178 UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN STUDIES 
The general decrease in consumption has been estimated at 
about 20 per cent, although the price of milk has not kept 
pace with the price of a majority of other important articles 
of food, during the present time of stress. 
Previous to the year 1912, milk was bought from the farmer 
at a flat rate per hundred weight. In 1912 a bonus was paid 
for milk averaging 3.8 per cent fat for the month, which 
marked the beginning of payment for milk on the butter-fat 
‘basis. In 1915 this more equitable method of payment was 
finally established. A price was fixed for milk testing 3.5 per 
cent fat with an increase of three cents per hundred pounds 
for every tenth of one per cent above 3.5 per cent and a sim- 
ilar decrease of three cents per hundred pounds for every 
tenth of one per cent below 3.5 per cent down to 3 per cent. 
The following prices have prevailed in the Chicago milk dis- 
trict for the last ten years. From 1915 on the prices are 
based on 3.5 per cent milk with increase and decrease as noted 
above. Previous to 1915 a flat rate per hundred pounds was 
paid, regardless of butterfat tests. 
oe) ford = a ical} ec) has] "D c= ~ he 
&| = a| & &| sa Sel oes = me? oe 
Month Ce ahe | fie oe) el) oe 
5) 2/2 /2/2)] 2/2/2|] 2 & 
ADT istiedigsissewsis 1.30 | 1.35 | 1.40 | 1.45 | 1.30 | 1.30 | 1.60 | 1.60 | 1.45 | 1.65 ) 2.40 
MAY Seactesearniase 1.00 05 | 1.10 | 1.20 | 1.10 | 1.05 | 1.40 | 1.40 | 1.20 | 1.45 | 2.00 
June -90 | .95 | .95 | 1.05 | 1.00 | 1.00 | 1.30 | 1.25 | 1.10 | 1.25 | 1.60 
DUIY™ caavees sede qoek 1.00 | 1.05 | 1.05 | 1.20 | 1.30 | 1.30 | 1.50 ) 1.50 | 1.30 | 1.55 | 2.12 
August .......... 1.20 | 1.25 | 1.25 | 1.30 | 1.45 | 1.45 | 1.60 | 1.60 | 1.55 | 1.70 | 2.380 
September ...... 1.30 | 1.35 | 1.35 | 1.40 | 1.45 | 1.50 | 1.60 | 1.60 | 1.55 | 1.70 | 2.30 
October .........) 1.55 | 1.45 | 1.55 | 1.70 | 1.70 | 1.60 | 1.85 | 1.90 | 1.53 | 1.90 | 3.42 
November ...... 1.65 | 1.55 | 1.70 | 1.90 | 1.85 | 1.75 | 1.95 | 2.00 | 1.65 | 2.10 | 3,22 
December ........] 1.65 | 1.55 | 1.75 | 2.00 | 1.90 | 1.80 | 2.00 | 2.00 | 1.65 | 2.10 | 3.22 
January ........ 1.65 | 1.55 | 1.75 | 2.00 | 1.85 | 1.75 | 2.00 | 1.95 | 1.64 | 2.05 | 3.22 
February ..,...-. 1.65 | 1.55 | 1.70 | 1.90 | 1.80 | 1.70 | 1.85 | 1.85 | 1.54 | 2.00 | 3.07 
March ...-. eee 1.55 | 1.45 | 1.55 | 1.70 | 1.65 | 1.60 | 1.75 | 1.75 | 1.43 | 1.85 | 2.90 
The prices beginning with November, 1917, were set by the 
Food Administration during their hearing on milk prices 
which will be referred to later. It has been customary to 
