The Washington herald., 1907-09-20
MILK TO Be HIGHER
Dealers Say They Must Meet
Producers Advance.
LOW PROFIT IN PRESENT PRICE
Ten Cents a Quart VIII Probably Be
Charged After November 1-Higher
ateIy Better Quality Is the state
ment of Health officer Woodward.

That the recent crusade for pure milk
and the much discussed milk regulations
following it. have little or nothing TO do
with the promised increase in the price
of that commodity was developed yester-
day by statements from several proml-
nent dairymen.
It is, however. practically certain that
the increase will come, and by November
the people of Washington viii be taxed
at least cents more "A quart for milk
than they are now paying. From the
present price of s cents quart, It IS
probably that 10 cents wiz be charged,
but it is not contemplated that cream
and buttermIlk will be generally more
expensive
One Of the dealers yesterday refused TO
sign a contract with a large hospital
at the old price of 81 cents a gallon, and
intimated that he would have 10 charge
70 cents before he could make reason
able profit. The exact increase Of milk
cannot be definitely settled until the
local Mix Dealers Association holds it's
next meeting. which win probably be
on September .. It is. however, certain
that some increase Will be settled upon,
and that all local milk dealers, even
those who DO not belong to the associa-
ton. will meet the raise because of the
prices Of feed and other neccessities.
Can't tie Helped, Say Dealers.
In speaking Of the situation, George B.
Farquhar. secretary Of the MIX Dealers
Association, said:
Il am as yet unable 20 say just what
the increase in the price of milk will be,
but the action of the farmers in raising
the pYiCa renders an increase in the re-
tail price inevitable The dealers have
practically made no money in the last
few years. owing 10 the increased cost OF
all accessories. and they must either in
crease prices or go out OF the business.
I think that an increase OF > cents a
quart will be a logical one, considering
the figures named yesterday by the Pro
ducers Association AS the producers
name an increase of cents a gallon. we
must make "a propoTti0nate increase.
Looks for Reduced Consumption.
Manager Sherwood, OF the storm-Sher-
wood Dairy, said:
I think that an Increase will have to
come. but am also certain that We will
not begin TO sell the amount of milk that
We have been selling Many people can
not afford 10 buy milk at 10 cents a
quart. and they viii either curksil their
Iconsumption of milk or take 10 the con-
densed brands. We are running four
wagons now. hut believe that after the
| increase goes into effect we viii be lucky
/ q, bav. rvyo I'm commission.
/ Other dealers verified the opinions, but
] none mentioned the new milk regulations
/ as a reason for the increase in the price.
] Commissioner AaCfarland said:
'If the price OF milk is too low Tor a
reasonable profit, It is obvious that X
will have to be raised. II milk OF a
higher standard than has hitherto been
reollired bv law is in the future required
Inv amendment Of the law, the consumer
/ would properly pay more and would
probabIv in most cases be willing 70 do so.
Commissioner VIII Ask Legislation
"Of course no such legislation has as
vet been enacted, although the Commis-
sioners will ask Congress TO pass the
measure which they have asked the milk
commission to make out of the bin which
the Commissioners proposed 10 the last
! Congress. AS 70 the facts with respect 10
/ the present cost Of production I have no
| knowledge, but If the farmers can show
that there has been such an increase in
/ the cost Of production as 20 make an in
/ crease in the price of milk necessary TO
a reasonable profit, no intelligent con-
sumer will object. The proposed increas-
ed price ought TO be put on the right
ground, however and the actual price
paid by the consumer ought 20 be IN
exact proportion to the price paid by the
dealer to the farmer"
Higher Price, Better Quality.
| Health officer Woodward said he saw
no reason why the price Of milk should
not be increased If the dealers found they
could not make a reasonable profit at
the present price, but he also remarked
that with the increase of the price Of
milk there would have to come a proper
tionately better quality.
i The largest dairy lunch proprietcrs on
the other hand say that they Will not
increase the price. Most Of them deal
directly with the producers and have con
tracts made in such a way that The