The Detroit times., 1913-05-05
Head of State Dairy and i God
Department Says It's Better
and Cheaper to DO So
SHOULD BUY SUPPLIES
FROM LOCAL DEALERS
Product So Obtained Far Ahead
of Mail Order House
Offerings


In a bulletin issued this morning,
State Dairy and Food Commissioners
Helme blames the influence OF certain
manufacturers OF ready mixed paint
for the refusal OF the legislature 10
pass the pure pain bill, fathered by
his department, and advises Michi-
gan people TO mix their own paints,
buying the material from local dealers
to insure its purity. The bulletin
follows;
"One of the few bills urged by this
department that failed OF passage in
the last legislature was the pure paint
bill 1t was introduced by Senator
McNaughton and passed the senate
by a practically unanimous vote. In
the house It was referred 10 the COM
mittee on state affairs, and in spite
OF the pleas OF Senator McNaughton
and the head OF this department. the
bill was notreported out. This action
Is attributed TO the opposition OF GER
tain manufacturers OF mixed paints.
The bill simply provided that the
that the manufacturers OF mixed
paints should state upon the label on
the can the ingredients composing
the same. not the proportions, but
simply the names Of the ingredients.
"First-class paint is made from
white lead or zinc oxide. mixed with
linseed oil. turpentine or japan. These
| five ingredients are practically all
that are used in frst-class paints.
| Much paint Is adulterated by using
crude petroleum and cheap pigments
and II was only natural that the man
ufaoturers OF such paints should op-
pose placing on the label the names
OF such ingredients. The necessity of
pure paint law Is beyond question.
The failure OF its passage should slim
ulate the consumer to mix his own
paints No better paint can be pro
duced than that made by mixing pure
ground white lead with pure linseed
oil. Such a paint Is not only better
than most mixed paints, but II Is
cheaper.
Local merchants in the state sell
pure white lead for tn cents per
pound and pure boiled linseed oil can
be obtained at retail for 90 cents
gallon. One hundred pounds OF white
lead mixed with six gallons Of linseed
oil will make eight gallons OF paint
suitable for first coat This mixture
would cost at retail $11.40 or at the
rate OF SLAP per gallon. One gallon
OF oil less should be used for second
coat. Compare this price Of 81. per
gallon with the price charged by Chi
cago mail order houses for their
mixed paints. One of the large mail
order houses charges sl.55 per gallon
for mixed paint ready for use. another
charges $l45 per gallon. TO this
should be added the freight rate from
Chicago. 1t will thus be seen that the
consumer can buy his materials OF
the local merchant and mix them HIM
self at a less cost than he can buy OF
Chicago mail order houses and prob
ably get a better paint. Several con
sumers could join together and by
buying a barrel OF linseed oil get II
OF their local dealer for about 10 cents
gallon less than the price quoted
above.
This department will furnish q bull
letin showing the names or manuiac-
turers who make pure linseed oil. A
white lead paint can be made any
shade of slate color by the addition
OF chrome yellow II It Is desired to
paint the barn red. use six pounds OF
dry Venetian or mineral red 10 each
gallon Of oil. The Venetian red can
be bought for about n cen' and one
half per pound, which would make
the barn paint cost about 20 cents a
gallon as against 90 cents and "a
cents charged by Chicago mail order
houses. Until the manufacturers or
mixed paints are willing TO consent TO
the passage OF a paint law whereby
the ingredients contained In their
paints shall be stated on the label,
the safest way for the Michigan con.
sumner is to buy pure white lead and
linseed oil and mix his own paints.
JAS. w. HELME,
State Dairy & Food Commissioner.