Putnam patriot. [volume] (Putnam, Conn.) 1872-1962, 1916-09-01
MILK SITUATION
Strong Cooperation of Farmers Urged
as Only Solution of Difficult Problem
Committee Appointed TO Investigate and
Report

kSHOiA
4 meeting OF The directors and asSo-
eiate directors of the WindhamC ounty
Farmers Association was held in the
rooms Of the association in Putnam
Thursday. The purpose OF the meet.
ing was to discuss the changed eondi-
tions brought about by the abolition of
the leased car system. The prineipa
speakers were John G. Orcutl, secreta-
~ of the Boston Chamber of Com
merce on Agriculture, and Roy G.
Potts, Dairy Marketing Specialist of
the United States Department of Agri.
culture.
Mr.. 0rcutt outlined the conditions
under the leased car system and went
on to say that he did not think condi-
tions would change Immediately .Th :
the same cars would doubtless be run
and the same shippers would ship
milk TO Boston and Providence after
the first of October as now and that
luG OHtN OltAGtG1NN hOQih W NAlAh hAAtt
October LIST the railroads would pay
tor loading and unloading, icing and
other expense instead of the milk deal.
ers. He did not believe that an indie
pendent market could be gained indi-
vidnally. He said that the large con-
sumeFs in Boston wanted TO be assured
of supply and to know that they
could depend upon it. He said that
in his opinion the cost 10 produce milk
in Windham county based on the cost
per acre of tillable land in Nindham
county made competition prohibitive
with northern Maine, New Hamp-
shire and Vermont and he believed
tised, was the only solution of the
farmers OF Windham county. He
said that without united co operation
the farmers could not hope TO accom-.
plish anything. They must first unite
their units of production, aud then,
with something 10 sell, appoint a sci.
procure the most advantageous prices.
He likened the farm to any manufae-
turing enterprise where the labor of
hundreds resulted in an accumulated
product that was sold through an
agent Of the concern.
Mr.. Potts also dwelt almost entirely
on right organization. He said he was
asked for suggestions as to how TO
meet the most difficult problem that
is confronting the farmers of Wind
ham county and through his interest
had come from w ashington personally
to be present at the meeting. lie did
not agree with Mr.. circuit regarding
the continued running of cars as he
felt that if the railroads found that
they could carry the milk now being
carried in two cars in one car, one car
would be discontinued and if they
found that that car was being run al a
loss that car would be discontinued
and appeal would have to be, made TO
the interstate commerce commission
and the farmers would have TO show
that they had sufficient quantity of
furnished. He said that in his opin-
ion the only way to meet the situation
was by strong organization. To have
the farmers under contract TO furnish
milk to the central organization with
liquidated dam ,ges to be colleetable IL
they did not live up to their agreement.
Then with this assured quantity of
product to go into the market through
a selling agent and dispose of IL. He
thought the first thing to be done was
to take survey of the county and to
find out Just how much milk is pro-
duced in the various sections and to
then find out how many farmers would
join such an association. He said that
If assured of GO operation the United
States dairy department would send
man into the county for ten days or
more TO assist in making such sur
vey.
An educational campaign to show
the farmers the benefits to be derived
from such a cooperative plan was the
rirst thing urged so that the farmers
would get together and do the work
themselves and not stand back wait
ing flor something TO happen or for
others to take the initiative. Upon
the farmers themselves, said both
speakers, depends the future success of
the dairy industry of New England.
A committee consisting OF Henry
Dorrance, Plainfield, }. NJ. Woodward
of Hampton aud +. ID. Harrison of
Woodstock was appointed to inyesti-
gate the situation and report back TO
future meeting Of the association.
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