224 MILK SURVEY OF THE CITY OF ROCHESTER 



making the collection of milk accounts unnecessary. This system has 

 many arguments in its favor in a city of the type of Rochester.) 



RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE CITY AS A WHOLE 



In considering the milk problem faced by the City of Rochester, 

 there are certain aspects which affect the producer, distributor, consumer 

 and city independently, and other aspects which affect these four groups 

 of persons jointly. 



The excessive costs of milk distribution shown in the material pre- 

 sented in this milk survey are costs which have grown up as a result of 

 the competitive system. It must be recognized that the city itself is 

 primarily responsible for the competitive system of milk distribution 

 which now exists. 



Rochester is not alone in this responsibility, but the same is shared 

 by all other cities of America which, by their antagonism to centralization 

 and monopoly in the milk industry, have fostered within their limits the 

 growth and development of the competitive system of milk distribution. 



Public attention which has now concerned itself in Rochester and 

 other cities with the cost of milk and the relation of milk to public health 

 has suddenly discovered this competitive system carries with it numer- 

 ous unnecessary expenses. The remedy which is prescribed as a result 

 of all milk surveys and all commissions and committees appointed to in- 

 quire into the cost of milk distribution is, in every instance, centralization 

 and monopoly. In short, the competitive system which the people them- 

 selves have fostered and developed is now charged with the excessive cost 

 of milk to the milk consumers, and held responsible for not providing 

 milk at such prices as could be secured only under a monopoly. 



The attitude of the public mind toward the milk industry is there- 

 fore inconsistent and unjust in that the remedy, viz., centralization and 

 monopoly, which is universally prescribed, is a remedy which the indus- 

 try itself has not been allowed to apply. Any efforts toward centraliza- 

 tion and monopoly by the milk industry have been universally cried down 

 by the public on the ground that the result would be a trust injurious to 

 public welfare. 



The advantages of centralization and monopoly have become so 

 obvious that the public has been entirely converted to the value of this 

 remedy, and, in fact, convinced that centralization and monopoly con- 

 stitutes the only remedy for reducing the cost of milk distribution. 



Before proceeding to apply such a remedy as this under municipal 

 auspices, it would seem only fair and just to invite the milk industry itself 

 to make a demonstration of the efficiency of its service to the public 

 through the application of this remedy under its own auspices. 



