544 STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



have resulted in waste, and which, in the opinion of this commission, 

 ought to be eliminated, or at least materially reduced. Excess costs 

 in the distribution of milk must be borne by the producer or consumer, 

 or by both as the case may be. Wliere such excess costs can be elimi- 

 nated by either producer or consumer, a desirable economic gain will 

 result. By custom containers for both the shipment and the distri- 

 bution of milk are furnished by tlie distributor, without specific service 

 charge. This practice has led to gross carelessness on the part of 

 many, and in some instances to absolute dishonesty. Carelessness in 

 returning, and the misappropriation of milk bottles results in a large 

 aggregate loss which in this period of high-priced glass occasions a 

 very appreciable increase in the cost of distributing milk. In view 

 of this waste this commission recommends that the distributors adopt 

 some feasible system of charging bottles to consumers or dealers, while 

 in their possession and crediting them with same on their return. 



In view of the unavoidable advance in the retail price of milk de- 

 livered to patrons in the Detroit area to meet the present emergency, 

 this commission believes that some provision should be made for the 

 selling of milk at a lower price where the consumer buys it at a dis- 

 tributing station, thus reducing the cost of the service rendered by the 

 distributor. The testimony showed the cost of delivery to be approxi- 

 mately three cents per quart. We therefore find that milk sliall be 

 sold at selling stations to be established or designated by the dis- 

 tributors at three cents per quart below the delivered price, with a charge 

 of five cents per bottle to be refunded on its return. We ask the dis- 

 tributors to co-operate in making a thorough trial of this plan at once 

 and to prepare detailed information as to the result qf the trial for 

 review by the Commission at a future meeting. 



To relieve special cases where unfortunate citizens are unable to 

 purchase milk imperatively needed in sickness or for children the dis- 

 tributors have offered to supply it gratis upon application to and 

 approval of either the Board of Health or the Poor Commission. 



In the collection of milk at some shipping points, it has become a 

 frequent practice to make various allowances to the carrier in addition 

 to the usual hauling charge to the patron, thereby increasing the service 

 cost of the supply rather than the compensation of the producer. This 

 practice should be discontinued so far as possible, with the maintenance 

 of an adequate milk supply, and the price fixed for the producers' milk 

 applies to the milk delivered at the shipping station platform. 



Having been petitioned as above noted to render judgment as to tlie 

 prices at which milk should be sold by producers and distributors in 

 the Detroit area under present conditions, this commission believes that 

 in view of the uncertaiuty of the continuance of present conditions, 

 particularly as they may relate to the cost of feeds used in the pro- 

 duction of milk, the prices hereinafter fixed for the period beginning 

 December 1, 1917, should be made subject to review by this commission 

 on its own initiative or on petition of producers, distributors or con- 

 sumers, and to readjustment for future months if, in the judgment of 

 the commission, such readjustment is essential to the preservation of 

 justice and equity as between the parties or classes concerned. To 

 this end the commission accedes to the request of the producers and 

 distributors to continue to act in the above cai>acity for a period of 

 one year from date. 



