Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-08-29
milk IS EXPECTED
TOCOST CENT MORE
DURING SEPTEMBER
Producers Boost Price to 40
Cents Per GaIIon-Plea OF
Fowler Unheeded.

Milk shipped to Washington next
month from Maryland and Virginia
will cost the dairymen 4 cents more
a gallon, which probably will result
in an advance of l cent a quart in
the retail price.
This became known yesterday after
noon following meeting here OF me
executive committee of the Maryland
and Virginia Milk Producers Asso-
citation. The committee decided that
IT could not comply with the request
of Health officer Fowler TO leave the
summer price in effect during Septem-
Der.
According to a statement from the
committee the basic wholesale price
in Washington this summer mas beeh
So cents gallon. The proposed IN
crease makes il 40 cents during sep
tember. Milk is now retailing at 10
and IL cents quart
DIR. Fowler Makes Plea.
Before the decision was reached DR..
Fowler appeared before the committee
and again expressed the belief that
in view of the large amount OF mix
and cream produced recently the
farmers could afford to let the summer
price stand until October l.
Yesterday morning before the pro-
ducerS' meeting was held a number OF
the local dairymen stated thar they
dld not expect the price OIL Hliik ~
change during September
The executive committee of the pro-
ducers association adopted resolu-
tions suggesting that a committee
representing the farmers, the dairy
men and the consumers be formed to
investigate the cost of producing milk
and determine what the price should
be after October l.
Would Probe Situation.
The resolution provided that the
committee be composed of one rep
resentative of the producers. one rep
resentative of the Federation of Cit
izens Associations, DIR. William Z.
Fowler. District health officer: one
representative of the milk dealers.
representative from the Maryland
State College of Agriculture and
representative from the Agricultural
College of Virginia. 1t is expected
that this committee will meet in
Washington in the near future and
make a thorough investigation into
the entire milk situation.
The executive committee issued the
following statement in explanation of
why it rejected DR.. Fowler's re-
quest not to change the price during
September:
September advance be postponed. The
September price was determined sew
ersl months ago when production
costs were considerably lower than
they were at present. Dairy farmers
have proceeded on the expectation of
an, increase of cents a ga1lan. begin
ming September l. and many have
written contracts with their dealers
over which this committee has no
control. To lower the price cents
for September would cause serious
financial losses to all of the more than
LOO farmers supplying milk to the
city. and would probably bring on an
acute shortage during October and
November, when there usually is not
enough milk here to meet the de-
mand.
Prices In Other Cities.
prices of milk to producers have
advanced during the past two months
in practically all the large eastern
cities. In Baltimore the price has ad-
vanced from So cents to 40 cents
gallon; in Philadelphia from So cents
to 40 cents; in Boston from So cents to
40 cents; in Cumberland. Nd. from ~
cents to 46 cents. which in Richmond.
Va, the price has been "A cents
throughout the summer. when the
basic price in Washington has been SO
cents gallon. Because of the more at
trective price prevailing in Baltimore.
number of farmers in Frederick
county. Md, whose milk was being
marketed in Washington have di-
verted their shipments to Baltimore.
"Another factor which the produc-
era have to contend with is the in
crease in freight rates. which will
add cent gallon to the cost of milk
DR.. Fowler left the meeting before
final action was taken. When he
learned last night of the committees
statement he said he felt confident
milk here during October or Novem-
Der.