Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1910-04-28
Mix Produoers Give Mo Quarter.

]
tractors and propose to drive those cit
gentlemen to grinding chalk and drawin
water after May 1st to relieve a perpetua
milk drouth II they do not consent to pa
the farmers the winter price for lactea
fluid during the summer months. Las
winters price was Az cents for can o
Sc quarts, or q little over five cents
quart, which is but very slight advance
above what milk is worth for butter anC
cheese. When the value of skim milk Il
considered, with round hogs at s14 pei
hundred, veal here it is today, and but
ter quoted at "a cents in the market
there is no question but that the bach
sections can make more money to utilize
milk at home than to send ii all away
from the farm at rate hardly above the
cost of its production.
The milk producers appear to have the
game in their own hands II they will only
stand together and present firm front to
the enemy. They are organized, even
way of on the bills in Vermont, New
Hampshire, Maine, Massachusetts, and
Rhode Island into the Boston Co-opera-
tive Milk Producers' company and il they
but insist on fair prices for their product,
such prices will have to be paid or the
roads to Boston will be no milky ways
hereafter. The farmers will not need to
cry over spilled milk or sour milk either
for there are plenty OF creameries, plenty
OF separators, plenty Of cheese factories in
The country, and pigs and calves are
ready to grow like weeds and sell like
orchids on what Boston needs.
The contractors, il they cannot teach
their customers to prefer a solution of
chalk TO good rich milk, which is unlike
ly, must either break the farmers union
or pay the price demanded, and the
farmers can force them to the latter al
tentative.
The contractors have already offered to
compromise. During the month Of April
they have for the first time paid winter
prices and they are willing to do the same
in September, which will give the pro-
ducers summer prices for only four
months in the year, from May to August,
inclusive, and that is one month less than
in 1909, and two months less than in the
previous year. 1t will also permit the
dealers to continue the same prices to
their customers. The Graustein and
Whiting concerns include in their agree
ments provision that ia aase weather
conditions are such ss really to increase
the cost Of milk producing, they will
make corresponding increase in their
price for the producers.
The farmers, however, are an uncom-
promising lot and see nothing alluring
in an opportunity to secure a fair price
for milk for one summer month when
they can just as well have a good price
the whole six months, Consequently,
the contractors' offer was not received
with enthusiasm and not accepted.
No milk has been put on the car at
Randolph since the first Of April, and the
Producers unions in this section intend
that none shall be put on OF any station
from Montpelier to White River Junction
after The first OF May, if winter prices are
not to prevail all summer. b. A. Man
chester, who represented the unions at (
the recent conference with the contrac- I
tors in Boston, will start out Monday /
on the early train and make the I
trip down from Montpelier on the morn
ing mail train, which carries milk to Bos-
ton. His purpose in this little excursion
Is TO get OF at every station and present
The situation to Bny farmers who may not
understand it and prevent, II possible
any further shipments from any point in
his territory. He has lately heard from
James A. Stacey Of Royalton, who was in
Boston last week and saw the senior
MEMBER OF Hood a Sons, large milk con-
ractors, hut found him not yet ready to
Tield 10 the producers terms. Yesterday
he farmers met in South Royalton to
make arrangements to handle their milk
o advantage after May /.
Mr.. Manchester has also had letter,
lated Saturday, the 23d, from g. r. Mil ,
er OF Boston, manager of the White !
ross Mix company, in which he says
be local plant will stand BY this schedule /
/ prices for the summer months:- April, /
1.60; May, S1.4O; June, $3.50; July, i
/. 40; August, s1.7O; September, S1.7O- !
n average OF S1.51 2-3 for the entire pc !
iod; while some OF the patrons OF the :
White Cross think an average OF s1.60 is 4
one too high. b
Yesterday morning Hood q Sons put .
ut a circular announcing a drop in the n
rice OF milk from % to rs cents a can h
nd notifying the farmers that they we're
able to prosecution under the Sherman q
i. The firm also orders return Of its I,
ms April so b. those farmers wbo do !
OF propose to furnish it milk after q
iay /. 81
The milk producers from Montpelier to :
,uth Royalton will hold a council OF u
ar at the Randolph Inn tomorrow to m
nsider further moves against the n
iemy's position. er