Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-09-10
M|[KPR0DUCERS
MAY RAISE PRICE
Say That Greatly Increased
Cost Has Taken Away
Their Profits.

Whether or not Washington consum-
ers Of milk will have to pay an in
| creased price for milk in the future
| depends largely upon the settlement
which shall be reached by the bureau
of markets Of the Department of Agri-
| culture, the Maryland and Virginia
Milk Producers Association and pro-
prietors of local dairies in conference
| following meeting of the producers
here yesterday.
Representatives of the 1000 Mary
ship milk to the National Capital gath
| cred at the Raleigh Hotel yesterday
to discuss the high cost of production
| of milk and what they claim to be
the inadequate prices which they re-
ceive from local dealers
| AS a result of the conference. at
which more than $50 were present a
| committee was appointed to put the
the bureau of markets to join the
| conference and help in fair and
! equitable settlement of the matter.
| which overnight threatens probably to
raise the price of milk to local con-
sumers.
Production Cost has Increased.
The producers destre'a higher price
| for their raw product on the ground
that the cost of production has in
creased so in recent months that they
cannot continue longer in the business
| unless they get more money for their
milk.
A resolution for the information"
as it was phrased, of the committee
appointed by the producers association
was adopted. giving it as the sense OF OF
milk should be not less than "a cents
a gallon to the producers and the
summer price should be not less than
20 cents gallon.
The producers now get between is
and 1s cents gallon for their milk
during the spring. summer and fall. The
price paid for milk during the four
months of winter is approximately
say they are making little profit at these
rates, and that the cost Of cattle feed Is
going up so that soon they will be pro-
ducing at loss
Westmoreland Davis, Leesburg: Va.
chairman William H. Chambers, Barnes
vile, Md: F; r Bowman, Remington.
McGill Belt. Dickerson. Md. Frank S.
Walker, Woodberry Forest Va, and Her
man E. Gasch. Washington, D. C. This
committee was empowered by the con-
yention to make an inquiry as to the
cost Of distribution Of milk a reasonable
price which it ought to bring the pro-
ducer in view of the increase in every
item Of expense in production, according
to the claims OF the producers. and was
empowered also to confer with the bu-
reau Of markets and with local milkmen
in order to get harmonious and equi-
table settlement Of the whole matter.
Will Report September %.
The committee will bring in it's report
before a meeting of the association to be
called here September 90, when it is ex-
pected that some final action will be TAX
en-. and 1t will be definitely known
whether or not Washington dairymen will
have to pay more for milk than at pres
ent.
The ultimate consumer, according to the
milk producers of Maryland and virginia.
pays a rate Of 9 or 10 cents a quart
or 40 cents a gallon. for his bottled
milk, the whole year round. regardless
Of the fact that the local dairymen nav
fhe milk producers the low summer rate"
of Is or 16 cents gallon, eight months
out of the year.
with wheat at fancy prices, and cot
tonseed meal selling at $40 a ton, and
labor higher priced than ever. the milk
producers say that absolutely all their
profits are in danger of being wiped
out, and that 1t Is practically q neces-
sity for them to charge higher prices
per gallon for their product. They