N. H. Agri. Experiment Station [Station Bull. 307 



8, which shows llio percentage of milk hauled at various rates. A 

 striking contrast brought out is that while 97 per cent of the milk in the 

 Connecticut valley is hauled at 27.4 cents or less, 47 per cent of the milk 

 in the ^Merriuiack-Coastal region pays 27.5 cents or more. Comparing 

 indepeuilent routes and distributor routes in the Merrimack-Coastal re- 

 gion, over 40 per cent of the milk is hauled by independents for 22.4 

 cents or less, while no distributor routes show an average rate that low. 



A difference which might have an intiuence upon average rates for 

 similar routes in the two sections of the state is that in the Connecticut 

 valley, a much larger proportion of farmers operate commercial routes 

 than is the case in the Merrimack-Coastal region. Whether alternate 

 opportunities for use of time and equipment by these men differed from 

 those available in the other section of the state sufficiently to affect 

 rates, or whether such differences, if they did exist, would affect rates, 

 is a problem which cannot be solved here. It would appear, however, 

 that such differences in the opportunities for employing labor would 

 not persist over a long period of time within an area as small as the 

 state of New Hampshire. 



The comparisons made in this section, as throughout this report, 

 must be interpreted with the knowledge clearly in mind that averages 

 and tendencies are being considered and not individuals. While it is 

 generally true that rates are higher in the Merrimack-Coastal region 

 than in the Connecticut valley, this does not mean that all rates are 

 higher; neither must it be concluded that all distributors' routes 

 charged higher rates for equivalent services than did independents. 

 That is not true. As has been emphasized throughout this study, there 

 is a very wide variation in rates, and this fact must be kept in mind in 



Figure 8. Percentage of milk hauled at various rates. 



arfi\ ing at conclusions. Instances were not infrequent where distribu- 

 tors charged less for equivalent transportation than did iiulependents. 

 Similarly, many independents in the Merrimack-Coastal region charged 

 lower rates than those in the Connecticut valley for eciuivalent services. 

 Tlie tindings noted above refer to averages, not individuals. 



Conclusions 



The .$:')()(),()()() a year now being j)aid by New IIampshirt> farmers 

 for transportation of milk to country stations and city plants may be 

 I'edueed in two ways: first, by a reduction of charges on routes where 

 they are al)ove competitive levels; second, by a reorganization of truck 

 routes and milksheds. 



