BUYING MII<K AND CREAM 49 



at the end of the month the differences practically balance each 

 other. But not so with the routes covered by an inferior hauler. 

 Here the fat actually received by the creamery is almost in- 

 variably less than the fat indicated by the tests of the individual 

 patron's samples and the shortages are often very great. On 

 these routes the creamery is therefore compelled to pay for 

 more butterfat than it receives, the overrun is diminished and 

 profits may turn into losses. It is obvious that, in order to 

 control these losses and to have an accurate check on the work 

 of the route men, the creamery must systematically check up 

 the butterfat of each delivery of each route and impress upon 

 its haulers that repeated serious discrepancies of this nature 

 will not be tolerated. 



The haulers either receive a commission of so many cents 

 per pound of butterfat delivered, or they are hired by the day or 

 by the month, or they receive both wages and a commission. 



When hauling for a commission, the hauler usually receives 

 from two to four cents per pound of butterfat and he furnishes 

 his own conveyance. The commission basis has the advantage 

 that it furnishes a strong incentive to secure the largest possible 

 volume of cream and to increase the number of patrons. It has 

 the further advantage that the hauler owns the conveyance and 

 the creamery is relieved of the expense of its upkeep. On the 

 other hand, the principle of the commission basis and the type 

 of men who usually insist on hauling for a commission, are not 

 particularly favorable to the stability of the business. On the 

 commission basis the income of the hauler varies very greatly 

 with the seasons of the year. In summer, during the flush o 

 the milk-producing season, he prospers, while in winter milk 

 production is at ebbtide and many patrons drop out entirely, 

 often causing his income to drop below a living wage. This 

 situation causes some of these haulers to quit hauling in winter 

 or to haul elsewhere, where the temporary compensation offered 

 is more attractive. Generally speaking, the hauler who works 

 on a straight commission basis is the most independent and the 

 least controllable hauler. He takes the attitude that he owns 

 the route and is at liberty to do with it what he pleases and. 



