877 
Figuring the Price of Milk 
I am very much surprised that the New York dairy¬ 
men should accept $2.55 for 3 per cent milk, when on 
this present market good butter-making creameries can 
pay $75 per 100 lbs. butterfat. which would be $2.25 
for the butterfat in 100 lbs. of 3 per cent milk, leaving 
the value of the skim-milk but 30c. Governor Hoard 
used to say that; skim-milk was worth for feeding on 
the farm five times the a value of live pork per 100 lbs. 
when fed alone, and six times when fed with grain. 
This would make the value of skim-milk at present 70c 
to 85c per'cwt. I am just wondering about the reason 
for it. B. 
The reason for it is that the creameries and dairy¬ 
men in this territory are equipped for the shipment 
of milk and not for butter-making as a primary bus¬ 
iness. When butter is made, it is only for emer¬ 
gencies, and the creameries are not under such 
conditions able to compete with the creameries that 
make butter exclusively, and through equipment, 
skill and experience, both in the factory and in the 
market, are able to get the most out of it. This all 
applies to the feeding value of skim-milk, as well as 
to the butterfat. 
We are unable to find that milk ever before sold 
so cheap as this month in comparison with the 
price of butter. The supply has been tuned up to 
the foreign demand for condensed milk and other 
milk products. No provision was made for other 
outlets or for increasing the outlet to old consum¬ 
ers, and the dealers simply found themselves in a 
position to relieve some of the city pressure, main¬ 
tain the level of their own profits and shift the city 
concession in a new burden to the shoulders of the 
farm. There is no justification for making the value 
of a by-product the basis for the price of milk. That 
is a device of the milk dealer, and while he controls 
the city markets, he will be able to maintain the 
custom. When the farmer controls the city market, 
the by-product formula will become a souvenir of 
the dealers. 
Legislation to Reduce Commissions 
Governor Smith has made a strong plea for legis¬ 
lation to reduce the departments and commissions of 
the State from 187 different agencies to 18 different 
departments. His plea has been to focus all the work 
of the State under the 18 heads in the interest of 
efficiency and economy. Whether 18 heads or some 
other number are required is a detail. If the 
agencies were reduced and the duplication of func¬ 
tions and employes were eliminated, a big saving to 
the State could be the result. 
Strangely enough, however, while the Governor 
end his reconstruction committee have been urging 
this reform, they have at the same time incon¬ 
sistently proposed measures to increase the number 
of State agencies we already have. Last year, for 
some reason never explained, the Governor favored 
keeping the Farms and Markets Department vir¬ 
tually in its present form, though he had previously 
said he would change it. He now regrets the defeat 
of the fair price milk bills which sought to create 
another commission to make arbitrary prices for the 
production of milk: and he has recommended an 
appropriation of $10,000 for the expenses of a State 
Highway Transportation Committee. 
Both the marketing of milk and the transportation 
of farm products to markets belong to the Depart¬ 
ment of Foods and Markets, and if that department 
were properly organized and backed up by the Leg¬ 
islature and administration, it would be doing the 
things proposed by these new measures. Of course, 
the Governor will answer that the Markets Depart¬ 
ment is entirely out of his control, and that it is 
not showing life enough to justify him in proposing 
now 7 work for it. This is true enough in the main; 
hut if the Governor refrained from playing politics 
Irom his own side and instructed the Market Depart¬ 
ment on its duty in some detail and demanded re¬ 
sults from it, no commissioner could defy his au¬ 
thority. Farmers are not impressed with an appeal 
from the Governor for legislation to reduce State 
agencies while at the same time he is suggesting 
new commissions to duplicate the work of the 
agencies we now have, but they would back up the 
executive in a demand that the men now on State 
jobs perform the duties assigned them by the laws 
now in existence. 
Fines for Using Borrowed Milk Cans 
The Milk Bottlers’ Federation is an organization 
<1 dealers to recover milk bottles and milk cans for 
its members. When its inspectors find milk cans in 
use by anyone who is not the owner, and who has 
not received the consent of the owner to use them, a 
' omplaint is made against the user. The members 
* iave consented to pay a line to the federation when 
they themselves offend. 
When the inspector finds cans in use by farmers a 
tomplaiut is made by an attorney employed by the 
^deration; and a suggestion is made that one-half 
Tie RURAL NEW-YORKER 
of the legal fine will be accepted if paid at once 
and before suit is entered against the fanner. The 
law imposing a fine of $50 against anyone using a 
milk can not his own without the consent of the 
owner was passed years ago, when farmers shipped 
milk direct to city customers in their own cans. 
Later pasteurization was required, and the dealers 
furnished their own cans. For years little or no 
attempt was made by dealers to keep and use their 
own cans. The railroads dropped off any can any 
place, and everyone used any can in sight. Now 
the price of cans has increased, and an attempt is 
being made to see that every dealer uses his own 
cans and no others. The rule also applies to farmers. 
The dealers say that some farmers use their cans 
Illegally for other purposes than for carrying milk, 
and in other cases use them even when delivering 
milk to other dealers than the owners of the cans. 
Heretofore that was a custom, but it is proper 
enough that everyone may have the use and control 
of the cans he buys and pays for. The inspectors, 
however, have filed complaints against farmers who 
have had cans on rental, or by purchase, or in ex¬ 
change for their own cans, and we contend the com¬ 
plaints in these cases are not justified, and fines 
collected in such cases are unjust. We do not be¬ 
lieve that fines could be collected in courts in such 
cases. The federation, however, has assured us 
lhat it has no purpose to prosecute any such case, 
and if our friends have any cans in use not their 
own. and -write us the fact, we shall get the matter 
adjusted. When a farmer has a stray can that 
he received in exchange for his own during the 
general mixup, he will save annoyance by reporting 
the circumstance. But innocent users of stray cans 
need not pay fines or be worried about suggestions 
for suit, provided they do what they can now to 
effect an exchange for their own cans. 
This law has been used for some years by a couple 
of agents who made a business of annoying farmers 
and who have now been repudiated by the Federa¬ 
tion. One of them ds reported as having grown rich 
in the practice. It is about time to stop the game. 
Testing the Daylight Saving Law 
I notice that the farmers of the State of New York 
were going to try to see whether the Federal law does 
not go higher than the State laws in regard to the day¬ 
light saving law. I wish they could ; if they do try I 
have five dollars to help the cause along, and if neces¬ 
sary will give five dollars more to defeat the curse of the 
daylight saving law. I -would think that the Federal 
law would go higher than the State law. I am glad to 
tell you that the New Jersey Senate has just killed 
daylight saving in our State. Alfred j. smith. 
New Jersey. 
There is still a chance for repeal of the daylight 
saving law' in New York. The bill will come up once 
more in the Assembly, having already passed the 
Senate. New Jersey has refused to pass the State 
law. It went through the New Jersey Assembly by 
one vote, but was beaten in the Senate 11 to 9. 
Farmers are working by the old time wherever pos¬ 
sible. If they continue to do so most of the towns 
will be obliged to join them. Good lawyers think 
there is a fair chance to repeal the law on the 
ground that it conflicts with a Federal law. 
The State of Massachusetts enacted a daylight 
saving law against the protest of farmers. Now 
New Hampshire, through the Governor, refuses to 
recognize the new 7 time and demands that the rail¬ 
roads running through that State maintain the 
standard time. 
Butter and Potatoes From Europe 
O NE of our readers sends us two clippings from 
daily papers which he w r ants explained. One 
states that Denmark is shipping potatoes and butter 
to this country. It is stated that 7.000 tons of po¬ 
tatoes will be sent, and also enough butter to bring 
down the price. The other clipping states that peo¬ 
ple in Austria and other European countries are 
dying of hunger, and that Americans must feed 
them. This man wants to know why one part of 
Europe starves while another part can send its sur¬ 
plus of food here! No one with experience ever 
takes all these newspaper stories seriously. It is 
true that some food is coming from Denmark. We 
think the newspaper stories come from produce 
dealers who are trying to cut down the prices paid 
to farmers. These imports are not large enough to 
cut any figure. The entire 7,000 tons of potatoes 
would only provide a few 7 pounds each for the people 
of this great city. As for feeding the starving peo¬ 
ple of Europe, the thrifty Danes will send their sur¬ 
plus food where they can sell it with a chance of col¬ 
lecting the money. There seems to be a general de¬ 
sire all over the world to lot America feed the hun¬ 
gry. finance the faltering business, and give credit 
and comfort, and, incidentally, take all the risks in¬ 
volved. And America is doing her full share of it. 
Sunday Work on the Highway 
We understand that it is proposed to work Sundays 
on the new State road passing through our county. Is 
there any law permitting this, or can it be prevented? 
New York. b. j. k. 
Few people understand how short is the highway con¬ 
struction season. In some counties of our State we can 
only work five months, and in no county can we work 
over eight months, but, in spite of this short time, New 
York State has 80,000 miles of road which it must take 
care of. In view of this, after careful thought, high¬ 
way construction work has been classed as “necessary 
work,” and this department is allowed to work 10 hour's 
a day, and road work is, I believe, the only State work 
which can run over eight hours. 
In addition to this, we are allowed to work on Sun¬ 
days. and do work on Sundays, except in some municip¬ 
alities where the noise of our work might interfere with 
religious services. This department has no wish to 
offend anyone’s religious beliefs, and we would not under 
any circumstances do highway work in a village or in 
the vicinity of a church on Sundays if the people ob¬ 
jected. but in the country districts, where no one can be 
disturbed by the noise, we do work on Sunday, but we 
do it reluctantly and because it is absolutely necessary. 
It is the old, old story of “the ass that fell in the pit and 
must be taken out lest he perish.” 
FRED’K STUART GREENE, 
Highway Commissioner. 
Game Laws and the Remedy 
The grave faults in our present game laws are largely 
due to the efforts of gun and ammunition makers, fish- 
tackle and accessories makers, to increase their sales, 
and, in a lesser degree, to some hunting and fishing 
clubs. Their interest in game is directly opposed to that 
of farmers. They argue that the weaker the interest of 
the farmer in the laws that protect him from the tres¬ 
passing hunter and fisherman, the more hunting and 
fishing there will be. and, the more hunting and fishing, 
the more guns and fishing tackle, ammunition and ac¬ 
cessories sold. If our information is correct, quite a 
large part of the moifey contributed by them for gen¬ 
eral game increase in the country is used for the above 
purposes. They have lobbies, etc., some of them. At 
least one State has declared unconstitutional a law 
secured by the gun. etc., makers, permitting hunters 
and fishermen to enter on parts of farms immediately 
abutting streams, whether navigable or not, that have 
been stocked free. Some States give free seed, but that 
gift does not allow anyone to enter on the land and cut 
the crop. 
Thousands of sportsmen in our cities, and country 
people who make a living acting as guides, are with the 
gun, etc., makers. They are wrong in theory and in 
practice. There will be more game only when it is in 
the interest of the farmer to have more game, and in 
practice these hunters and fishermen break down fences, 
shoot chickens, kill farmers’ dogs, and some help them¬ 
selves to fruit and destroy game 
A main question the Bureau of Fisheries. United 
States Department of Commerce, asks an applicant for 
fish to stock his pond is: “What is the sentiment of 
the locality in regard to laws for fish protection?” No 
doubt the hostile sentiment in hundreds of localities 
prevent farmers from stocking their ponds, etc., and thus 
fishermen lose chances to fish. So with game. The 
farmer should own his land in all respects. 
DE WITT C. MORRELL. 
Which is More Important? 
I am working for a corporation in Indiana at 45 
cents per hour for eight and a half hours and time 
and a half for an hour and a half, making 10 hours a 
day with Saturday P. M. off. In three weeks from 
the time I began work I am to have a raise to 47*4 
cents and in 30 days 50 cents. This concern makes 
oil and gasoline pumps. They employ about 1,200 
men in the shops and about 400 in the offices, besides 
maintaining offices in most States and many foreign- 
countries. I can’t help wondering what food would, 
cost if a farmer and two sons could each draw $5 per 
day and everyone else who had anything to do with 
raising food crops or farm work was paid so much per 
hour for all time they put in. 
There is an enormous waste of time in this factory 
as well as material for which some one must pay. 
Many of those employed do not do enough in a day to 
earn half of their pay. Some not enough to justify 
the position they hold. 
My rate of pay would mean more than $1,500 at 
50c per hour and I never reached much over half of 
that on the little five-acre place we live on. 
This company does many things for its men, loans 1 
money to buy homes at four per cent; operates in in-* 
surauce. life, sickness and accident at small cost; loans 1 
tools; gives a hunting day in the Fall and a garden 
day in the Spring with full pay; pays a bonus based 
on service and wages; gives a man who has been with 
the company five years five days’ vacation with pay in 
addition to any other vacation he may take. 
Now the question is this. Is manufacturing oil 
pumps, automobiles, vacuum cleaners or electrical ma¬ 
chinery more important than raising food? If not, why 
give it greater rewards based on enormous and unnec¬ 
essary costs? w H. 
A Case Under the Dog Law 
I read with much interest on page 113 your review 
of the dog law. I endorse every word of it, and I have 
had some experience. I have been told by town officials 
I would have to go out of the sheep business. Not as 
long as I have a sheep to fight for. I worked hard for 
the original law. It was not an ideal law, but the 
present law, as it is enforced, is a grand farce. April, 
1919. I had some sheep killed, others injured. My man 
shot and wounded one of the dogs. I notified the 
assessors, also the State troopers. The dogs were 
neither licensed nor tagged, and while they have been 
identified and located, they are still alive, the officials 
accepting trivial and easily refuted excuses. The 
assessors were here in April and the State inspector 
in December, but my claim is not paid yet. 
On February 20, 1920, the same dogs came into my 
barnyard, killed three sheep and bit three others, be¬ 
sides ruining the flock. I have had three dead lambs 
born, and t expect more on account of their being 
chased and hurt. The assessors claim they cannot allow 
me anything for lambs being born dead, even though in 
their judgment the dogs were the cause. Did you ever 
hear of uch foolishness? Possibly I should not com¬ 
plain, as I helped elect them to office. For one, 1 am 
going to shoot dogs that come on my premises. These 
dogs have no tags on yet. I would like to see less dogs 
and more sheep, g. S. dollar. 
New York. 
