Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1918-01-11
Respectfully,
j. DAWSON WILLIAMS.
January 7. 1918.
DR.. Woods Files MIX Report.

Unlon-NeWS, loWS0n, Md, Jan. B.
The report of President A. F. Woods. of
the Maryland State College of Agriculture,
on the cost of milk production. transpor-
tation and distribution was made on
Thursday to the State Council of Defense.
and it has put a crimp in the contentious
of those who claimed that the farmer was
getting too much money for the product
of his herd. DR.. Woods finds that the aver
age cost of producing gallon of milk
and distributing it to the Baltimore con-
sumner during the week from November 20
to December 2 was 6338 cents q gallon.
lnasmuch as the consumer was then and
is now paying So cents gallon. there is
some disposition on the part of those who
do not know anything about the milk
business to question the correctness of
DR.. Woods figures. They, measuring the
farmer by their own standards, say 1t is
incredible that the COW owner is selling the
product of his herd for 1l.38 cents gal
Ion less than it costs. for the investigation
shows that the transportation company
and the distributor are getting cost out of
their work, and the whole loss is falling
on the farmer. But those who own cows
and have kept an intelligent record of
their business will know that DIR. Woods
figures are about correct.
DR.. Woods report gives the cost Of milk
production in the State 100 representa-
tive farms having been covered in the test.
as 4L28 cents gallon. The average cost
of transportation is 2.05 cents. and that
of distribution 20.65 cents. or 2112 cents
in Baltimore. The cost of production in
Baltimore county is higher than the aver
age. being 47.04 cents, while the transpor-
tation is slightly lower, being 10 cents
The cost of production is divided into 81
per cent for feed, 23 per cent. for labor
and 10 per cent. for all other costs, includ-
ing interest on investment. depreciation,
etc. The total cost to the consumer is di-
vided into IS per cent. for production.
1928 per cent. for transportation and 1927
per cent. for distribution.
OF course. the present cost of milk pro-
duction is not the average cost for the
year.. II it were, no farmer would stay in
the business for any LONGER time than it
would take him to dispose of his herd to
the butcher, for no one else would take his
cattle at any price. In summer, when
pasturage largely helps out the food sup
ply and reduces the costly grain ration,
milk could doubtless be produced at a
profit at the present price of 80 cents gal
Ion. The matter can be well illustrated
by the case of eggs. II the man who is
selling eggs now at go cents a dozen were
to count the cost Of weeks food for his
flock and balance that against the eggs
received he would find the cost somewhere
in the neighborhood of So a dozen, maybe
more. But in the spring there will be a
margin the other way, which will reduce
the average cost Of his product for the
year. The variation in the winter and
summer costs of milk is not so marked as
in that Of eggs, but the illustration enables
one to understand the situation better, as
a relief map gives better understanding Of
the contour of country.
The price Of milk having been ascer-
tanned by a reliable and skilled authority,
the question is. what are you going to do
about II" When the farmers made their
last agitation for an increase in the price
Of milk they were patted on the back. told
they were good citizens and patriots and
asked to wait until the expert investiea-
ton of the cost could be made. That has
now been done, and the farmers are ready
for their raise" II has been shown that
the distributor is getting enough. the trans
poration company is getting enough, and
that the farmer is getting about 35 per
cent. too little to pay him net cost. An
immediate increase of 10 cents a gallon to
the producer, with the express provision
that transportation and distribution costs
shall not be increased, this increase to re-
main in force until July /, will be no more
than fair.
1t is not strange that the farmer won
ders why he should be singled out as the
goat" in practically all price regulation
except that of coal. which latter makes but
little difference to the farmer. for he can't
get coal anyway. All the lists Of fair
prices are made up Of products of the farm
be that farm here or elsewhere. He hears
Of no effort to keep down the price Of shoes
his hardware. his fertilizer, or the hun.
dreds Of manufactured products which he
must buy II the manufacturers and mer-
chants Of the country wish to retain the
farmer as consumer they must permit
him to get the wherewithal to buy.
Religious Notices.