The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1907-05-13
BOTH ENDS
VS.. MIDDLE
Milk Producers Complain;
Milk Consumers Have
to Pay.
FARMER IN TRUST KICKS
Can't See Where He Gets Off at With
Everything Going Up and
Nothing Coming Down.

Receiving but go cents for an eight
gallon can of milk during the month of
May, and with five cent cut facing
them for the month of June the farm
ers throughout Lake county, who are
members of the Chicago union, other
wise known as the Milk Trust, feel
that the residents of Hammond are not
the only ones who are feeling the
squeeze" that is being handed out by
the octopus. 1t is true that they re-
ceive a larger sum for their cans dur
ing the winter months but with the
cost of feeding greatly increased, and
with other hardships that they are fac
ing, it is the general feeling among the
cow owners around and about Ham
mond and other cities in Lake county,
that they have bought a gold brick.
But what can we do" said a pros
porous farmer of Schererville, who is
at present in the trust, and who sees
his labor going for naught, I'VE are
under paid for our milk, but how can
we be sure of our receipts if we don't
| belong to the trust" In these senti-
ments he voiced the general feelings Of
| the farmers who are 1t present in the
| trust.
| He exhibited to the representative of
/ the LAKE COUNTY TIMES a contract with
the trust. He was to be paid 80 cents
a can during May and in June was to
receive 50 cents for the same amount
of milk. In July the price was to ad-
vance little and so on until the win
ter high price of s1.20 cents a can was
reached. The farmer then explained
how he came to be a member of the
trust.
I'VE formerly received more money
per can than. we do at the present time.
For the privilege of doing business
with the trust we pay two cents a can.
the year round as a tithe. This furth-
| er reduces our profit. We get one bene-
ut from the union, and that is we are
sure of our money when the month S
business is over. whereas formerly we
would have to wait several months at
a time for our money. Besides we are
sure of our sales and it was because of
these two benefits that we are mem
bers.
Both Ends Lose; Middle Wins.
You say that the people of Hammond
will have to accept a raise of one cent
a quart during the summer months?'
he continued why how can that be
when we have to stand for cut, how
is it that the consumer has to stand
for a raise? Where do the increased
profits go? Take for example this
month, and I will show you just how
much we make on this business at the
low price that is paid TO US for car
of milk. During May the COW is out Il
pasture. The feeding is supposed Il
warrant the reduction, according TO th'
trust. but this is wrong idea. Th'
: grass is just starting to grow, has n'
. nourishment and is very scanty, ans
the result is that to keep our cows a.
to the standard we are compelled L
I feed them night and morning. as W
I did in the winter so we lose just tina
: amount In June when we are pai
= S5 cents a can the feeding is littl
: better and July again sees the turn i
I the richness of the grass on our prair
les where the sun burns II and III
Il sand blowing over it makes it poo
: for feeding purposes. In winter W
r have to feed the animals and the cos
e of grain is high. During the last yea
# with nearly 100 cows, did not max
one cent. and according to the presel