The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1916-09-23
MUNICIPAL DAIRY IS
URGED BY PRODUCERS
Farmers Committee Also Rec
lmmends System Of CO.
+ operative Distribution.
CONTINUED from First Paso)


aeeier takes the milk, stores, pasteur-
ouatomers, at wholesale, for prices
ranging down as low as 20 cents.
without exception, all of the deal.
who met the 81 esnss K wss i
possible to make a profit. and doubt
ful IL loss could be avoided, In an
swsr to the direct question. II seemed
al. pusimsss ehe possib iii Of eare
Ing any profit at all would begin at
shout 2S cents per gallon. One deal
or tnterpolated that even at 20 cents
!, Rroft would only be possible II
pact and concentrated.
Margin of IL Cents> Needed.
Zone dealer said that a margin OF
u cents per gallon must be assured to
the dealer on wholesale milk. IL 1t were
10 bear its reasonable share of the ex-
psnses and earn its fair proportion of
. reasonable profit from the entire
business. So nearly as we can calcu-
lhte. the average cost TO the dealer,
Tor the entire year, per quart of milk,
Y about 4.75. IL we assume that a
order TO distribute the wholesale milk.
this would mean a price of about 81
cents per gallon on milk at wholesale,
the year around.
Nne pTOpleNl3 OF the mix dealers
are numerous and difficult. Some Gus
toners even demand that milk be put
UP In half pint bottles to be sold over
the counter. Drivers making deliveries
Z? stores are frequently delayed while
clerk or manager waits on customers.
Residents OF apartment houses expect
their milk 10 be brought to their doors,
though IL may require climbing sew
erai flights of stairs to leave o pint
ys1his subject of bottles WAS dis
dussed at length. One dealer stated
mat during a period of three years he
Aept a bottle account. During that
qme he was handling a daily average
of 1,S00 to 1900 gallons OF milk. He
found that the cost of bottles through
eDressak,ase. losses, ETC., were. amounted
TIT was agreed that losses Of bottles
represent about 1 cent per gallon. and
pat pay roll expenses aggregate 6
Explained the Law.
iNHealth Officer Woodward explained
the law and regulations regarding milk
BOTTLES, indicating that there is a seri-
gus inefficiency at this point.
Abr. woodward told the committee of
NE experience of Wichita, Kan, which
come years ago adopted a rule re-
curing milk consumers to own the bot
qes. His understanding was that the
taan was so well organized that it
Proved highly effective.
1T has been said that from one-half
20 three-quarters of the milk distributed
Washington Is classed as wholesale
blk. The other one-fourth to one
Half Is retailed directly to the consumer
Ny the milkmen. The bulk of this d.
nect distribution sells at 9 cents per
quart. So called special milk is sold
~ 10 cents, IL cents and still higher.
1.-THE committee made a special ef-
tort to determine what special milk Is.
The dealers were exceedingly frank
about 1t. One said that special milk
Factory percentage of butter fat. bought
tust like other milk. at from 20 cents up
70 possibly Is Cents per gallon; and 1t
was special simply because 1t was
"a dealer said he had at one time sold
what he called a special milk but had
discontinued Il because he didn't like
70 fake the public
Will Ignore Especial" Milk.
"Dr. Woodward said that as a result
d its experience. his department had
determined to ignore the special milk
in the future. In theory, 1t was agreed
that special milk is presumed to be
high in butter fat contents and low In
bacterial count. DR.. Woodwards ex-
preston vaguely conveyed to your com.
rnittee that special milk was much
more apt to be special milk because II
was labeled special.
"The dealers were asked why, IL there
we're no profit in the wholesale end OF
their business they should not cut Out
that department and confine themselves
To retail. They replied that this woulc
Invite outside competition, which woult
Bring milk here from long distances anC
ultimately further cut the prices.
The committee was particularly curl
Gus to know what ultimately became Of
Wholesale milk. Who drinks 1t, anC
what does he pay for It? The answer
was at least illuminating.
1T Is sold over the counters of gro
oeries. and is served to customers II
hotels and restaurants. In a restaurant
the customer gets half pint when HI
orders a glass Of milk. He pays cents