No. 4.] MILK PROBLEM. 33 



I agreed, first, to produce milk under such rules and regula- 

 tions as might be imposed by the State Board of Health 

 acting in conjunction with the city Board of Health. Second, 

 I agreed to have every cow tuberculin-tested by the State Cat- 

 tle Department before she became a producer in the herd, 

 and keep the herd under the supervision of that department. 

 I agreed to deliver that milk f. o. b. in Boston at 5 cents a 

 quart. From figures of the operation of my barn for a num- 

 ber of years, I was perfectly willing to undertake the prop- 

 osition, and at the conclusion of the period, or at the end of 

 each month, submit a detailed statement, showing what the 

 cost of production had been on my farm. x\fter two months 

 I have not had an application for a pint of milk from the 

 city of Boston, from either consumers, contractors or indi- 

 vidual dealers who are financially responsible. 



Hi view Qf this positive evidence that I agreed to deliver 

 this quality of milk at 5 cents per quart, and still stand ready 

 to do just that thing, I could find no market for it. ^ow, I 

 submit that if they will not pay 5 cents, what are they will- 

 ing to pay for such a pj'oduct ? I want to say that my obser- 

 vations and investigations lead me to but one conclusion, and 

 that is this: that those who C£»ntrol the Boston milk supply 

 to-day — the dealers — are doing just what every business 

 man will do, and that is, buy milk where they can buy it 

 cheapest ; and the Massachusetts dairy is suffering for the 

 reason that the dealer is buying and can buy, so long as 

 present conditions obtain, milk cheaper in New York, in 

 Canada, in Northern l^ew Hampshire, I^^orthern Vermont 

 and in Maine than in Massachusetts. 



Why can he do that ? Tt is a question of transportation ; 

 it can be nothing else. The contractors have imposed upon 

 the producers a price, not at which it can be produced profit- 

 ably, but the lowest price which can be paid and still insure 

 its production. As long as that commercial condition exists, 

 the market and the demand will be for milk produced out- 

 side of INIassachusetts, and ^Massachusetts farms will con- 

 tinue to abolish the cow and- let their stanchions stand idle. 

 Therefore, if I may at this time direct the attention of the 



