The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1916-01-27
IMPORTANT TO SOM
ERSfT DA|RYMEN
Possibilities for Shipping
Whole Milk
No Doubt But the Milk Supply of
Larger Centers Has Been Growing
Smaller

There is no doubt that the milk
supply of the large centers has been
getting shorter and shorter during the
past few years. From Boston, New
York and Philadelphia, etc. comes
the word that dealers are considering
territory at much greater shipping
distances than ever before. One firm
has already been considering the
possibilities of this section and others
demand for whole milk brings up
some very important points for SOM
erset dairymen to consider
There is one gratifying element
pretty apparent; This larger mar
ket for whole milk will have ten
dency to raise the price of butter fat.
The added demand will be new
form of competition for all dairy
products. Prices will have to ad
vance enough to induce the keeping
of cows by those who have never kept
them, or to cause those who have
herds to add to their numbers. So
far as the Kennebec Valley is con-
cerned this is good omen. We
have a more pronounced advantage
over other parts of the country, in the
eastern markets, in dairying than in
any other branch of agriculture. Bet
ter prices for COW products kept
would give us a good generous boost
along the road to prosperity.
While we should all welcome an
advance in the price of dairy pro-
ducts it is not altogether certain that
we should encourage the establish
ment of whole milk routes in this
county. We have already some
splendid creameries. They are all
anxious for more business and We as
sumo are deserving of it. Theoreti-
cally, they should be able to pay the
producer as high prices as he could
get from any whole milk buyer. They
will certainly have to- If they don't
the buyers of whole milk will come in
here and capture large share of the
business.
Looking at the situation in broad
way, it would be an economic mistake
for a cream gatherer to follow milk
team over the same road, one picking
up the dairy products at one farm
and the other at the next. Some
body would have to pay for this need
less duplication of effort. Ultimately
the cost of lost time and unnecessary
equipment would be divided between
the producer and consumer We
ought to be able to figure out a bet
ter arrangement If whole milk is to
be gathered and shipped from this
section. it ought to operate on GER
tain routes to the exclusion of cream
gathering AS a matter of fact, if
full advantage of the market can be
obtained through butter fat, as now
handled by the creameres, we don't
want any whole milk shipping at all.
There are several reasons for this,
among them the advantage of feeding
the skmmilk and the one already
mentioned which considers the unde-
STABILITY of duplicate cost of collec-
ton.
The creameries have a responsible
ty in this matter II such is the case,
they should satisfy their patrons that
they are obtaining from the sale Of
butter and cream all that they could
If they shipped the milk whole. They
should also keep close watch of the
situation and II greater returns. now
or later on. can be obtained by ship
ping the whole milk. they should be
ready to handle the business that way.
Euxaa Aust la Paid