Semi-weekly herald., 1914-03-30
THE OTHER SIDE OF
THE MILK ORDINANCE
Editor Herald:

Editor Herald:
The commissioners of the city of
Durango have been approached with
a view of passing milk ordinance
and that ordinance has been presented
in a very able manner by the Civic
club ladies and we do not doubt for
one moment but that they honestly
believe that such an ordinance would
be of inestimabe value to the citizens
of Durango. However, all arguments
have two sides to them and we be-
lieve it is only fair that the citizens
should have the other side presented
The paramount question is, to the
writer, that of cost. Are the condi-
tions of our dairies such as to justify
the increased cost of milk which will,
of necessity follow the passing of the
ordinance as now before the commits
sioners? For instance, a dairyman
with one hundred fifty cows will be
required to pay, each year, fee Of
$4,000 to have his cows tested for tu-
berculosis; and it is admitted that the
first test made is not necessarily
final but may have to be repeated in
six months. In addition to this,
every time the dairyman purchases
a new COW or places a new cow in his
dairy, there is an additional fee of
$500 for each COW so examined. This
expense is justly charged to the dairy
man, but. will he pay it? No, not if
he does as all other merchants do, he
will add it to the cost of the milk to
the consumer, treating it in the same
manner as freight and other over
head expenses are charged.
The dairyman is also required to
deliver milk on the doorsteps or in the
houses of consumers at fifty degrees
Farenheit 1t is claimed that unless
milk is delivered at this temperature
that the microbes or bacteria, or
whatever the exact technical name
may ot, WIN ihtltdot anu SO
rapidly that the milk becomes unfit
for human consumption. The state
ment is made that large number Of
our children are made seriously i'll
during the hot weather by drinking
milk which has been delivered at the
wrong temperature, but, have they
taken into consideration that during
the hot weather children are also
consuming a large quantity of fruit,
such as Strawberries, raspberries,
cherries, and, in some instances, green
apples, which also have a tendency,
If our memory Of childhood days is
not at fault, to produce identically the
same effect as it is claimed this faul-
tily delivered milk produces. Now
then, if this milk has to be delivered
at this temperature, it will require
special wagons, as the present wagons
are most assuredly not adapted to
carrying ice. An added expense
which will also have TO be recovered
from tne cOnsuinef.
1t is not disputed, we think, that
our dairymen are not making money
at present rates, namely ten and
twelve quarts for dollar or from
8H to 10 cents per quart. There is
no question in the writer's mind but
that the dairmen will be compelled to
charge not less than 10 cents TO large
consumers and 12h cents to the aver
age one to two quart buyer. AT this
rate the person buying two quarts Of
milk day, taking 30 days for the
average, will be required to pay s7.05
per month for milk, allowing nothing
whatever for cream, which will, Of
course, go up in proportion.
The writer asks is it fair to compel
people who are earning $500 to $3.50
per day, and these are the people who
have children to bring up in large
number of instances than those earn
ing $500 and upwards, to pay out
$3.50 per month for necessity, when
the health conditions Of Durango cer-