The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-11-27
wAsTEFUL MILK METHODS.

and distribution of anything, and food
products in particular, becomes unre-
munerative for one reason or another
about the only remedy that is con-
sidered or applied is an increase in its
price by the producer. and the distrio-
utor, which is passed on to the con-
sumner, who has no recourse but TO
accept it or go without. But this isn't
the idea of G.. Howard Dawson in re-
spect to the production of milk anc
the increasing prices that it appears
necessary to fix for it. Mr.. Dawson,
who is chairman of the executive COM
mittee of the National Agricultural
society and himself a New York milk
producer on a considerable scale, Is
of the opinion, after having made an
exhaustive study of the subject that
the milk industry the country over IS
suffering from a prevalence OF an
appalling amount of economic waste.
"The real question in the milk in
dustry," says Mr.. Dawson, us not
what shall the farmer be paid for his
milk?' but rather how can we elimi-
nate the economic waste now preva-
lent in all divisions of the industry
"It is true at the present time" he
continues, that the great majority of
milk producing farmers are making
little or no money out of their worl:
and there is also little doubt that in
vestigation would show that the dis
tributors are making only moderate
profits. 1t does not follow, however,
- cit
is to pay more money to the farmer
and then pass the burden on to the
shoulders of the general pubic. This
might be the correct solution but for
the fact that there is an appalling
amount of economic waste IN the milk
industry all along the line from the
beginnings at the farm to the end at
the home of the consumer.
| Let US note some of the waste at
the farmers end of the business. First
of all, there are comparatively few
farms where the dairy herd is one of
known quality and quantity. On hun
dreds of farms there is still to be
found the old-time dairy COW known
as the 'boarder.' By that I mean the
low-grade animal that does not pay
for her keep. The wholesale pro-
duction of milk on such a basis of
course entails large economic waste.
What would it cost nowadays to pro-
duce an automobile, say, if the manu-
facturers had persisted in keeping in
service the tools and other machin-
cry that were first used in the manu-
facture of the motor car? Hardly a
farmer living would be able to afford
the ownership of an automobile ii
such were the case. Nevertheless, II
q. is such conditions that prevail O..
many of the dairy farms of the
country.
ION how many dairy farms are
there scientific cropping operations
How many milk producers understand
the correct principles of dairy feed
ing? How many of them heedlessly
allow hundreds of dollars of valua-
BILE fertilizer to wash away the rain:
and SHOWS? And these are only few
, of~the items of waste at the produc
ton end of the business.
cat the distribution end perhaps tn,
largest single item of waste is tn,
needless duplication of delivery sys
= TENS Why should not spne or tive
properly managed milk delivery sys
: TENS suffice for any large city? In
stead we find a number of companies
each maintaining it's own complete
! delivery machinery and each to
large extent covering the ground o
the other.
s who should be blamed for all this
/. Ourselves most of all. In the presen
Y state of public opinion it is doubtful
f if we would permit milk dealers t
e consolidate, thereby eliminating tn
e duplication of delivery systems.
: vigorous and educated public opinio
2 would very shortly work cut som
= kind of a cooperative plan whic
IS would put an end to the present da
i haphazard dairying methods of tn
y farmers.
e But we do not rise to cur oppo1
e tunities. We prefer, as New York die
J. to win temporary peace thru the &C
ceptance of a further boost in price
This, in my judgment, will prove poe
business unless at the same time som
g sound movement is started looking
lie the elimination of the evils in til
p business. For. without a hetterme1
is of the economic factors of the mil
E. business. there is little in sight fl
es the consumer but the acceptance
re still higher price levels
y,
e. MOVIES GETTING BETTER.