The Bridgeport evening farmer. [volume] (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1866-1917, 1917-01-03
HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLAR
COMPANY TO CONDUCT MILK
DISTRIBUTING PLANT HERE
Building and Equipment Like That in Newark
Costing $4,000 Is Favored by Directors of
Milk Producers AssO
One hundred thousand dollars will

One hundred thousand dollars will
| be the figure at which a company for
the ownership of cooperative milk
plant, to be located in or near
Bridgeport, will be Incorporated, &C.
| cording to vote Of the Western Con-
necticut Milk Producers association
in the Odd Fellows building in Dan
bury Saturday afternoon.
A committee was appointed to draw
UP incorporation papers to be COM
pleted as soon as possible. The COM
mittee consists Of William c. john
son, of Newtown; e. r. Haftwell, OF
New Milford; 8. ]. Wright, county
agent of the Fairfield County Farm
Bureau, and H. c. Coburn, of Brook
field. A meeting of directors will
probably be held early this week.
Seven names at least are required
for the articles Of incorporation, and
$4,000 is to be subscribed before
there may be a meeting of the stock
holders Of the prospective company
to transact business. 1t Is expected
that this legal requirement may be
filled within few days, and the sum
oversubscribed to start.
Although no official vote was taken
on the matter, the consensus Of opin-
ion favored a plant similar in size
to one in Newark, N. j., costing APP
proximately $4,000 and owned by
five dealers. The extent of the oper-
ations OF such a proposed company
was not decided, but in the articles Of
incorporation prepared by Prof g. c..
Smith. of Storrs Agricultural college
and read before the meeting, the aims
of such a cooperative company were
made broad in order that in the flu
ture, if found wise and profitable, the
company could deal in all dairy pro-
ducts, and eventually in farm pro-
ducts. The suggestion was not acted
upon ohicially.
Professor Smith has conferred sew
eral times with the milk producers of
the association, and at the meeting
was asked several questions concern
ing the formation and legal status OF
such an organizations. He read the
tentative Incorporation paper which
he had drawn up, and q motion was
made to accept the same but was
withdrawn when it was brought
again before the meeting that the
committee had been given full pow
ers to draw up the incorporation pa
pers Professor Smiths counsel was
appreciated by the men. and his pro-
posed incorporation paper was left
with the COMMITTEES. 1t Is probable
that much Of Professor Smiths work,
which was the result Of careful In
vestigation and thought, will be en-
bodied in the final report Of the
committee appointed by the associa-
ton.
The details OF the proposed stock
company have not as yet been work
ed out. but it is proposed that the
stock shall be issued first to milk
producers only who are members of
the Western Connecticut Milk Pro-
ducers' association. In case more
money is needed, it was suggested,
1t might be borrowed. But sentiment
favored an issuing of stock only to
members Of the association at first.
To enlarge and make more efficient
the w. c.. M p. A. the directors were
ordered by vote OF the association
to select an organizer to solicit new
members and build up interest in the
movement among the farmers. AT
subsequent meeting of the directory
H. c.. Coburn, of Brookfield. and Ely
Greenblatt, of Newtown, were chosen.
These organizers will go into the field
Immediately, enlarging the associa-
ton, increasing it's membership and
its available funds, and will thus In
crease it's ability to back the move
nnent for the cooperative plant.
The company is to purchase milk
from the stockholders, pasteurize it
and sell to retailers, according to
proposed plans. At present, the pro-
ducers seem to favor a distribution to
retailers only, although 1t has not been
decided that the plant should not dis
tribute to the consumer.
The act taken by the association
Saturday at it's, meeting adjourned
from the quarterly meeting OF two
weeks previous was one towards
which Investigations, plans and dis
cussions had tended for weeks past.
A committee had been investigating
various milk plants and reports to
the producers assembled.
Sentiment in favor fof the cooper
alive ownership Of such q milk plant
has been growing for months, and
members of the association have
reached such a state Of enthusiasm
now for the enterprise that they are
anxious that plans should be for
warded Just eas rapidly as 10 wise
and practicable.
1t will, of course, be impossible for
the association to have the plant
ready for operation early in April,
when the new strictSr milk regpia-
lions are to be enforced In Bridge
port. There seems to be no definite
forecast Of when the plant will be
ready for operation, but sentiment of
men at the meeting Favored pushing
the matter, and they are hoping to
have it ready this coming summer,
If possible.
The restrictions on milk producers
which Bridgeport is to enforce In
April have had some influence in
squirting on the movement among
producers from this section. Milk is
to be graded, and a close watch kept.
Dairymen are as anxious as the
Bridgeport authorities that their milk
shall be Of good grade, as is shown
in part of the purpose of the associa-
ton ''to insure to buyers and con-
sumers Of milk, the highest standard
Of purity and quality in all milk pro-
duced by members of this associa-
tion."
William c. johnson. Of Newtown,
chairman Of the comittee to investi-
gate the probable cost Of such plant
reported to the meeting visits OF the
committee to various plants. A CO.