No. 4.] REPORT OF DAIRY BUREAU. 



399 



While the price during some months was below the aver- 

 age for corresponding months, the average for the year 1899 

 was about two cents per pound more than the average of 

 1896, 1897 and 1898. The advance was most marked dur- 

 ing the last five months of the year. 



The amount of business done in Boston for the years 1899 

 and 1898 was as follows : — 



The average monthly consumption for three years has 

 been as follows : — 



Pounds. 



1899, 3,933,300 



1898, 4,056,600 



1897, 4,021,500 



It is unfortunate that statistics for other cities are not 

 available ; but in no other place in the State is there any 

 organized body which looks after the statistics of business 

 so carefully as the Boston Chamber of Commerce. 



If the existence of the oleomargarine laws and the way that 

 they are enforced has driven out of the business a dishonest 

 substitute and increased sales of genuine butter by an amount 

 equal to one per cent of the consumption reported above for 

 Boston alone, we have the value of the law to consumers, 

 producers and dealers, expressed in pounds, as 470,000. 

 This we believe to be an extremely conservative estimate. 

 We base our opinion on the temptation there is to sell col- 

 ored oleomargarine dishonestly, and the great amount that 



