The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1916-01-18
MILK PRODUCERS
WILL PUT UP FIGHT
Opposed to Proposed Increase in Bos-
ton & Maine Carrying Rate
Dairy Trend Is Downward.

At the annual meeting of the New
England Milk Producers association
held IN Boston last week, it was voted
by the association to contest the pro
posed increase in milk carrying rates
on the Boston Il Maine Secretary
Pattee S report was in part as follows.
= Under the most favorable condi
lions it will take from i've to 10
years TO stop the downward trend OF
milk production in New England. We
haven t half enough young stock to
keep up our herds. The manufacture
of milk products is disappearing.
Cheese making has gone, butter max
ing IS gong, cream is already drawn
milk increases as the supply grows
less. The time has come when New
England must face the problem of
more milk.
. Realizing that no lasting good
could come from temporary adjustment
of local problems or from periodical
wrangles and compromises in the mat
ter of price, the present management
OF the New England Milk Producers
association attacked the problem bv a
| satisfactory adjustment must rest.
| The first thing to be done was to
know what conditions actually existed
/ with respect to this business from one
end of the line to the other. BY
agreement of the parties and by rea-
| son of it's facilities for such work. the
| determination of the facts was assign
| ed to the Boston Chamber of com.
merce, all other agencies cooperating.
! The report covering this work has
been in your hands for FIVE months
It's terse yet comprehensive survey of
| conditions has drawn to it wide atten-
tion
1.-THE most far-reaching and most
easily corrected difficulties are those
| connected with transportation Com
plants have been fled with the inter
state commerce commission against
discrimination in rates between differ
ent points Petitions have been filed
asking for the abolition of preferen
tial rates based upon method of ship
ment and the general adjustment anC
equalization of transportation charges
The Boston & Maine railroad. which
} handles most of New England 8 mill
and cream Immediately proposed az
upward revision of its tariffs Th,
: proposed rates were promptly suspend
ed by the interstate commerce commits
sion and the several state commissions
at the instance of the shippers, pend
ing investigation and hearing. The
interstate commerce commission ha
publicly announced that it will con
duct a sweeping investigation of tn,
} milk transportation problem of New
England.
I" In the consideration of the grea
subject of conditions and charges 70
transportation of milk and cream th,
Z primary interest is that of the pro
! Queer. The next great step VIII b.
to bring about a system whereby pro
duction can be steadied and adjuste,
to market requirements.
" Another much needed reform is il
} the sanitary regulation of production
/ ADEQUATE and reasonable Regulation
!, should be had. Consumers have bee,
: made to sec their interests to be wit
the producers in a general way. TIL
a time is most opportune, never more ST
t for putting the New England mil
: and cream business on basis tina
g viii be profitabl and attractive whe
d properly handled. =