The  Milk  Situation 
Messrs.  Brill  and  Burkett  and  Borden's  are  spending 
a  good  deal  of  money,  and  wasting  a  good  deal  of  en¬ 
ergy,  in  a  hysterical  attempt  to  prove  that  Brill  and 
Burkett  won  the  milk  fight.  No  one  else  seems  to  be 
concerned  about  it,  but  everyone  else  is  able  to  enjoy 
the  humor  of  the  situation.  Men  even  without  wit 
can  sometimes  be  very  funny  without  knowing  it.  The 
real  humor  comes  from  the  faet.  that  everyone  ean  see 
their  stupidity  except  themselves.  The  time  has  gone 
when  pretenders  in  this  country  can  expect  a  very 
big  following. 
There  is  enough  real  work  for  the  dairymen  to  ab¬ 
sorb  their  attention  profitably  without  wasting  their 
time  in  past  issues.  Every  day  the  men  in  charge  of 
the  work  have  some  new  problem  to  settle,  and  some 
new  difficulties  to  adjust.  In  one  place  a  dealer  tries 
to  get  an  advantage  by  posting  a  lower  price  than  they 
agreed  to  pay.  In  another  place  an  attempt  is  made 
to  settle  for  milk  without  considering  the  fat  content. 
Other  dealers,  practically  insolvent,  have  been  delay¬ 
ing  payments  in  trying  to  run  big  credits  with  pro¬ 
ducers.  These  are  all  matters  of  vital  importance,  and 
at  this  time  require  immediate  and  detailed  attention. 
During  the  milk  fight  dealers  have  gone  far  afield, 
outside  of  the  regular  milk  territory,  and  made  con¬ 
tracts  for  milk.  This  has,  for  the  time  being  at  least, 
increased  the  supply  and  lessened  the  demand  for  milk 
in  the  city  now  that  the  regular  supply  is  coming. 
Again,  the  dealers  have  advanced  the  price  to  consum¬ 
ers  from  one  to  two  cents  a  quart,  and  this  has  had  a 
tendency  to  lessen  consumption  and  check  the  ready 
demand  for  milk.  These  matters  will,  however,  adjust 
themselves,  and  there  is  a  prospect  of  a  good  demand 
in  the  near  future. 
The  increase  in  the  price  to  the  consumer  has 
raised  a  lively  protest  in  the  city,  and  a  demand 
through  the  press  and  elsewhere  for  full  investigation 
of  the  cost  of  distribution,  and  a  lowering  of  retail 
prices  if  the  circumstances  warrant  it. 
The  Wicks  Committee  will  begin  its  hearing  in  the 
city  in  the  very  near  future.  The  Attorney-General 
is  already  conducting  an  investigation  of  city  distribu¬ 
tion.  The  Department,  of  Foods  and  Markets  is  co¬ 
operating  with  both  of  these  agencies,  and  the  pros¬ 
pects  are  that  both  milk  consumers  and  milk  producers 
will  be  treated  to  a  number  of  facts  in  reference  to 
the  distribution  of  milk  that  they  have  never  so  much 
as  dreamed  of  iu  the  past. 
In  the  meantime  the  work  of  completing  the  Dairy¬ 
men’s  League  organizations  throughout  the  territory  is 
going  on,  and  will  go  on.  The  details  of  the  organiza¬ 
tion  will  be  perfected,  and  cooperative  pasteurizing  and 
manufacturing  plants  will  be  established  where  prac¬ 
tical,  so  that  the  finishing  and  control  of  at  least  a 
fair  portion  of  the  milk  will  be  kept  in  the  hands  of 
the  men  who  produce  it.  A  special  effort  will  be  made 
to  organize  these  plants  in  districts  where  dealers  are 
making  attempts  to  cheat  and  overdo  the  producers  in 
local  sections. 
The  organization  of  the  selling  agency  iu  the  city  to 
sell  all  of  the  milk  of  these  cooperative  associations 
will  also  be  perfected,  and  if  the  regular  dealers  per¬ 
sist  iu  their  wasteful  and  extravagant  methods  and  ex¬ 
pensive  distribution,  milk  will  be  sold  and  distributed 
through  local  butcher  stores,  groceries  and  delicatessen 
stores  with  a  view  of  reducing  the  cost  of  distribution 
and  to  increase  the  consumption  of  milk.  The  Depart¬ 
ment  is  also  insisting  that  the  price  of  milk  to  the 
consumer  must  be  made  consistent  with  the  price  to 
the  producer.  In  other  words,  in  seasons  when  the 
price  of  milk  is  higher  to  the  farmer,  it  must  be  pro¬ 
portionately  higher  to  the  consumer,  and  when  the 
price  is  low  to  the  producer,  then  it  must  be  low  to 
the  consumer  iu  order  to  increase  consumption  in  such 
seasons  of  large  production,  and  in  that  way  avoid  a 
large  surplus.  The  justice  of  this  position  is  appre¬ 
ciated  by  the  consumers  and  the  city  press,  and  they 
are  making  a  demand  for  it.  The  advantage  of  it  is 
readily  appreciated  by  the  producer. 
These  measures  have  only  been  agitated  in  the  city 
for  a  few  weeks,  but  the  agitation  has  already  pro¬ 
duced  some  results.  The  Bordeu’s  Company  have  just 
announced  that  they  will  sell  milk  from  their  local  sta¬ 
tions  direct  to  housewives  who  want  to  carry  it  home 
at  two  cents  a  quart,  less  than  the  price  delivered,  and 
it  is  believed  that  practically  all  of  the  companies  will 
follow  the  same  plan.  This  is  going  half  way  if  it.  is 
turned  in  the  right  direction.  Everybody  is  willing  that 
the  distributor  should  have  a  fair  price  for  his  labor 
and  bis  investment,  but  wasteful  and  extravagant  meth¬ 
ods  of  distribution  must  be  eliminated,  and  systems  of 
distribution  must  be  invented  that  will  get  milk  to 
the  poor  and  frugal  people  of  the  city  at  the  lowest 
cost  possible.  If  the  rich  and  exacting  want  to  pay 
a  high  price  for  a  special  delivery  system,  all  well  and 
good,  hut  we  propose  to  let  them  know  that  they  are 
paying  for  special  delivery  service,  and  the  whole  cost 
must  not  be  charged  up  against  milk. 
The  Farmer’s  Weapon — the  Ballot 
Mr.  IT.  W.  Collingwood, 
Dear  Sir : — We  are  corning  close  to  the  end  of  a 
State  campaign.  There  will  be  votes  in  the  city  and 
votes  in  the  village,  but  the  farm  vote  will  decide  the 
elections  of  the  Governor  and  the  majority  in  the  Legis¬ 
lature.  For  this  reason  the  farmer  assumes  unusual 
responsibilities  in  his  vote  this  year.  Some  of  the 
farmers  belong  to  one  party  and  some  to  another,  and 
Efce  RURAL  NEW-YORKER 
except  when  some  unusual  measure  presents  itself,  the 
fainter  has  voted  his  regular  ticket.  There  has  prob¬ 
ably  never  been  a  time  in  this  State  when  so  much 
depends  on  the  farmer  in  a  State  election  as  at  the 
present  time.  The  marketing  of  bis  products  bas  been 
and  is  the  most  important  and  difficult  problem  that 
the  farmer  has  to  face.  It  was  because  of  this  diffi¬ 
culty  that  the  Department  of  Foods  and  Markets  was 
organized  to  help  the  farmer  in  this  important  and 
difficult  work.  For  two  years  that  Department  has  been 
discouraged  and  hampered  in  the  want  of  funds  and 
other  supports  to  organize  and  develop  the  work  for 
which  it  was  created.  Everybody  knows  that  if  it 
were  not  for  the  one  man  who  assumed  the  burden  of 
it  and  fought  its  battles  literally  alone,  it  would  have 
been  wiped  out  of  existence  before  it  was  fairly  or¬ 
ganized.  During  these  two  years,  and  in  spite  of  op¬ 
position  and  discouragement  and  want  of  funds,  it  has 
demonstrated  its  great  possibilities  of  service  to  the 
people  of  the  State.  Its  recent  success  iu  the  sale 
of  milk  has  put  its  power  for  usefulness  and  for  ser¬ 
vice  beyond  all  question.  The  plans  that  it  seems  to 
he  developing  according  to  city  papers  for  the  economic 
distribution  of  food  to  the  consumer,  promises  quite 
as  much  service  in  reducing  the  cost  of  living  as  it  has 
in  promoting  the  interests  of  the  producer  iu  the  coun¬ 
try. 
Its  administration  lias  simply  increased  the  oppo¬ 
sition  of  its  enemies  to  even  a  larger  extent  than  it 
has  inspired  the  enthusiasm  of  its  friends.  The  pro¬ 
duce  commission  man,  milk  dealers  and  feed  dealers 
throughout  the  city  and  8tate  are  fighting  it  as  one 
man.  If  the  farmers  are  indifferent  to  it  and  defeat 
it  by  voting  their  regular  partisan  ticket,  this  ser¬ 
vice  will  he  crippled  if  it  is  not  entirely  destroyed. 
It,  therefore,  behooves  the  farmer  to  make  sure  that 
Manufacturing  the  Watered  Dollar 
From  tlio  Evening  World 
he  votes  for  candidates  for  the  Legislature  who  by  their 
assurances  and  their  records  will  vote  in  the  Legisla¬ 
ture  for  the  proper  support,  and  appropriations  for  the 
development  of  this  work  without  regard  to  party  ties. 
The  candidates  for  Governor  should  be  subject,  to  a 
similar  scrutiny,  and  records  of  the  past  should  be 
considered  as  a  factor  of  what  we  might  reasonably 
expect  in  the  future.  Consider  their  recent  letters. 
Like  other  farmers  I  have  had  my  partisan  friends 
and  my  party  ties,  and  they  have  often  influenced  my 
vote,  but  this  year  I  propose  to  vote  for  the  men  for 
loth  Legislature  aud  State  offices,  including  the  Gov¬ 
ernor,  who  give  the  best  promises  by  word  and  record 
of  a  concern  for  the  agricultural  interests  of  the  State, 
aud  if  all  farmers  will  do  the  same  as  our  best  iu- 
terests  demand,  there  will  certainly  be  some  prominent 
changes  iu  the  capitol  at  Albany  after  the  first  of 
.T  anuary.  producer. 
New'  York. 
Notes  from  Department  of  Foods  and 
Markets 
204  Franklin  St,  New  York  City 
EGGS. — State  and  nearby  eggs  which  will  command 
the  top  prices  are  very  scarce.  On  Thursday  the  mar¬ 
ket  advanced  to  65e  on  the  best  nearby  eggs;  browns 
39c  to  53c;  brown  and  mixed  gathered  .’{()<*  to  42c; 
some  held  eggs  sold  lower.  (N.  B.)  The  Federal  De¬ 
partment  of  Agriculture  recently  issued  a  bulletin  re¬ 
garding  interstate  shipments  of  eggs,  stating  that  ship¬ 
pers  will  bo  liable  to  prosecution,  and  their  eggs  to 
confiscation  if  the  shipments  contained  more  than  five 
per  cent,  dead  loss.  “In  the  opinion  of  the  department, 
eggs  which  contain  yolks  stuck  to  the  shell,  moldy 
eggs,  black  spots,  mixed  rots,  addled  eggs,  black  rots, 
and  any  other  eggs  which  consist  wholly  or  in  part  of 
a  filthy,  decomposed,  or  putrid  substance,  are  adul¬ 
terated.”  Shippers  who  are  uot  certain  <>f  the  fresh¬ 
ness  of  their  eggs  should  candle  them  before  shipping 
them  in  interstate  commerce. 
BUTTEIt. — Fancy  western  creamery  butter  one- 
half  cent  higher  than  la-t  week  and  selling  37c.  Fancy 
1399 
eastern  dairy  in  tubs  321,4c  to  33%c.  Eastern  dairy 
in  mixed  packages,  28%e  to  32  %c. 
DRESSED  POULTRY.— Market  firm  with  limited 
supplies.  Dressed  fowls  selling  2lo  to  22c;  broilers 
25e  to  27c;  chickens  21c  to  23c;  young  turkeys  30c 
to  35c;  old  turkeys  28c  to  30c. 
LIVE  POULTRY. — Fowls  selling  slow;  heavy  col¬ 
ored  fowls  in  good  demand;  Leghorn  fowls  loe  to  17c; 
heavy  from  ISc  to  10c;  light  and  colored  chickens  18c 
to  20c;  heavy  chickens  17c  to  ISc. 
.  DRE88ED_  U ALVES. — The  TTealth  Department  of 
tho  (  lty  of  New  iork  has  ordered  that  all  country 
dressed  calves  must  be  opened  all  the  way  through  the 
breast  and  throat.  Shippers  are  cautioned  to  be  very 
careful  to  cut  through  the  center.  After  the  calf  is 
cooled  the  breast  may  be  protected  by  drawing  the  skin 
together  with  a  stout  cord.  Market  demoralized  on 
dressed  calves,  with  prices  ranging  from  14c  to  16c  on 
medium  to  fancy;  a  few  which  arrived  in  bad  order 
sold  lower;  buttermilks  He  to  12c. 
DRESSED  PIGS  AND  HOGS, — Market  lower; 
dressed  pigs  30  to  50  lbs.  14c  to  15c;  dressed  hogs  GO  to 
80  lbs.  13c  to  1314c;  SO  to  120  lbs.  12c  to  13c;  125  to 
200  lbs.  lie  to  12c. 
RABBITS.- — Belgian  hares  10c  to  18c  per  lb. ;  prime 
cottontails  35c  to  40c  per  pair ;  prime  jacks  $1.15  to 
$1.2o  per  pair. 
ai  1  — .Market  nrm  on  fancy;  other  qualities  sell- 
ing  more  freely.  McIntosh  $4  to  $6.25;  Jonathan 
•>3.n0  to  $o.50;  Twenty  Ounce  $2.50  to  $4.50;  Wolf 
River  $3  to  $4.50 ;  Alexander  $3  to  $4;  Kings  $3  to 
8o;  Snow  $0  to  $4;  York  Imperial  $3  to  $3.75;  Fancy 
Baldwins  $3.25  to  $3.50;  Baldwins,  fair  to  good.  $1.75 
to  $2.75;  Greenings  $3  to  $4.50;  Gravenstein  $2.75  to 
$4,o0;  Ilubbardson  $2  to  $3;  Ben  Davis  $1.50  to  $3. 
POTATOES. — Market  active  and  75c  per  barrel 
higher  on  Long  Islands;  Long  Islands,  per  barrel,  84.75 
to  $0;  Maine  Gobblers,  1G5-Ib.  bag,  $4.50  to  $4.65; 
Marne  Green  Mountains,  165-lb.  bag,  $4.40  to  $4.60; 
Jersey  Rounds,  165-lb.  bag.  $4.25  to  $4.50;  Jersey 
Longs,  1 60-lb.  bag,  $4  to  $4.25. 
NUTS.- — Receipts  of  State  chestnuts  limited  and 
selling  from  $8  to  $11.50  per  60  lbs.  Southern  chest¬ 
nuts.  mostly  wormy,  selling  from  $7  to  $9.50  per 
bushel.  Hickory  nuts  $3.50  to  $4  per  bushel ;  black 
walnuts  from  75c  to  $1.50  per  bushel. 
Summary  of  sales  of  miscellaneous  farm  products 
during  tin-  week  ending  October  26th,  1916: 
4  cases 
EGOR. 
1  case  . 
.  64 
9  cases  . 
.  62 
10  cases 
pflsps  . .  An 
1  case  . . 
.  59 
8  cases  . 
3  cases  . 
.  57 
5%  cases  . 
5  oases  . 
1  ease  . . 
.  53 
2  cases  . 
. 52 
4  cases  . 
50 
2  c.’  -s  . 
. 47 
9%  cases  . 
. 46 
17  cases  . 
45 
6  cases  . 
. 43 
2  cases  . 
. 42 
5  oast's  . 
.  40 
1  case  .. 
. 38 
%  case 
. 35 
1  case  . . 
•  •  •  • 
. 30 
128  cases. 
2006  lbs. 
58  lbs. 
373  lbs, 
74  lbs. 
2511  lbs. 
RUTTER. 
.$0.32 
: 
.  .30 
MISCET.I.  A  XF.OUS. 
26  boxes  cheese.  947  lbs . 
2  tubs  lard.  117  lbs . 
. $0.20% 
. 13 
60  lbs.  rabbits  . 
.  18 
57  lbs.  rabbits  . 
124  lbs.  rabbits  . 
1  bag  hickory  nuts.  59  lbs . 
1  bag  chestnuts,  67  lbs . 
. 17 
. .15 
. 4.72 
. 10.60 
x  on 
1  bag  chestnuts.  35  lbs . 
1  bag  chestnuts.  120  lbs . 
1  bag  chestnuts.  94  lbs . 
1  bag  chestnuts.  28  lbs . 
. 4.67 
. 15.00 
.  7.83 
.  2.75 
CARVES,  ETC. 
2  calves,  153  lbs.,  iu  bad  order  . 
1  liver  . 
1  calf,  S6  lbs.,  in  bad  order . 
1  calf,  83  lbs.,  iu  bad  order . 
6  livers,  hearts  and  tongues  . 
2  calves.  162  lbs . 
1  calf,  89  lbs . 
3  calves,  241  lbs . 
1  calf,  78  lbs . 
2  calves,  210  lbs . 
1  calf,  98  lbs . 
1  calf,  90  lbs . 
Head  . 
1  live  calf.  162  lbs . 
1  calf,  100  lbs . 
3  livers,  tongues  aud  heads  . 
2  calves.  179  lbs . 
1  calf,  106  lbs . 
1  calf,  120  lbs . . . 
4  pigs.  92  lbs.  . 
2  beads  aud  feet  . 
1  calf,  101  lbs . 
1  calf,  87  lbs . 
Liver,  heart  and  tongue  . 
1  calf,  105  lbs.  . 
1  calf,  M.4  lbs . 
4  livers,  tongues  and  sweet  breads  . 
1  calf,  S3  lbs . 
2  calves.  I8t  lbs . 
1  calf,  73  lbs . 
1  calf,  81  lbs . . . . . 
1  calf,  72  lbs . 
1  calf,  106  lbs . 
Liver,  heart  and  sweet  breads  . 
(Continued  on  page  1411.) 
_ $0.1114 
. 40 
. 11% 
....  .11% 
_  3.60 
. 15% 
. 15 
. 13 
. 12% 
. 15% 
. 11% 
. 16% 
. 20 
. 12% 
. 18 
_  1.90 
. 17 
. 16 
. 18 
. 16 
....  .50 
. 17% 
. 17 
. 65 
. 18 
. 17 
_ 4.00 
. 17% 
. 17 
. 14V> 
. 14 
. 15 
. ny3 
. 60 
