The sun., 1919-07-02
MILK AT RETAIL
JUMPS ONE CENT
Prices Expected to Advance
Further Until Month Of
December.
SUGAR SITUATION UNIQUE
Cuba's Crop q Record, but the
Demand Is dissatisfied;
Price Remains Fixed.

The retail price OF milk yesterday took
n jump OF one cent quart. Grade u
bottled is at 16 cents-the highest July
price on record. az against 10 cents in
June, and Grade A bottled, II cents last
month, is now at Is cents. Grade u
bottled pints now cost cents and Grade
A, IL cents. There was no advance in
the price of clipped" milk that Is, milk
sold in stores to those who take 1t home
in their own pitchers or pals. Dipped
Grade r still is IL cents n quart, the
same as last month in stores of the
Sheffield Farms and many other dis
tributers.
Announcements OF the increased retail
price were made by the Sheffield Farms
and the Borden's Farm Products Com
pany whose lead is generally followed
by the other concerns.
I. Elkn Nathans. secretary Of the
New York Milk Conference Board. ex-
planned that the new rates were deter
mined by individual distributors. He
said the increase was justified because
distributors were paying the farmers
half cent n quart more for milk dur
ing July than they paid last month
Borden's Moved First.
Robert +. bowling, chairman Of the
'fpNtIIlpI y MILK WnlCn was
created last winter to settle the SQUAD
bles between producers and distributors
said his first intimation of a raise of
/ cent for bottled milk to the consumer
came In letter from Borden's saying
that without the advance the company
would have to operate at a loss.
The principal reasons set forth by the
milk dealers for the advance are in
creased prices paid for milk in the
country and the increase in various dis
tribution costs notably that of ice Few
# the companies were able to harvest
any ice last winter. Now they have to
buy 1t in large quantities. Wage in
creases are not considered. as the scale
has not been changed since the employ
ees demands were met several months
ago.
Farmers affiliated with the Dairy
mems League will receive S3.O1 for each
100 pounds OF 3 per cent. milk during
July, as against s2.S9 in June. s3.O6 in
May and $3.50 in April. AS milk sup
piled 10 the city averages 3.5 butter fat.
the farmer il getting I cents quart. or
about one-third OF a cent more than in
June.
The Dairymen's League. which used
to work out its base price by the War
rem formula. now figures on the average
price OF butter. scoring 80. and the aver
age price of the general run of colored
cheese for the preceding month-the
Goth TO the 20th-after making various
allowances for skim milk and whey. r,
d. Cooper, president OF the league, said
the new method of figuring the base
price produced practically the same re-
suits as the leagues former method on
yearly figures
Farmers explain that the price of milk
~, In H.
as In July tho supply of milk begins
| to grow less. The farmers price rises
gradually from July to December, when
| the peak is reached because the supply
| is then the shortest, and drops eacA
month from December TO July. Higher
prices in later months are expected
| therefore. unless something happens 70
reduce the price in the country. which
| appears unlikely this year
Cuba's Sugar Crop n Record.
| Although Cuba this year has produced
the largest crop of sugar on record
400, 600 tons. as compared with some
| thing like $500 600 tons last year-the
situation In the refined market is un'
| paraleled. The entire Cuban croN was
| bought by the United States Sugar
| Equalization Board. This was the
| biggest single purchase ever made. TWO
| thirds Of It was rCsold 10 American re-
| hners and onc-t third to the British Roya
| Comm ission. \ certain portion, about
! 500 GOO tons. ls to DO refined in America
for the British Royal Commission.
/ There Is no change in the price OF
sugar this year. the price having beer
| fixed, and the trade didn't take into
account the fact that II all came IT
together with their orders they wouldn'
be able 10 get prompt shipment Tha
Is what happened. however.
"With these supplies our refiners are
enabled throughout the country to WORT
to practical capacity. lately averaging
100000 tons of refined sugar week.
says the Weekly Statistical Sn9d'
Trade Journal Nevertheless most ra
| iners in the East have sold all tn
sugar they can handle for July in any
| event. and in instances August and ever
| September. These sales made by oul
refiners include large export commit
| ments. Under normal conditions IN
present unique situation could hardly
occur. as the refners could restrict th'
demand by advancing prices"
There Is always a large demand fo'
sugar in July and August for canning
purposes.