20 THE MILK SITUATION IF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. 



which authorizes the shipment of milk upon the filing of an applica- 

 tion with the health department and pending action thereon. 



It may be observed, therefore, that the proposed amendments to 

 the regulations governing the production and sale of milk have not 

 tended to reduce the number of dairy farmers shipping milk into 

 the District. The decrease in the number of local dairies (not dairy 

 farms) operated under permit from the health department is attribu- 

 table to the fact, stated by Dr. Woodward in the hearings before the 

 committee, that milk is sold at present much more extensively than 

 before by grocers and other storekeepers, who are not required under 

 the law to secure a license or permit for this feature of their business. 

 The health department maintains no record of the number of mer- 

 chants (not dairymen) purveying milk in the District of Columbia. 

 It is estimated, however, by Dr. Woodward, that milk is sold at 2,000 

 establishments. 



EXTENT OF DISTRICT MILK SUPPLY. 



According to the estimate of Health Officer Woodward, 19,000 

 gallons of milk are sold daily in the District of Columbia. It is 

 reported by him (see Appendix K) that the number of cows on dairy 

 farms supplying milk to the District of Columbia for the fiscal year 

 1905-6 was 16,250, which number had increased for the fiscal year 

 1909-10 to 17,( 



REASONABLENESS OF RAILWAY TRANSPORTATION CHARGES. 



So far as the committee has been able to ascertain, the existing 

 rates charged for transporting milk and milk products to the Wash- 

 ington market are reasonable, and are not the subject of complaint 

 on the part of producer, dealer, or consumer. 



USE OF PRESERVATIVES. 



It may be noted with satisfaction that the use of preservatives has 

 seldom been detected in the examination of milk supplied locally to 

 the District of Columbia, and it is believed that this pernicious prac- 

 tice is rarely, if ever, indulged in by our local dealers. 



FEEDING OF BREWERY AND DISTILLERY BY-PRODUCTS. 



With regard to the feeding of wet malt and other brewery products 

 to dairy cows, Dr. Woodward states that effort has been made to re- 

 strict such feeding. The only brewery product, however, that is 

 locally used for feeding milch cows, to the knowledge of the health 

 department, is wet malt. This, it is believed, can be safely fed until 

 it has begun to sour. The committee is cautioned by the health officer 

 to bear in mind the difference between wet malt and other brewery 

 products on the one hand and distillery waste on the other. Dr. 

 Woodward is of the opinion that it has not yet been demonstrated 

 that the feeding of fresh, sweet, brewers' grains has a prejudicial 

 effect upon the milk of animals. 



According to the testimony of officials of the Bureau of Animal In- 

 dustry, the feeding of wet malt to cows has a deleterious effect upon 

 the milk derived from them, though under certain prescribed condi- 



