THE MILK SITUATION IN THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. 17 



of the problems affecting our milk supply, for while the conservation 

 of the public health is a prime desideratum, the committee must as 

 practical men representing the material interests of the community 

 give heed to the necessity of keeping milk within such limits of price 

 as will not make its use prohibitive and result in greater distress and 

 mortality from starvation, especially of infants, than may fairly be 

 estimated to ensue from disease-breeding contamination of the milk. 

 Careful scrutiny has, therefore, been exercised by the committee in 

 ascertaining so far as practicable in advance, the likely effect upon the 

 sale price of milk of insistence on the various requirements conducing 

 to the establishment of a pure milk supply. A detailed analysis of 

 this item by Dr. Woodward, our local health officer, leads to the con- 

 clusion that, viewing the matter in the light most favorable to the 

 producer, the increased cost of providing milk from tuberculin-tested 

 cows should not amount to more than a small fraction of a cent per 

 quart. The Chief of the Bureau of Animal Industry ventures the 

 assertion that such requirements should not actually increase the cost, 

 adding that in the city of Washington milk which practically con- 

 forms to these specifications is now being sold at only 1 cent per 

 quart over the price of common market milk. Dr. Goler states that, 

 except with regard to pasteurization, the carrying into effect of these 

 restrictions has had no influence on the price of milk in Rochester, 

 and ought to have none anywhere. President Thomas, of the Pro- 

 ducers' Association supplying milk to the District, maintains that 

 there would probably be a raise of 50 per cent in the retail price of 

 milk. In the opinion of some authorities, any increase would be of 

 only a temporary nature, while Dr. Wells, health officer of Montclair, 

 N. J., offers the thought that " in any trade, a good article brings 

 more than a poor one." 



According to Dr. Woodward, the price paid to the dairy farmer 

 for milk sold in the District of Columbia during the past five years 

 has been practically unchanged at from 14 to 16 cents per gallon 

 for the summer months and 20 to 22 cents per gallon for the winter 

 months. During this period the consumer has paid 32 cents per 

 gallon in the summer time and from 36 to 40 cents per gallon in 

 winter. Certain milk regarded as " special " is sold at 40 cents per 

 gallon throughout the year. 



Dr. Woodward expresses the belief that the farmer is probably not 

 receiving his proper share of the retail price obtained for milk. It 

 may be presumed, however, he states, until evidence to the contrary 

 is shown, that as long as farmers continue to produce and sell milk 

 they are finding it profitable to do so. 



Dr. Woodward is of the opinion that the elimination of diseased 

 cows from dairy herds resulting from the application of the tubercu- 

 lin test, and the necessity for purchasing sound cows to replace them, 

 would doubtless for a while justly result in an increase in the cost of 

 milk, though not a substantial increase. He reasons that the only 

 item in the cost of milk production which would be affected vvould be 

 the amount disbursed for healthy cattle to replace diseased stock. It 

 is essayed by him that it costs no more to feed, house, and care for a 

 well cow than for a sick one. 



In view of representations by producers before the committee 

 to the effect that they are not receiving under present conditions a 

 82444 S. Doc. 863, 61-3 2 



