Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-10-27
VIEWS OF PRODUCERS
CAUSES WHICH BROUGHT ABOUT
UNION OF MILK DEALERS.
Purposes of the Association Set Forth
by Member Of Executive
Committee.

The causes which, it is alleged. brought
about the formation of the Maryland,
Virginia and District of Columbia Milk
Producers Association" which association
held a meeting yesterday, as detailed in
The Star, and the purposes of the organi-
cation, are given by E. L. Cockrell, men,
Der Of the executive committee. He says:
THE organization effected today by the
milk producers shipping milk to Washing
ton Is the result of circumstances which
practically forced upon them the necessity
for concerted action. If prevailing prices
of feed and labor are to continue it simply
means that many farmers must quit the
of profit must be agreed upon between the
shipper and dealer. In view OF these cir
cumstances the farmers are making very
moderate demand, amounting only TO about
one-half cent per quart increase in price,
and they think that this is more than justi-
fed from the fact that during the past
seven years mill feed has advanced 10 per
cent to 100 per cent, and labor in the past
five years from 80 per cent to 100 per cent.
The farmers have borne this scaling OF
their profit this long till profits are almost
entirely destroyed with the hope that the
period of high-priced feed would soon end.
Fair Division of Profit.
~
profit. While it requires bn an average a
$4,000 plant 5000 of which represents
stock and machinery. upon which there is
at least II per cent annual deprecia ton,
and three men to furnish a supply of fifty
gallons per day by the farmers. it re-
quires only a man and boy. a wagon and
two horses to distribute the same through
the city. In addition. the farmer must pay
about 10 2-3 per cent of what he receives
a ndv m fInr iIrrn fny
freight. Yet the farmer has been receiving
an average. of about 12t cents per gallon
after deducting freight, while the dealer
gets 121a to 30 cents per gallon after paying
the farmer and he has to maintain only
two horses as against the farmers forty
head of stock. with the chances of loss
therein at the ratio of to 40 Against the
dealers loss on bottles the farmer has his
losses on cans
The producers In their meeting TODAY
were told by a local dealer that milk could
De produced at cents per gallon. We have
received today from the United States Agrf-
cuitural department statement of the cost
OF balanced ration for q cow which
amounts TO Y cents day. and il is sta ted
that 1t Is perhaps as economical a rat ton as
any at the prevailing prices of feed. This
Tor COW producing one and one-half pal
oons day, which Is high average. makes
t tnu t Us oI gallon or milk about Is cents
Tor feed alone, and with freight added
makes 1IR cents delivered in Washington
exclusive or labor. interest on investment
depreciation of stock and machinery and
pront " In confirmation of the above the
VaIues OF rations now being fed bv f,rnarc
VINO puy in carloads lots have been Gallon
iated, and they coincide with the above es
Innate from the department within a yerv
narrow margin very
Inc farmers deeply appreciate the att
tude of their dealers who realize tbeir sit
uatlon and seem ready to meet tha,,, ~
any fair proposition" i oii