DISTRIBUTION OF MILK 63 



sections the producers themselves are beginning to insist 

 that all the milk be taken to the plants by such route men, 

 in order (i) that there may be less delay at the plant, 

 and (2) that the milk may be more cheaply hauled be- 

 cause collected in larger quantities without extra travel.^ 



Even in the larger centers, large proportions of the milk 

 are frequently brought in by wagon or truck. In the 

 summer of 1916 over 56 per cent of Milwaukee's milk sup- 

 ply was being brought in in this way. 



In many instances the trucks used for hauling are oper- 

 ated by the milk companies themselves, in order to assure 

 a steadier supply of milk. In other instances the drivers 

 are hired by the companies and all or a part of their pay 

 is deducted from the farmer's milk check at the end of 

 each pay period. Recently, however, numerous instances 

 have been reported in which producers themselves have 

 owned and operated motor trucks. Several such are to 

 be found in the neighborhood of Baltimore, Maryland, 

 where cooperative companies have been organized for this 

 purpose. 2 Most commonly, however, the milk haulers, 

 whether operating by team or by motor truck, are more 

 or less independent of either producers or company. They 

 operate for a given charge per can, which charge varies 

 rather widely from community to community, depending 

 upon the amount of milk hauled regularly, the kind of 

 roads, and the distance hauled. 



As cities are compelled to reach out farther for milk, 

 larger and larger proportions of the direct shipments are 

 brought in by steam or interurban lines. Though the 

 development of milk carrying by electric railroads is com- 



^ Dairymen's Price Reporter, Jan. 5, 1920, p. 2. 



* U. S. Farmers' Bulletin 1032 ; Bulletin No. I, Firestone Ship by Truck 

 Bureau, Akron, Ohio. 



