The Washington times., 1916-10-18

That cooperation In milk production
can work both ways toward the mid
dle-from both the producer and CON
sumer toward profit to-, each-is the
candid opinion of Bradford Knapp ana
other experts Of the Department OIL
Agriculture who have been Watching
the efforts Of the Maryland and viz
ginia MIX Producers Association to-
ward securing q municipal dairy In the
District.
Cooperation by the consumer ia
new idea on which the producers as
sociation representatives expect to be-
gin an Investigation today. and is sug-
gested By the efforts Of Mr.. Knapp.
who has charge Of the promotion OF
cooperation and extension work In the
South for the Department OF Asricu'-
ture. 10.
Mr.. Knapp has been In charge OF the
work Of organizing all kinds Of com
munity effort toward lettering farming
and dairying conditions through the
South. and has been particularly inter
ested In the smaller groups rather than
the big organizations. In connection
with this work he has found in one or
two sections the necessity OF securing
closer interest by the consumer In the
marketing Of his prosdu ,S. ,,,v .,,,,v
particularly, Mr. Knapp has become
convinced that local conditions made u
Imperative for the consumers themselves
to take part Of the burden Of the over
head expenses Of distribution.
It has been found by the milk pro.
ducers in all sections OF the country that
practically the heaviest item In the
Journey of milk from the COW to break
fast food lay In the distribution sys-
tenn. Milk that costs IS cents per gallon
TO produce cannot be marketed for less
than "A to % cents per gallon. according
to the locality In which the distribution
takes place. and the kind OF distribution
margain Of safety for excess milk over
the demands OF the consumer. or I'M
terest on the investment OF the distrio-
utor or profit.
Suggested Improvement.
In Greenville, 8. c., Mr.. Knapp found
such conditions prevailing. and he sug
gested that the consumers be asked to
bear some of the burden of expense.
This was regarded by the consumers an
a rather bold move. as they pointed out
they were already bearing the burden OF
expense. Mr.. Knapp's scheme was 10
have the consumers. through the bank
ers and men with extra capital In the
pany. Each OF those entering the coP-
pany would invest certain amount.
agreeing that they would take only
per cent interest on their Investment.
with the funds thus secured a cream
cry was built to take up the excess
production and a distribution system
provided. The scheme has worked SO
| we'll that it's fame spread. and now
there are three places in South Carolina
where the consumers are helping out
Il is pointed out by Mr.. Knapp that
| there IL no loss to anyone. The farmer
is getting better prices for his product
butter at a. reduced cost and at the
.nme time, the money that Is Invested ~
the ureamery and distributing center y
! paving as good a rate OF Interest as y
| It we're Invested In municipal or railroad
! band Considered the best forms OF m
vestment.
Packers Adopt Scheme.
The scheme has also been put into
effect in at least one packing house pro
Ject In South Carolina Tor the purpos,
OF bringing a higher price for meat Il
the producer and a lower price to thu
consumer. In all of the projects thai
have so far been started the scheme ha'
worked out in exactly the terms th'
promoters expected II would.
The building up of system OF com
immunity responsibility, and Standardized
ton OF product Ia becoming one OF thu
big things In the work of the Depart
ment OF Agriculture. according to thu
experts. During the past two or thre'
years the work OF the division of mar
kets in promoting cooperative buyin!
and selling and the extension worl
through county agents has resulted y
the establishment of thousands of agri
cultural associations and corporation
Iron gigantic concerns taking in groul
of counties such as the Virginia Produc
Exchange OF the eastern shore of Vir