486 IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 



While dealing upon the subject of milk distribution, it might be well 

 to bring out two reforms which might well be brought about in the city- 

 milk business. One of these is the matter of delivery duplications and the 

 other the question of milk bottle losses. Regarding the first point: While 

 the tendency is toward the delivery of milk to the consumer by way of 

 the grocer, the greatest amount is still delivered directly to the consumer 

 by the "milk man." In some towns this means that as many as six 

 different distributors are delivering milk in the same block. The waste 

 involved in this method of distribution is enormous. If some plan could 

 be worked out whereby deliveries could be combined, a great saving could 

 be made which would prove to the advantage of both distributor and 

 consumer. In regard to the second point, i. e., milk bottle losses, the es- 

 tablishment of milk bottle exchanges has proved very satisfactory in a 

 number of cities in other states. By proper co-operation among dealers, 

 this sytem will not only enable them to have their own bottles returned 

 but it will also enable them to make stringent regulations regarding the 

 return of milk bottles by grocers or consumers. Certain it is that with 

 the present high cost of glass bottles, stringent measures must be adopted 

 to reduce this phase of milk distribution cost or else it must be met by 

 an increase in milk prices. This department is not inclined to be over- 

 patient with users who fail to return these bottles to their rightful own- 

 ers. Information gathered from milk dealers shows that it is the grocer 

 and not the consumer who is the greatest offender. Whether the grocer 

 makes no effort to have his customers return these bottles or whether 

 they are used for other purposes in his store, can not be determined, but 

 the fact remains that he is the source of the greatest losses. While there 

 is no desire on the part of this department to work any hardship upon 

 any one, it is almost inclined to recommend that such a high valuation be 

 placed upon milk containers that the consumer or grocer could not afford 

 to retain them. 



ICE CREAM. 



The past year has probably been the most crucial ever encountered in 

 the ice cream business. High priced raw materials, (when, indeed, they 

 were obtainable at any price), made it extremely difiicult this year for 

 the manufacturers of this product. The shortage and high price of sugar 

 was a source of constant worry to those who were forced to meet com- 

 petition of others who had succeeded in laying up a large supply of this 

 product before the break in sugar prices. Some manufacturers were 

 forced to pay almost any price demanded in order to obtain a sufficient 

 supply to enable them to fill their orders. When the break did come, it 

 found a large number with a big supply of high priced sugar on hand 

 which must be used in competition with those purchasing it at a much 

 lower figure. 



Surprising as it may seem, the high prices which necessarily prevail 

 because of these conditions did not curtail consumption of ice cream to 

 a great extent. Reports compiled by this department placed the con- 

 sumption at 5,436,755 gallons which sold for a total of $6,795,943.00, an in- 

 crease of nearly $200,000.00 over last year. This in the face of a predicted 

 reduced consumption. 



