THE RURAL NEW-YORKER. 
February 25 
142 
The Milk Trade. 
THE HULK SITUATION. 
THAT “POWER OF ATTORNEY.” 
It is rumored that a company has re¬ 
cently been organized, and is now trying 
to contract with the farmers through 
the officers of the Five States Milk Pro¬ 
ducers’ Association, for 15,000 cans of 
milk to be delivered daily. There is 
nothing to show how soon the delivery 
is to begin. The officeis of the associa¬ 
tion admit that negotiations to this effect 
are under way, but they consider it bet¬ 
ter, for the present, to give no informa¬ 
tion about it, except that the company 
is alleged to be entirely responsible. 
They also say that they are sure of get¬ 
ting the required amount of milk. On 
the strength of this information, the 
milk producers are asked to sign a blank 
power of attorney, which was printed 
last week, by which they delegate away 
the right to sell and contract their milk. 
The only condition is that the price be 
not less than 2 % cents for six months in 
the year, not less than \% cent for the 
other six months, and that payment be 
made on or before the tenth day of each 
month for the milk delivered the previous 
month. What can be the possible harm 
of treating milk producers with a little 
more confidence ? If this company is 
backed up by responsible men, why do 
they not come out and make their con¬ 
tracts in broad daylight ? The R. N.-Y. 
doesn’t want to throw cold water on any 
movement that is to benefit the milk 
producers of the country, but we would 
not go into this scheme, and sign away 
our privileges with our eyes shut, on the 
mere word of men who hold back the 
most important part of their argument. 
If this mysterious company want milk, 
let them come out with a fair proposi¬ 
tion, such as is implied in the agreement 
that they want milk producers to sign, 
and they can easily get all the milk they 
can possibly use for the next year, or the 
next five years. Former efforts of “capi¬ 
talists” to control this market have 
failed because the milk dealers have 
asked too much for their outfits. If the 
“ Trust ” got the milk away from the 
dealers and thus froze them out, where 
do you think the farmer would be if all 
the agreement he had was the one print¬ 
ed last week ? 
HANDLING NEW YORK’S SUPPLY. 
Distribution Under Difficulties.— 
Not until we encounter such a blizzard 
as the one through which New York has 
just passed, do we realize the clock-like 
precision and regularity with which our 
milk supply is usually brought to our 
doors. Day after day, week after week, 
month after month, on weekdays, Sun¬ 
days and holidays, through storm and 
sunshine, heat and cold, Summer and 
Winter, does the milkman come on his 
unvarying round. Storms sometimes 
delay him, but not before, since the 
memorable blizzard of 1888, has there 
been such an almost complete suspension 
of delivery as during the first days of 
the week just past. Almost no milk 
reached the City, and it couldn’t have 
been delivered if it had. 
How It Is Distributed. —Our readers 
are mostly familiar with the methods of 
starting the milk to the city market. 
They are not so familiar with the methods 
of handling it after it arrives there. In 
this City, the larger part of the milk 
that arrives by railroad, comes to the 
west side of the North River. It usually 
arrives before midnight. Late in the 
evening, great numbers of wagons of all 
kinds and sizes begin to gather around 
the ferries, and wend their way over to 
the railroad yards on the other side. 
There are small, rickety old wagons, 
each drawn by one bony horse, that 
probably, belong to some small dealer 
or grocer who handles only a few cans 
of milk. Then there are fine-looking 
horses, and well-painted wagons that be¬ 
token thrift and a larger business. There 
are, also, great heavy trucks that can 
carry immense loads, and four-horse 
teams that can draw nearly a half car¬ 
load of milk. The objective points of 
all are the milk platforms of the dif¬ 
ferent railroad stations across the River. 
Here each driver gets his load, and comes 
back to the store on this side. 
Serving the Customers. —From the 
stores, the milk wagons, generally drawn 
by one horse, start out on their regular 
routes serving customers. The better 
class of milk comes in bottles, and is de¬ 
livered to customers just as it left the 
dairy. Some of it is sent in cans and is 
bottled here. The hotels and restaurants 
that use large quantities get it by the 
can. Some of the milk is sold from 
groceries, by the quart, and this is the 
lowest priced of all, often selling for 
four cents per quart, sometimes, in Sum¬ 
mer, for as low as three cents. 
A great economy is possible in the dis¬ 
tribution of milk, if a combination of re¬ 
tailers were possible. Now, a dozen or 
more often drive over the same route, 
and serve as many different families in 
the same tenement. One could do this 
just as well, and effect a great saving in 
time and horse flesh. This has been one 
of the strong points urged by promoters 
of the various schemes for organizing re¬ 
tailers. 
Milk Stores. —Scattered through the 
City are various stores which are the 
headquarters of different milk routes, 
and these usually sell, also, butter and 
eggs. Some of the larger concerns have 
several stores. Most of these have fanci¬ 
ful names suggestive of attractive rural 
scenes, like Clover Leaf Farm, Cold 
Spring Dairy, etc. The delivery wagons, 
also, are lettered in the same way. Some 
of the higher class firms issue neat 
pamphlets and cards describing their 
advantages, and telling why their prod¬ 
ucts are superior to all others. There is 
a great deal of handling and figuring be¬ 
tween producer and consumer, and there 
is a great difference between the price 
received by the former and that paid by 
the latter. 
PRICE OF FEEDS. 
City bran, per ton.17 00 @17 50 
Spring bran, 200-ib sacks, per ton.10 76 @17 00 
Spring bran to arrive.17 00 @17 25 
Middlings, as to quality, per ton.. ..10 00 @18 00 
Sharps, per ton.18 00 @10 00 
Red dog, per ton.17 00 @17 50 
Linseed oil meal, to arrive and spot...24 75 @20 00 
Cake.24 75 @20 00 
Cotton-seed meal.20 00 @20 50 
Brewers’ meal and grits, per 100 lbs.... 1 00 @ 1 05 
Hominy chops. 7714® 80 
Coarse meal, western. 83 @ 85 
Commissioner op Agriculture Wieting says 
that the bob veal law is being very generally en¬ 
forced, but that some violations are reported. 
He says that, as a result, good calves are bring¬ 
ing about $10 apiece, and that farmers are mak¬ 
ing money on them, while last season, they were 
selling bobs at $1 to $3. He said it was injustice 
in the past to make a man who fatted a calf up 
to the $10 standard have to compete with people 
who were buying them for practically what their 
skins were worth. 
SCRAPS. 
There is a claim against the City of New York 
for $4,286.56 for butter furnished on the credit of 
the Mayor for use of the inmates in the House of 
Correction. A bill before the Assembly author¬ 
izes the payment of this sum out of the judg¬ 
ment fund of the City of New York. 
A surprising number of bills regulating the 
practice of veterinary medicine have been intro¬ 
duced at this session of the New York legisla¬ 
ture. It looks as though it would come to a point 
where a man will be unable to give a dose of 
condition powders to his horse unless he can 
show a diploma. 
The bill favored by Dr. James Law in last 
week’s R. N.-Y., which requires a tuberculin 
test for all cattle shipped into this State, was de¬ 
bated before the Senate committee last week. The 
Buffalo Live Stock Dealers’ Association opposed 
the bill, and said that it would destroy the live 
stock market at Buffalo. Dr. James Law and 
Veterinarian Kelly, of the State Board of Health, 
favored the bill. Dr. Law said he knew that dis¬ 
eased cattle had been brought into. New York 
State, and sold as healthy animals. Dr. Kelly 
said he had heard of tuberculous cattle from 
other States being sold in this State. Imported 
cattle shipped through New York, and tested at 
West Albany, have been found to have tubercu¬ 
losis. This bill will give New York State pro¬ 
tection against the disease when brought in. 
The enemies of “ embalmed ” butter and milk 
are putting up a good fight at Albany, and Gov. 
Roosevelt is taking a personal interest in the 
bill which prohibits the use of all preservatives 
in butter except salt. J. A. North, of New York, 
has made some powerful statements in favor of 
the bill. He says that nine-tenths of all the or¬ 
ders from Great Britain for American butter de¬ 
mand guarantees that no preservative shall be 
used. He also says that preservatives do not 
preserve. While they retard certain ferments, 
they excite others, and butter becomes tallowy 
in half the time that it would without the so- 
called preservatives. He makes the point that 
nobody fights the bill except the men who have 
borax and salicylic acid to sell. The butter- 
makers and merchants, the exporters and con¬ 
sumers want the bill, and want it at once. No¬ 
body will willingly eat “ embalmed ” butter, and 
the public will demand protection from these 
dangerous drugs. 
Wherever the pain may be 
there is the place for an 
GUERNSEYS. 
226 purebred Guernseys of the best American 
and Island breeding. Butter average, whole 
herd, 318 pounds per head. No catalogue. Com 
ADd make your own selection. 
ELLERSLIE STOCK FARM, 
BHTNECLIFF, N. Y. 
Registered Jersey Cattle 
For Milk and Butter. 
R. F. SHANNON, 907 Liberty St., Pittsburgh, Pa. 
WILLSWOOD FARM 
wishes to have a buyer for their flock of SOUTH 
DOWNS, purebred and grades; room needed for 
increased herd of Guernseys. 
THE BERKSHIRES are still the best. A few 
boars and sows; also younger ones. For the pedi¬ 
grees, etc., address 
WILLS A. SEWARD, Budd s Lake, N. J. 
ENGLISH SHIRE HORSES. 
STALLIONS, MARES AND COLTS 
FOR SALE. 
One Stallion and two Mares Imported, and all of 
the best breeding, and good individuals. Prices 
attractive. JNO. I. GORDON, Mercer, Pa. 
BLOODED LIVE STOCK 
Sheep —Oxfords, Shropshires, South- 
downs. Fancy Poultry. Plg»-- 
Berkshires, Poland-Chinas, Chester 
Whites, Y orkshires. Catalogue fret. 
H. L. HOLMES, Harrlaburg, Pa. 
Reg. P Chinas. Berkshires 
and Chester Whites. 8 week 
Pigs not akin. 50 choice bred 
sows, farrow in March and 
April. Poultry. Write for hard 
times prices and free circular. 
Hamilton & Co., Cochranville, Chester County, Pa. 
Cows barren 3 years 
MADE TO BREED, 
f Moore Brothers, Albany, N. Y. 
Unproved ^OW TIE 
Holds them firmly, draws 
them forward when lying 
down, pushes back when 
standing, gives freedom 
of head, kee, themcleaD 
E. C. NEWT _;N CO. 
Batavia. Ill. Catalogue Fre* 
Allccck's 
Porous piaster 
It never fails to perform its 
THE CHAIN HANGING 
CATTLE STANCHION. 
The most practical and humane Fastener ever in¬ 
vented. Gives perfect freedom of the bead. Illus¬ 
trated Circular and Price free on application. 
Manufactured by O. H. ROBERTSON, 
Forestviile, Conn. 
work quickly and effectually, 
and, more than that, it does 
its work while you do yours. 
SMALL’S CALF FEEDER. 
Calves suck their milk, grow sleek, 
thrifty and very large, commanding the 
highest market prices for veal or dairy. 
Write for free circulars. 
J. It. Small Si Co., Boston, Mass. 
Beware of the many imi¬ 
tations made to sell on the 
reputation of “ Allcock’s.” 
When you buy Allcock’s 
you obtain absolutely the 
best plaster made. 
FEED COOKER 
Is a money saver on every farm. It 
Increases the grain you hare-'by 
making it more palatable and dl 
gestlble. THE 
FARMER’S FAVORITE 
is a thoroughly reliable cooker at a 
reasonable price. Furnace made of 
best gray iron; boiler of best gal¬ 
vanized steel. It Is of special value 
for cooking feed for all kinds of 
live stock and poultry) for heat¬ 
ing wa<ver for scalding nogs, etc. 
Excellent for evaporating Mapls 
sap, boiling down syrup, “sugar. 
etc. Just the thing for boiling down elder, 
until you get our circulars andprices. 
IS, 60 Main St., Cortland, N. Y. 
5- 
draught. You will thank us later on for the suggestion if you take 
time now to look into the 
m Potato Planter 
Its intelligent use is bound to increase the profits of potato plant¬ 
ing, enough to make your investment pay a great dividend. Ex¬ 
periments are expensive. Don’t experiment, but buy the Improved- 
Robbins which has proved itself the best. Guaranteed to give 
satisfaction. First order in new territory secures special price. 
It is made by the Ikon Age People, who will beglad to send you, free, 
the Iron Age Book of farm and garden implements in which the Im- 
proved-Robbins Potato Planter is described in detail, and illustrated from 
photographs taken in the fields. Send your name. 
BATEMAN MFG. CO., Box 502 , Grenloch, N.J. 
The Best Day’s Work 
You ever did you can beat w T ith the I mproved=Robbins Potato Planter. 
It has made its mark all over the country and thousands of potato growers, 
after long experience with many devices, look upon the Improved-Robbins 
as the only perfect planter. You can depend on it always to do its work well. 
It w’ill plant from 5 to 7 acres a day.^ It will drop 100 % of the seed cor¬ 
rectly, making no misses or doubles. The fertilizer is evenly distributed 
(from 200 lbs. to 2400 lbs. to the acre), and is thoroughly mixed with the 
soil before the seed is dropped. It covers with discs and marks the next row. 
It is perfect in its mechanism, simple, strong, easily operated, light of 
