899 
■Che RURAL NEW-YORKER 
The Backbone of the Dairymen’s League 
The Co-operative Creameries Must Stand 
would be f?o ahead and build them as fast as possible. 
Then let the big business men in the dairy industry 
come forward and take a hand iu the management 
given to Mr. Hoover, the Food Administrator, to 
determine the price of wheat until the end of the 
war, and it is understood that he is iu favor of in¬ 
Could you and Mr. Van Son handle the products of 
our co-operative creamery here, either in milk, cream, 
butter or cheese? We are all League members and 
built last Fall. We were promised League prices by 
the representatives of the League and had good promises 
from Mr. Cooper, but they all failed to materialize. We 
have been left alone to fight it out, and as the milk of 
the plants around here was sold by the League, and, 
as we could not pay the prices, they drew our patrons 
from us, so that our co-operative plant has been handi¬ 
capped from the very start. We sent our contribution 
to the Co-operative Milk Marketing Association, but 
after a time we were left to fight our own battles. 
Our creamery would soon double in patrons if we 
could only pay what the Borden’s and Hheffields do 
around us. Maxagek. 
New York. 
I am instructed by the board of directors of our 
dairy company to ask your opinion of the future pros- 
jiects of co-operative creamery' companies. We have 
formed a company and are in position to build and 
equip a modern creamery. At the New Y'ork office of 
the League we were advised to wait to see if the 
Borden option went through or not. and in all prob¬ 
ability it will be four months before this is decided. 
We are anxious to own and operate our own plant, and 
will appreciate your advice. secretary. 
New York. 
T hese two inquiries came iu the same mail. 
They are typical of others. The present status 
of the co-operative plant developed under the fol¬ 
lowing circumstances: The dealers knew that the 
co-operative plants are the backbone of the Dairy¬ 
men’s League, and consequently they ])referred to 
hamper them rather than to encourage them with 
an outlet for their milk. They also want the profits 
of pasteurizing for themselves, and they prefer to 
grade and standardize milk beluud their own closed 
doors. At the same time 11. D. Cooper, president of 
the League, wanted to become a milk dealer. He 
said so. He saw his opportunity in the farm-owned 
plants. His plan fitted iu with the purpose of the 
dealers. He sold the other milk to the dealers, and 
left the co-operative idants without an outlet. Then 
he formed the marketing association and the county 
milk company with himself as president of both 
organizations. 
Left out of the dealers’ contract, the co-operative 
plants had no choice, as Mr. Cooper anticipated, but 
to go into his marketing association for an outlet. 
They did; and so the coveted milk business slipped 
into his lap. 
We refrain from a recital of the blundering de¬ 
tails of tbe enterprise. It is enough to .say that 
Mr. Cooper’s policy of playing into the hands of the 
milk trust has brought heavy losses Avhich farmers 
must bear one way or another. During the month 
of .Tune Suiierintendent Van Son assumed the initia¬ 
tive. broke away from tbe trust, and sold milk at 
seven cents a ciuart through the stores. It reduced 
his surplus and the losses; and if given a chance he 
will probably work tbe business out of tbe difti* 
culties it has acquired through the Cooper milk trust 
policies. 
It is true that the co-operative idants in and out 
of the association have suffered during the past year. 
They are suffering now through this policy: but 
they are the only hojie of the dairy industry of the 
State. They are the backbone of the League. Even 
in the present discouraging condition, our advice 
of the League. Big men wall serve if in/ited. Wipe 
out salaried positions for officers of the League; 
wipe out the marketing association and the Country 
Milk Company. Let the business of tbe board be 
to hire a tirst-class big man as business manager 
of the I.eague and let his business be to sell milk 
as economically as it can be sold. If there be a 
surplus at times such a man will find a way to dis¬ 
pose of it. The way has already been iiointed out. 
To go on the way we have been traveling is suicidal. 
Tbe records prove it. Let us have all the facts 
and then get down to a sane business basis. Wo 
believe there are men in the pi’esent board who 
realize the necessity of this, provided they know all 
the facts. With capable business management the 
future of the co-operative creamery is bright, and 
the permanent success of the League assured. 
Conditions in the Hudson Valley 
As to prices received in local markets bj" farmers 
for farm products, hay .“plO to ,$18, as to quality. 
Rye straw, $12 jier ton, pre.ssed. Potatoes, old, bOc 
per (iO Ib.s. Corn, ,$1.05 per bu.; oats, 89c per bu.; 
rye, ,$1.70 per GO lbs.; butter, 40c per lb.; eggs, 40c. 
We pay .$200 for a new binder, $100 for mowing ma¬ 
chine, $1..25 per ton for ])ressing, and furnish three 
men and board all hands and three horses. Hay 
wire costs $2.75 per bundle; bran costs $50 per ton; 
middlings, ,$G0 per ton. Help is asking $2.50 per day 
and board. It now costs us $G per ton, in carlots, to 
ship hay or straw to Boston, and just a little more 
to New Y'ork; this includes commission. Our hay 
crop’this year is about ,50 per cent. liye is about 60 
to 75 per cent. Corn looks poor; weather too cool. 
Oats look fairly good. Early potatoes look well. 
Apples will be a light crop, and the coopers say bar¬ 
rels will cost $1 each. No matter what prices we get, 
everything else costs so much we do not have any¬ 
thing left. Everybody farms the farmer. ‘‘What 
fools the farmers be.” F. rossmant. 
Columbia Co., N. Y. 
The Price of Wheat 
The wheat situation has developed during the past 
few weeks. The crop is now estimated at something 
over 800,000,0(K) bushels, a considerable increase 
over las't season. The old crop has been cleaned up 
ipostly at the government ])rices of $2.20 per bushel, 
although some millers and dealers have paid moi’e 
than that rather than go entirely without the grain. 
An effort was made in Congress to increase the 
government price to $2.50 per bushel. The House 
of Representatives refused to do this, but tbe Henate 
voted by a large majority to establish that figure. 
The House refused to accept this price, and then the 
Senate again voted to fix the price at $2.50. A com¬ 
promise was finally reached Avith the House to estab¬ 
lish the price for the new crop at .$2.40, but President 
Wilson indicates that he will veto such a proposi¬ 
tion, although it is not known just what action he 
Avill really take. In the meantime power has been 
creasing the price. It is not known just hoAv much 
increase he will favor, but we are told on good 
authority that he has indicated a price of $2.39% in 
New York City. It seems clear that some increa.se 
Avill undoubtedly be made. Until definite prices are 
fixed the 1918 crop will be slow to come into mar¬ 
ket, as naturally grain growers will not sell until 
there is a settled figure, and they know just exactly 
what the crop is likely to bring. The figures said 
to have been quoted by Mr. Hoover at $2.39V2 per 
bu.shel refer to No. 1 Northern, No. 1 hard Winter, 
and the same grade of red Winter, Durum and hard 
white. The No. 2 grade is 3c less, and the No. 3 
grade 7e less. A new price is to be figured for bran 
at the mill door in hulk, and arrangements for dis¬ 
tribution are to be made so as to give a fair allot¬ 
ment for the various parts of the country. In New 
York No. 1 wheat is quoted at $2.26. 
. Up-State Farm Notes 
State. Police to Move. —Troop D. of the State Po¬ 
lice, comprising 65 men under Capt. Hamilton II. Barnes, 
is to move to new quarters just outside of Oneida in 
November. The chamber of commerce of the latter place 
will raise a fund of .$.35,000 to erect suitable barracks 
and stables. Major Chandler considers the new loca¬ 
tion ideal, and near the exact center of the State. 
Syracuse learned too late of the plans to remove from 
Onondaga Valley, and though the city and Lieutenant 
Covernor Schoeneck offered equal inducements for them 
to remain there, the commander of the State troops 
thinks it best not to. 
Bio Sale of Wool. —For a section not particularly 
engaged in the sheep industry, the Cortland County 
AVool Growers’ Association is making a good show in 
its first co-operative sale of wool. .Tuly 9 inspectors 
from Boston received over five tons of wool at the 
stables of Dr. J. C. Stevens, president of the new 
county association. Farmers who h.ad not hitherto 
united with the association were allowed to sell their 
wool to the government buyers by becoming members 
of the association at this time. The farmers received 
69c per pound at time of delivery, the h.alance to be 
paid after inspection at the mills, to make it up to the 
full government price, with no deductions for com¬ 
missions. 
Crop Conditions. —The early pea crop is being har¬ 
vested for canneries. A good growth of vines and pods 
was secured, but they have not filled out well the past 
week or more for lack of sunshine. Potatoes and beans 
are doing well in all sections. The hay crop is now 
being secured, and is light on old meadows. New seed¬ 
ing is furnishing a good hay crop, though the weather is 
decidedly bad for haymaking. Haying in St. Lawrence 
County has begun, and is somewhat lighter in the 
quantity cut than last year. There is a marked short¬ 
age here in farm help; somewhat overcome by the use 
of volunteer, unskilled help. 
Four Toavns Granges’ Picnic. —Lake Como, a well- 
known Cayuga County picnicking resort, will be the meet¬ 
ing place of Four Towns Granges in its Summer meeting. 
Patriotic addresses, athletic events and a Ilooverized din¬ 
ner will constitute the day’s attractions. 
Angelus Bell at Noon. —It is hoped that a custom 
adopted by tae City of Cortland on July 4 may be widely 
adopted by other communities, a few others of the 
State having the plan already in operation. At 12.30 
eacn day the bell of the central fire station will toll 
seven times, when all citizens, regardless of faith, creed 
or church affiliations are expected to bow their heads 
and repeat the following simple prayer: “God bless 
our nation, our I’resident, our army, our navy. God 
bless and guide the Allied forces to victory. Amen.” 
This city thought this hour better than the noon hour, 
when so many are rushing out of shops and factories, 
and when the single stroke for noon has long been the 
custom. M.o F. 
How to Organize a Township Unit of the Federation of Agriculture 
To orc^anize a Township Unit of the New York Federation of Agriculture first get about a half dozen or more of the influential 
farmers oAhe township interested in the organization. Present them with a copy of the constitution and by-laws of both the Federa¬ 
tion and the Township Unit. When a number of individual farmers have approved of the plan, ask them to join you in calling a 
meeting for a definite time and place. Be sure to invite the women, and secure their membership. 
At the meeting explain the purposes briefly. Be careful not to talk long but make clear that the'main purpose is to bring about 
conditions that will make it possible to produce food on the farms at a profit. We want the cost of production and a reasonable pro¬ 
fit just as other lines of business and manufacturers get. We want a square deal for the farmer and the farm. From the middleman 
we want a fair share of the consumer’s dollar. Insofar as we propose to go with politics, it is only to secure the objects and not for 
jobs or spoils or positions. If men now in public places serve us fairly we will reward them. From now on men who betray our in¬ 
terests must look for all the punishment we can inflict with the ballot. 
Then pass around membership cards and secure members. 
The next move is to elect officers. The women should get their share. 
Then pass a resolution to adopt the constitution of the Township Unit. 
Also pass a resolution to become a member of the New York Federation of Agriculture, and to approve its constitution and by¬ 
laws, and authorize the payment of the twenty-five dollars annual fee to the Federation. 
The secretary should make out a certificate of election for the Delegate and forward it to the secretary of the Federation. 
See that a place and date is arranged for regular meetings. 
A committee to rrovide program and entertainment for meetings will add to their success. 
For supplies address the 
FINANCE COMMITTEE, Or, 
333 West 30th Street, S. J. T, BUSH, Secretary, 
New York. Rochester, N. Y. 
