The Lynden tribune. [volume] (Lynden, Wash.) 1908-current, 1918-10-24
SAY WAR HAS MADE
DAIRYMEN PROSPER
Director Linklater Quotes Statements
That Are Being Made Now About
Prices In Industry

Are the dai:ymen of Whatcom
County more prosperous now than
before war times? This is the ques-
tion propounded by w. A. Linklater
superintendent of the Puyallup Ex-
pertinent Station, in a bulletin is
sued this week. Condenseries and
butter dealers contend that the dairy
men are making money. he shows.
The following. is his statement:
1t is the general impression that
the war has brought prosperity to
tho farmers of this country. The
dairymen. poultrymen. wheat grow
ers and others, however. explain that
in most cases the cost Of production
has increased SO greatly that. while
the farm products bring a much high
er price than before the war, but lit
tie greater net profit Is made with
most products and in some cases less
where farmers are able to operate
their farms without hiring much help
or buying much feed or other sup
plies. they should be making con-
siderably greater net returns than
under pre-war conditions.
Are Western Washington dairy
men prosperous? Have they been
getting fair prices for their milk? Are
the statistics presented by the COM
mittee of the United Dairy Associa-
tions of Washington to show the cost
of milk production busincss-like and
equitable? Were the dairy herds
Included in the survey average herds
The writer has discussed these Ques-
tions with numerous dairymen and
with representatives of Washington
condenseries and dealers in dairy
products. The dairymen generally
feel that the milk cost determine
tions of the United Dairy AssOcia-
tions committee are fair and repre-
sentative, and further that milk and
milk products have not been selling
at as high a price as they should sell
to give the dairymen a fair return
for their investment and labor. The
condensery representatives and but
ter and cheese dealers. on the other
hand, contend that the prices paid
for dairy products have kept pace in
q reasonable way with the increased
cost of production. They further
quection the propriety of the recog-
milton, thru publication, Of the report
on the cost of milk production in
Western Washington in our August
Monthly. Bulletin. because they point
to what they think are errors in the
milk cost calculations or data and
further state that they fear the effect
of the publication of this report will
be to discourage dairymen and cause
some to 60 out of business. The fol-
lowing are some of the views express
sed and evidence offered by certain
representatives of the condenseries
and dealers in dairy products. They
are not given here with a view to
continuing a discussion Of these ques'
tions thru the Monthly Bulletin but
rather to give fair publicity to crit
fcisms expressed by some OF the
leading buyers of milk and dair!
products of the report on the cost Of
milk production and the contention
of dairymen that milk and dairy pro
duction were not bringing fall
price.
National competition governs th'
disposition of all dairy products VIII
rNahe exception of fresh milk and swee
,cream for local use in cities ant
towns, and prices paid by the buyers
must be in line with the prices pai'
in other sections Of the country II
order to meet this competition. INT
prices paid by the Washington con
donseries have been in line with tn
prices being paid for milk going int
the manufacture of evaporated uh
sweetened milk in other sections o
the country. Over IS per cent OF TN
milk manufactured in Washington IN
TO evaporated milk is sold outside o
the state and must meet competition
IN the other markets"
"Under the licensing system TN
prof,ts of the condenseries and deal
ers in dairy products are limited an
they are not able to profiteer or max
excess profits. At the same time
they are not guaranteed any pront .
all. The dairymen should reaiiz
these two facts and give no credenc
IN anv statements to the contrary
and realize that under no circum
.,auces are the condenseries or deal
ers In dairy products profiteering
the expense Of either the producer O
the consumer"
1.-THE Washington condenserie
consider the most equitable way
y settling this matter. in so Iar as u
condenseries are concerned Is 'n'
,he establishment Of national pric
g. muk by which all the condenser
les over the country are to be oouh'