No. 4.] MILK PROBLEM. 27 



territory for additional supplies, as has been possible in the 

 past, the time is at hand when the contractors will naturally 

 have to look more closely after the development of the terri- 

 tory in which they are now doing more or less business, for 

 the increasing demands of the constantly growing cities. If 

 in the producing territory now practically covered there shall 

 not eventually be found a sufficient number of farmers or 

 dairymen who Avill produce milk at substantially present 

 prices, then the buyers of milk will naturally, according to 

 the laws of business and of supply and demand, be again 

 obliged, as they have been in the years that are past, to pay 

 more for it. 



The collection of milk in the country, its transportation, 

 handling and delivery to the city consumer is a business made 

 necessary by modern conditions of civilization. So far as 

 the present plan for collecting and protecting Boston's milk 

 supply in transit is concerned, there is apparently but little 

 left to be desired. So far as I know, there is little or nothing 

 that can be profitably copied from other places that is so 

 well adapted for New England conditions, or that will to any 

 extent improve the system now in use. So far as the general 

 milk supply is concerned, the dealers should exert, and I 

 understand several are exerting, the strongest efforts to secure 

 the cleanest possible supply, and to handle it in well-appointed 

 buildings especially adapted to the purpose. As an addi- 

 tional precaution and safeguard I understand they are em- 

 ])loying modern methods of pasteurization to insure its 

 absolute safety for all possible uses. The principle of pay- 

 ment according to quality is right, and easy of practical 

 accomplishment with most products. The principle when 

 applied to the purchase of milk, however, presents some 

 rather unusual difficulties so far as it relates to the general 

 milk supply. So far as the problems of distribution of milk 

 to the city consumer are concerned, they have been for many 

 years well recognized and understood by at least a few in- 

 telligent people ; but no one has yet become so intelligent as 

 to be able to present a better working plan than that now 

 generally followed. Glass bottles are by far the best and 



