Imperial Valley press., 1936-03-06
By WALTER B. HAVEKORST
President of Milk Institute of
Imperial Valley.

During the first year of its eX-
istence. the Milk institute of I'm
perial Valley has achieved definite
results. Our organization includes
hundreds of businessmen who do
not own dairies. but who are keen
ly interested in advancing dairy
ing in Imperial Valley. They stand
solidly behind the dairymen, the
creameries and the industry as a
whole. pledged and ready 20 assist
in every way possible the industry
often termed the backbone Of I'm
perial Valley"
The need for a Mix Institute
made itself known soon after its
organization with the unexpected
announcement that hearing
would be held in San Diego on the
then proposed federal milk mar
keting and licensing agreement. 1t
was decided that Earl V. c. Nor
throp, R. B. Whitelaw and Walter
Macdonald should attend.
At the hearing, we were refused
permission to present evidence of
Imperial Valleys part in San Diego
market, despite WhitelaW's every
effort. We were reluctantly allow
ed ten days in which to file d
brief IN Washington. D. c.
Directors Wired
At our request, the directors OF
Imperial Irrigation district wired
Phil D. Swing in Washington to
contact the Secretary Of Agricul-
ture and secure an extension OF
time in which to prepare a proper
brief. Through this cooperation Of
the district board and the activities
of Swing, we received action at
once. The time was extended and
furthermore a message from Brice
NJ. Mace, Federal representative at
San Francisco, was received, stat
ing he would be in El Centro for
a special hearing.
WhitelaX, Northrop. Robert Hays
and Macdonald worked the best
part of a week collecting and as
sembling all the information avail
able regarding Imperial Valleys
connection for thirty years with
the dairy industry. The result was
a sixteen page document which
was air-mailed to Washington Ad-
ditional information was submitted
70 Mace at the all day and evening
hearing in Ell Centre Mace stat
ed 10 Macdonald in San Diego
that Imperial Valleys brief was
the most complete and best word
picture Of any milk shed the fed
eral government had ever receiv-
ed. The result was that Imperial
Valley was not excluded from the
San Diego market and that our
dairymen had equal rights IN the
market.
The city Of San Diego had for
years refused admittance 10 I'm
perial Valley MAX During last
summer a shortage developed and
finally several dairies in Imperial
Valley were Inspected and given
permits TO ship milk.
The beginning Of milk shipments
to San Diego was momentous oc-
casion. In order that 1.-The milk
quality would be satisfactory, the
inspectors Of Imperial county SD
peryised the production and hand
ling. Inspector Macdonald super
vised icing Of the truck and fol-
lowed same every night for week
to the receiving station at Jacum-
ba. where temperatures we're taken
and samples were secured daily Tor
bacterial counts It must be re-
membered that this was during the
hottest part of the summer ana
therefore satisfactory transporta-
ton of cold milk without special
equipment was a problem. Never
theless. the milk was delivered at
temperatures well below 80 F.
When Imperial Valley schools
opened on September 10th. q short
age of r.ilk developed here and
shipments to San Diego had to
stop. We could have continued