The Washington times., 1917-09-09
DEALERS PREDICT
MILKAT 15CENTS
HERE THIS WINTER

Eight cents a pint and IS cents a
quart as the retail price for milk
during the coming winter is the pre-
diction being made today by those in
close touch with the dairy situation.
One ray OF hope there Is. namely.
that the price OF dairy feeds
may come down. The food commits
sion holds out hope that the prices of
certain dairy feeds, which in recent
months have risen at an alarming
rate, will be reduced, and II this is
true, dairymen say, the price need
not be so high.
At the annual fall convention Of the
Maryland and Virginia Milk Pro
ducers' Association, held at the Eb-
bitt Hotel yesterday. prices for the
coming winter months were discuss
ed at length. and farmers stated
frankly that at the present prices OF
dairy feeds, the cost of producing
milk after October /. when pastures
fail. will make II impossible to sell
milk at present prices without a loss.
Would Run Prices Up.
Thirty-five cents gallon to the
farmer for milk (. o. b. Washington.
II was stated. would he the lowest
price at which Il could be produced.
and many stated that they would sell
their herds for beef rather than pro-
duce milk for less than that figure.
Farmers received for the summer
months % and "a cents for milk de-
livered in Washington, and II the
price should advance as high as 80
cents, dealers state that the retail
price will have to advance proper
tionately. Costs OF the dealer also
have greatly increased, II Is stated.
and the question OF labor Is one
which is daily growing more serious
both for the farmer and the dealer.
In view OF the fact that the Food
Commission holds out the hope that
the price OF certain dairy feeds short
ly will come down, the producers yes
terday did not determine upon a price
to be asked for the winter months
Instead they appointed a special sub
committee OF the executive commit
teen with instructions to visit the
Food Commission, obtain all the data
possible as to the prospects for re-
duction In feeds. and report back to
the executive committee. which will
have authority to determine the price
to be asked.
The Food Commission has q special
committee Investigating the cost OF
production and distribution of milk.
and considerable Interest was OK
pressed at yesterdays meeting In the
outcome Of this investigation.
Consensus of Opinion.
The consensus OF opinion at yes
terday's meeting was that the price
OF milk should be made a. low by
tho farmer as conditions would per-
init. both for patriotic reasons and
also because an increase In tho retail
price to is cents would, II is believed,
greatly curtail consumption.
Officers were elected as foIiowsI
d. A. Slaughter, president! ], b. DIa-
mond, Jr., vice president! Y, q. Book
er, Jr., secretary-tFeasuTsr,
The following we're reelected mem
hers Of the executive committesI u. A.
4, J.. Birch, f. =. Walker,
y. T. Bowman, Dallas Berry, +. G. Har-
ley, George CrossmBn, J. Il Diamond,
jr., q. l.. Gardiner. RanieI W. Baker,
w, A. Waters, HcGilI Belt, Capt. Car
roll Power, Walter MObIey, and w. J.
Thomas. The following new mem
beTs OF the committee were chOseni
j. ID. Zeiler T. s. Minnick Isaac -.
vanMetre, Lucian Lynn, and c. u.
Clark.