THE CASE TO-DAY 57 



tion by the Boston Chamber of Commerce (see Ap- 

 pendix E). Such investigations run into complications 

 as to systems and rates which it is impossible to discuss 

 here. 



It is, of course, difficult to say to just what extent 

 the transportation question enters into the general 

 milk problem, but it evidently constitutes one phase, 

 a phase, moreover, which is used as a background for 

 exhibiting miscellaneous difficulties and grievances. 



It is worth noting, in passing, that, while suspicion 

 has fallen upon " railroad milk/' still, with the growth 

 of cities, the milk supply must be drawn from greater 

 and greater distances. Fortunately it is possible so 

 to compensate for distance by means of proper precau- 

 tions that a sanitary milk from two hundred miles 

 away may be better and safer than one produced 

 near by but subject to unfavorable conditions. The 

 final quality of the product is the criterion. 



THE ATTITUDE OF THE CONSUMER 



The attitude of the consumer is, on the whole, nega- 

 tive. As one health official puts it, "Milk is milk to 

 the average consumer. A white fluid in a bottle, with 

 a cream line, is about all he seems to be interested in." 

 The agitation on the milk question is not carried on 

 by the many but by the very few who have interested 

 themselves and formed "consumers' associations" 

 and the like. The great majority demand only a suf- 

 ficient appearance of cream and the absence of ob- 

 viously visible dirt, and are aroused only by an in- 

 creased price. 



This attitude is unfortunate when there comes ques- 



