18 MILK SURVEY OF THE CITY OF ROCHESTER 



livery charges, expenses ; and the cost of milk production on dairy farms, 

 including labor, feed, other expenses ; and country hauling. 



The report gives consideration to the food value of milk and the sani- 

 tary character of milk, and also to the surplus problem. It includes many 

 tables and diagrams of great interest to students of this subject. Among 

 the most important conclusions and recommendations are the following: 



"On costs of production, the Committee recommends: 



(1) Keeping only high producing cows; 



(2) Co-operative methods of hauling milk." 



Under distribution the chief recommendations are that: 



"Milk distributive plants be hereafter regarded as quasi public businesses, and 

 subject to governmental regulation; 



The cost per quart for pasteurizing milk, including the investment for plant 

 and operating costs, decreases with increase in the size of the plant and in the 

 amount of milk handled. 



There are economies in route service certainly up to the point as heavy as one 

 vehicle can serve. Herein lies the greatest economy in large scale service. 



There is much saving in overhead charges. 



The public is interested in the milk distribution business as a public utility not 

 only because of the economies in large scale distribution, but also because competi- 

 tion, as in railways and other public utilities, is ruinous if real, and worthless as a 

 price protector to farmer and consumer if unreal. 



The price of milk is as vital, certainly, as the charges for common carriers, or 

 for electricity, or gas, or street railways. 



The sanitary safety of milk is certainly as vital as, if not more vital than, the 

 sanitary safety of water. 



The price for milk depends largely upon the economies in production and milk 

 distribution. Milk is a food that is absolutely requisite for babies and growing 

 children. 



We have given careful consideration to the alternatives to recognizing the 

 milk business as a quasi public business. Among these alternatives are : 



(1) Public ownership of pasteurizing plants in order to give equality of eco- 

 nomic opportunity to the small dealers ; 



(2) Co-operative retail delivery by dairymen; 



(3) Public ownership of the milk distributing plants ; and 



(4) Farmers' stations within the city for co-operative wholesale milk delivery." 



The subject is summarized by the statement that : 



"The Commission recommends that the milk distribution business be regarded 

 as a public utility." 



1917, Canada. (Report of the Milk Committee Appointed by the 

 Food Controller for Canada to Investigate Milk Supplies for Urban 

 Municipalities; Ottawa; November 24, 1917. P. B. Tustin, Chairman.) 



Methods of enquiry included public hearings of witnesses represent- 

 ing dealers and producers, and questionnaires addressed to dealers and 

 producers. 



The preliminary statement by the Food Controller says : 



