered the fault
lies entirely with them.
The circular issued from the office of
the New England Milk Producers
Union is of particular interest to many
Maine farmers at this time because of
the peculiar conditions shown to exist
The New England Milk Producers
Union is an organization the object of
which is to conserve and promote in
every possible way the interests of
members of the union viz: farmers and
dairymen who supply milk for the
Boston market. Members of the asso-
citation are found not only in Massa
chusetts, but in New Hampshire and
Maine as we'll.
The milk supplied by the producers
and shipped to Boston each day from
the Massachusetts, New Hampshire and
Maine farms is received there by con-
tractors who in turn distribute it to
peddlers by whom it is delivered to the
consumers. Each year at about this
time the contractors meet representa-
tives of the producers to fix Il price
for the coming twelve months and this
meeting almost invariably is the oc
caSion for a spirited fight. This years
meeting will be held today, and the cir
cular sent out by the general officers of
the Producers Union is to advise the
members of the union regarding eX
listing conditions that they may be fully
informed before the meeting.
The most significant thing in the en-
tire statement is a reference to the
quarantine against cattle inflicted with
foot and mouth disease in Massachu-
sets. The quarantine situation in
New Hampshire, where the disease has
become quite prevalent within a few
days, is studiously avoided. AS a
matter of fact the conditions in New
Hampshire at the present time are Sc
rious. Several inflicted herds have
been killed within the past week.
But to return to the statement, what
it says and what it does not say and
what inference can be drawn.
TT was thought best by the direc-
tors" it says. after carefully consid-
ering the outlook and the conditions
that exist at the present time, that
last winters price should continue
through the summer. The contractors
claim they have Is per cent more milk
than at this time last year. Assuming
that some may have an excess over last
year it is evident on the other hand
that the nearby milk has fallen off
more IudI uOuDle lltt ciIlouHl VII az
count of the quarantine shutting out
the source of the nearby supply; also
by the destruction of approximately
5000 cows throughout the milk produc-
ing territory. The quarantine still ex-
lists and undoubtedly will continue for
an indefinite period and will no doubt
have Il depressing effect on the produc
ton of milk for the coming six months.
1T is found on n careful investigation
of the Boston market as a whole that
it has very close supply. and men who
are in a position to know positively af-
firm that there is no surplus on the
market today
In conclusion the statement says:
1.-The producers, after a conservative
estimate, have asked for good sharp
advance and existing conditions ays
shown above clearly sustain them in
their demands, and they are deter
mined to be firm in supporting them
I