The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-07-08
NEAR MILK FAMINE
Supply of Milk Has Been Greatly
Diminished.
DrOuth Turns Pastures and
Meadows Sere and Brown.
PRICE TO GO HIGHER
''Must Feed Cows or No Milk, :"
Says KutZ.
"Where Are We to Find This
Feedw- StrattOn.

eTJnIess rain comes soon, giving
farmers chance to SOW sorghum for
fall and winter feed, Topeka will suffer
a milk famine" This is the opinion of
the dairymen and milk distributors Of
Shawnee county and Topeka.
The price of milk has been raised
twice in the past two weel6s-the price
to go into effect Monday being ten cents
a quart-simply because the pastures
are burned to a crisp and dairymer
have been compelled to fed their cows
expensive feed.
Interviews with the owners and Of
ficers of The three principal retail milk
establishments and visit to the Dud-
ley farm on which A L Stratton ope-
rates one of Topeka's best diaries indi-
cate the serious milk problem which
these men have to meet and the near
milk famine Topeka folks may have to
endure.
THE situation is just this said L.
r. Manley manager of the Topeka
Pure Milk company. I'VE must pay
the farmers and dairy men a price for
milk which they can afford to take and
come out even on the cost of feed.
Practically every dairynan is feeding
his cows mill feed and buying hay.
Both are scarce and high priced The
increase we are compelled to pay for
milk is much greater than the increase
standing all the burden of this drouth
we feel we can
THE question is this continued Mr..
Manley, ARE We going to get rain soon
enough to be able to raise fall and win
ter feed? If not, within a short time
the inability Of the farmers to raise feed
or purchase it at a reasonable figure
VIII send the price of milk higher than
it is now"
I'VE must stand this drouth," said
S. r. Kutz, president of the Producers
Creamery company. Our men come in
here and talk over the unusual condi-
tons and some are inclined to become
discouraged and want to sell their COWS
and quit the dairy business. The fact
is apparent to all who think CAREFUL,
that the scarcity of feed will naturally
increase the cost Of milk
18th the increased cost of produc-
ton comes naturally an increased cost
TO the consumer and we scarcely break
even We are in the milk business and
want 10 supply our customers with the
best milk possible and at Just as low
a figure as possible but we are facing
an extraordinary drouth. We do all
we can to encourage the dairyrncn and
farmers to hold onto their stock They
are in fact the only class who are able
to realize anything from their farms.
The man with the crop alone has prac-
tically lost everything. while the man
who owns few cows is able to receive,
LtNuAAS even ltOll the use OF nigh D~lapU
Feed. The Producers patrons are going
TO get the best milk as in the past but
quantity and price are our vital ques-
lions.
Look out there at my pasture. see
how dry it is? Come to the harm and
take a look at this pile of hay2 How
long do you reckon I can feed forty
COWS on that little bunch of five or six
tons?' asked A. L. Stratton, manager
Of the Dudley Farm Dairy. Water is
getting scarce. Have to water the en-
tire herd at the barn and the we'll
there is lower than ever before. Look
about over the fields and hillsides and
see if you can count any haystacks.
Do you see any green meadows"
Everything is gone Pastures are
dry as finder, alfalfa failed to grow d
second crop. Blue grass and Glove.
meadows are dead apparently, and corn
is curling up under the blistering sun.
A trip to the country is evidence enough
of the reason for the increase in cost
Of milk to you and me.
Where the price Of milk Will go to
is difficult to determine just now" con-
tinued Mr.. Stratton. I'VE will be COM
PEELED to ship in feed and where we will
get it and what price we will have tC
pay are questions we will have to meet
later In the meantime. we are doing
our very best to give. our patrons the
highest grade OF milk possible. We are
going 20 hold it up to high stsndard
and we believe our customers win bs
COnsiderate enough to see how utterly
kQipOssible it is to produce and deliver
&nilk under present conditions 1T lower
rates.
No doubt the men who are handling
the milk situation in Topeka are doing
their dead level best to find an ade-
Quate supply and at a cost which viii
bolster up the dairymen and help them