Putnam patriot., 1916-04-07

the cost of production at 5 cents per
quart. He said herds were decreasing
and that this meant that farms will
grow poorer and If the dairy industry
should be wholly abandoned all farm
ers would have to go to the poorhouse
as cows are absolutely necessary on a
farm.
| Henry Dorrance of Plainfield has
been twenty-four years in the business.
He stopped selling the Elm Farm
Company ten years ago and began
shipping to Providence. 1t cost him
5 cents a quart TO produce milk. He
said there was zone system in effect.
The price is fixed in Boston and then
| fixed for the producer according to the
distance he is from that city. Put.
nam, as far south as Plainfield, is in
! the ninth zone, which means that 8
cents less than the Boston price is
paid. South of Plainfield is the tenth
zone and 10 cents less is paid or one
! cent can less than in the ninth zone.
There are two cars running to Provi-
| dence ostensibly for two different con-
Germs, but in his opinion they were al
lied for if he didn't sell to one he could
not sell to the other. At one time
when it was possible 10 ship indepen.
| IDENTIFY in the baggage car he got 5
cents can more for his milk from an
independent dealer The baggage car
service was discontinued. In his opin-
ion the open car system swould be a
benefit and the farmers through their
associations could find an Independent
market tor their milk. Within five
yeais there has been a constant de-
crease in production going on. He
knew of one farm where cows had
been abolished and it only produced
the result on all farms where cattle are
not kept.
Simon Brewster of Jewett City, in
the tenth zone, said he got one cent n
can less than they did in Putnam and
Killingly. When milk soured the
contractor sent it back and charged
him 10 9 cents can for it.
James r. Hall of Ledyard shipped
to Providence over the Shore Line
from Westerly and found like condi-
tions to exist. There Is no competi-
ton and the same mode of sending out
contracts which the farmers can sign
or refuse, but if they refuse they can
not ship their milk.
A recess was taken until 2 O'Clock.
In the afternoon there was another
session lasting about an hour.
Jonas johnson of Woodstock stated
that at one time there were a good
many cans of milk shipped from Quin-
ebaug The production along this
branch had fallen off and the car was
| discontinued.
L.. II. HeaIey of North Woodstock,
past master of the state igrange and
secretary of the state board of agricul-
ture, said he kept twelve cows and had
shipped the Elm Farm Company since
1899 The dairying industry in Wind
ham County has materially decreased
Size OF herds has decreased and in
some instances discontinued. He
thought that by cooperation milk
could be marketed to better advantage
with an open car system.
In reply to a question from the ex-
I I sail haf ha
lieved that if access could be gained to
the market there was an opportunity
of changing for the better the economic
standing of this end of the state. This
section of the state is not up to other
sections as denoted by the state bank
report Transportation is the vital
link in the chain and if better trans
portation conditions are not forth
coming there is no hope for better con-
ditions here.
Professors Marcy, White and Jud-
kins of Storrs Agricultural College all
testified to the decrease In herds. fhis
was because the farmers say there is
no money in milk.
The examiner then said: 1t is appar-
ent that the Boston milk contractors,
from what they claim, can't get any
more money for the milk they are
handIidg; the railroad company repre-.
sents it is hauling milk at loss, while
the farmer says that ii sis costing him
more to produce milk than he is sell
ing il for; therefore it seems to be up TO
the commission TO arrive at an ade-
auate solution, If one can be found.
I (Laughter.l
In closing his case Mr.. Knox said at
the request of the examiner he had
tried to ind some farmers who favored
4 The leased ear system. lie had scour'
Ell the territory and found just one. He
did not appear however but sent let
ter which he would put in evidence to
complete the record. The letter was
not read.
Attorney Gartner put General Agent
| Whitten, who has .charge OF milk
shipments on the New Haven road, on
the stand and went into deal of tech
meal testimony. 1t was brought out
that the cost of shipping singly per
can was . l.2 times greater than by