New-York tribune., 1918-05-13

the necessity of more grain, we make
it high to get it, and then we appoint
commissioners to see that there is
not less milk and at not higher
prices.
But forthwith the farmer urges
that despite these high prices on
milk, and in disregard of the urgent
need for grain, for the insuring of
which we have offered the high
prices, consumers shall maintain
their old level of milk consumption
milk is so important for the babies
and so cheap a food after all
even at ID cents quart. True, it is
the short supply that imposes the
high prices-one point for the far
mer, and good point. But he
wants the high prices on a large
supply. But high prices restrict
consumption-the consumers sole
point of reply. To this good argu-
ment the farmer rejoins by crying
baby, please buy a big supply at the
price justifable for a small supply.
Must Save
For the Babies
Milk is, indeed, a necessity for the
babies-in limited quantities; also
probably or perhaps-for adults; the
Soluble X fat" either as milk or as
butter. But in large quantities milk
and butter and cream are dictetic
luXuries, as, indeed, are most animal
fats, milk fat beyond any other fat.
1t is not in the interest of the grain
supply in war times, or of the meat
supply, that milk be largely pro-
duced. If, then, the babies must
have it-and the babies of the poor
must get it cheap if they get it at
all-this is not a reason why the
general consumption should be more
prodigal, but only why it must be
narrowly restricted. If the well-to-
do incline to be public spirited, they
will so far refrain from buying, so
as to give the babies chance, rather
than to push up the prices still fur
ther in order to give the farmer
further chance-the basis for still
another demand for higher prices on
wheat, SO that wheat may continue
to pay as against milk.
The truth is that the high prices
on milk and butter really report an
increasing emphasis on a luxurious
food-a food demanded by the cities
IN a quantity that can be supplied
by the tributary areas only on terms
OF rapidly rising costs and prices.
New York requires, we will say,
three million quarts of fresh milk
daily: Time and refrigeration fix
the shipment limit at from three to
four hundred miles to the northwest.
10 provide for this daily demand for
fresh milk the farmers have to pro-
duce intensively and at high level
of marginal costs. But with the
amount of rough and hill, and good
Tor nothing but pasture, and with
only cows enough to furnish the
necessary manure for general farm
ing purposes, and, therefore, with
half his product of hay available for
sale in the city markets for hay, the
farmer could produce a half of the
present output Of milk at possibly
half Of the present price to him,
rather than not to produce it at all.
But when the farmers have to feed
out twenty dollar hay and buy in the
winter Western corn and Southern
cottonseed in order to deliver three
million quarts, summer and winter.
in New York, the price has to be
high enough to offset hay at $40 the
ton and corn at $1.80 per bushel.
And meanwhile the city fools ask
that the price be lower and the pro
duction no less, and the country
fools plead that the price be no less
and the consumption still greater.
And Mr.. Hoover declares the sus-
pension of the law of demand and
supply. And things proceed in their
due courses.
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