Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1908-01-04
THE OTHER SIDE.
Maine Milk Producers and Dealers Say
Charges Are Not True.

Portland, Ne, Jan. Sc. F. SWEET,
inspector of milk for the city of Port
land said: The locality mentioned in
the article does not send any milk to
Portland, therefore my official duties do
not call me there We have inspected
the sources of Portland's milk supply.
however, and Will say that they are
clean and whole some. There has been
a. vast Improvement in that regard
within a few years. I don't want it I'M
derstood though that I say that they
cannot be still further improved
The opinion OF the milk dealers
about Gorlian is very much the same
as that of their business counterparts
in WestbrOok. Edward Roberts of Fort
Hill, one of the largest milk producers
in that section. says that the state
ment that the barns are unsanitary is
false" MIR. Roberts supplies the milk
for the majority of the villagers in
Gorhanl and is in Il good position 10
know the facts OF the case.
Frederick Phinney, another of the
largest dealers in that section. makes
the statement that the general condi-
ton Of the cattle and barns is salts
factory. Mr.. Phinney ships the ma
jofity of the output of his SO COWS to
Hood of Boston ana received nothing
but compliments from this firm which
Is one CT the greatest milk contractors
in this country.
The message from Boston was
brought to the attention Of the Cor
ham board Of selectmen who We're in
session and they made the following
statement: That there are about 1000
COWS in Gorham; that in April last We
visited every barn and every herd of
cattle in town, taking valuations. We
found the condition of all the cattle
to be first class and that there We're
absolutely no, sick ones. We found
the stables were we'll ventilated, Sanl-
tary. and the majority of them white
washed"
Investigation brought the fact that
there are from 500 to $50 gallons OF
milk sent to Boston diaries from Cor
ham alone, and those Massachusetts
critics at the C. l. Hood and other
farmers had as yet to offer their first
complaint.
When interviewed this morning the
milk dealers about ., Westbrook, al
tioOSi SAIIcuttiS CcliHtt NatlNC SAo
unwilling to- make any definite state
mcnt. seemed to think that the matter
was Overdrawn and that the members
of the Massachusetts board were in
fuenced unGuly toward their home
products in an effort TO prove that
they were superior to those of other
states. The principal dealers in West
brook are ,Messrs. Hawkes.. Boothby.
Johnson, Dolley, Cobb, Skillings, Files
Lowell. Roberts and I.apointe. and in
the majority they citicise the finding
as unjust and untrue.
Investigation among the big con-
suners OF this product however
brought out the fact that a few Of
the dairies hereabouts, in the opinion
Of these gentlemen, could be brought
Up TO higher standard if a little ad-
dcd attention was given to. the rudi-
nentary principles OF cleanliness.
Other places where d large quantity
of the milk from local farmers is pur-
chased daily, cited as an example Of
the care taken in the case of one pro-
Queer who removed six cows at "a
time from the herd and cut out cot
tohSeed and other ingredients from
their feed for the sole, purpose of fur
nishing superior milk to babies, al
though there came to him no increase
II financial gain by doing so.
". NJ. Hawkes. of Westbrook. village
voiced tho opinion of the milk retail
ers as follows: II don't believe, in the
fr3t place; that satisfactory exanin-
atiol Of the existing condition has
been made. because the average, as
stated, would he much better than that
set dowa by the Massachusetts board.
it.seeins to me to be oYerdrawn." -t
II appears that there are two sides
to this question with the greater ma
Jority OF the milk dealers Of the opin-
ion that the criticism is unfair