174 THE MODERN MILK PROBLEM 



be found in a well-governed municipality, of the smaller 

 size, where the town functions of individual farmer- 

 retailers could readily be assumed by the municipality 

 without serious disturbance. In instances where the 

 question of the tuberculin test is being agitated, farmers 

 might prefer to sell to a cooperative or municipal pas- 

 teurizing and distributing plant rather than under- 

 take the test. Such a plant might possibly be financed 

 and managed by an association of citizens with the 

 object of securing better milk and eliminating in- 

 efficiency in distribution, as an alternative to munic- 

 ipal management. In short, as with some other pro- 

 posals of cooperation or municipalization, exceptional 

 local conditions might perhaps render such a project 

 feasible. But the sweeping claims attached to the 

 general idea must certainly be viewed as extravagant. 



THE GIST OF THE MATTER 



To sum up the salient factors in the solution of the 

 problem: 



Milk must be both safe and decent. It should also 

 be of known food value. 



To secure Decency: Supplies should be controlled by 

 laboratory tests supplemented by inspection in which 

 instruction in simple, rational methods of clean milk 

 production should play the chief part. 



in several instances. The Health Officer of Brookline, Mass., makes 

 such a proposal in a recent report. The most conspicuous plan of munic- 

 ipal management is that recently proposed by a legislative commission 

 in Rhode Island (see Appendix E). It is interesting to note that even 

 a socialist, John Spargo, while accepting the theory of socialization of 

 milk supplies, has not favored attempting to apply it under American 

 conditions ("The Common Sense of the Milk Question," 1908). 



