Image provided by: Morrow County Museum; Heppner, OR
About Heppner gazette-times. (Heppner, Or.) 1925-current | View Entire Issue (Sept. 11, 1952)
Page 2 Heppner Gazette Times, Thursday, September 1 1, 1952 HEPPNER GAZETTE TIMES MORROW COUNTY'S NEWSPAPER The Heppner Cazette, established March 30, 1883. flie Heppner Times, established Novemlw 18, 1897. Consolidated February 15, 1912. 1 0" NEWSPAPER PUBLISHERS ASSOCIATION ROBERT rENLAND Editor and Publisher GRETCHEN FENLAND Associate Publisher NATIONAL EDITORIAL o n..o.. SOUA I WN Published Every Thursday and Entered at the Post Office at Heppner, Oregon, as Second Class Matter. Subscription Rates: Morrow and Grant Counties, $3.00 Year; Elsewhere $4.00 Year. Single Copy 10 cents, More Abour Milk A few weeks ago we commented editorially on some figures published in a Portland paper on the comparative costs of delivering milk door to door and to stoics. The article contended it cost slight ly more to sell through stores than it did to the individual homes. We took exception to the state ment. In defense of the figures we received the following letter from the Milk Marketing Adminis tration of the state: To the Editor: Your editorial "Reverse Economics in Milk," in the August 11th, 1952 issue of your newspaper, ap-' pears to raise some serious questions. It is re spectfully suggested that one of the questions relating to the cost of delivering milk in Heppner is the kind that the late President Roosevelt termed "iffy". Nevertheless, I would like to sub mit the following for your consideration: 1. Under Portland conditions it was found that the cost of delivery of milk direct to con sumers' homes by dairies was practically identi cal with the cost when milk is distributed to stores and the storekeepers sold it to their customers at two cents a quart more than they paid for the milk at wholesale. These cost figures are the re sults of our own audits, confirmed by separate analysis made by distributor's accountants and a cooperative study made by Oregon State College and the U. S. Department of Agriculture. You have stated that you cannot reconcile the data with your concept -of home delivery ("one, two, or maybe three quarts each day to the indi vidual doorstep . . .") and wholesale delivery which you visualize as. "... 50 or 100 or 500 quarts to each of a relatively few grocery stores". Perhaps it would help if you modified your basic assumptions somewhat. First, home delivery is on an alternate-day or three days-a-week basis in Portland. Consequently the average delivery to homes is larger per stop. Second, few grocery stores handle milk in quantities of 500 quarts daily, and, also, customarily stock at least two or more brands of milk, according to consumer de mand. Third, delivery to stores is almost univer sally in single service containers (paper cartons) which are more costly than the returnable glass bottles used on retail routes. This is no way "contrary to the generally ac cepted American idea of mass production and vol ume sales", as you put it. It simply illustrates the maxim. Portland dealers who maintain re tail distribution to homes have shown that mass distribution direct to homes can be less (or no more) costly to the consumer than distribution through stores, particularly if the consumer values their time spent shopping and carrying milk at all. As a newspaper man, it might appeal to you that there Is possibly a parallel between the dis tribution of milk to the consumers and the distri bution of newspapers to the subscribers. Here in Portland either of the metropolitan dailies charge $1.95 a month for daily and Sunday papers de livered to homes by carrier. The same number of papers purchased in stores or newstonds during August would have cost $2.05 (In September the tost would be $1.90). Now, applying the logic that appears to guide so many proponents of the "mass distribution lower cost" theory would it be rea sonable to assume that the publishers of either newspaper would distribute their papers through stores for a cent a copy less than they charge for carrier or mail delivery? 2. You are understandably concerned about the economies of milk distribution in Heppner:. If Heppner was a community In or adjacent to Port land you could fairly assume that the comparison of home delivery costs and store delivery costs made for Portland would be valid. According to census data there are approximately KiiK) peaple in Heppner. On the basis of average consumption FOR WHOM THE BELL TOLLS per capita in Oregon there is a potential demand for about 800 quarts of milk a day, not allowing for rural people who may obtain fresh milk from the supply available in Heppner. Some of this de mand is satisfied by the local dairy, and doubtless there are some "family cows , also. The cost of running the truck, wages for the delivery man, and other costs, divided by the number of quarts han dled daily would determine whether or not it would be feasible to maintain a home delivery route or not. If such a route could handle the entire demand, it probably would be feasible. How ever, as you so accurately pointed out in your edi torial, "mass production and volume sales" have a great deal to do with it. We know that some people in Heppner have not been satisfied with their milk distribution since the Wightman Dairy discontinued during the war. We recently had a dairyman from your vicinity in our office inquir ing about a market for his milk. Although we suggested that there appeared to be a good market for more milk than lie could produce there In Heppner, he said he preferred to ship his milk elsewhere in cans rather than to undertake the investment and expense of processing and de livery in his own county seat. It would seem that there was an opportunity for some enterprising local person or firm to develop a modest dairy business in your city: If there is such an individual, I feel certain that you will find the Oregon Milk Marketing Administra tion ready and willing to facilitate the establish ment of a home owned and operated dairy utiliz ing milk produced in your vicinity in any way that we can under the Milk Marketing Act. Such a business could obviously lie of mutual benefit to producers, the distributor, and the consumers in your city if development in a manner that was economically sound. MILK MARKETING ADMINISTRATION STATE OF OREGON CECIL L. GRIGGS We don't feel competent to try to break down any of the points expressed in the letter. Though we don't believe some of the points apply here. The matter of milk, its production, distribution, control, price etc. has for many years been a sub ject of considerable discussion and argument much of it carried on by men well versed in the economics of the subject. We certainly make no claims that we are an expert on milk, but we still remain unconvinced that a store should not be al lowed to sell it at less than it costs to have it de livered to the home if that store is able to do so or if it so desires. A cost analysis prepared through the Agricul tural Experiment Station at Oregon State College showed there to be an extremely wide variation in the cost of handling milk in various stores the figures varied from over 7c per unit (quart, pint, etc.) to less than 1c per unit. If a store can handle it more economically why shouldn't it be allowed to sell it cheaper if it wishes? We don't want to see a return to the old time milk wars any more than do the dairymen, but we do believe the Oregon controls have gone a little too far. Whatever Is the outcome of the fight at the November election we doubt that it will make much difference to us here in Heppner though it could. The larger chain stores, on the whole han dled milk cheaper than did smaller stores, ac cording to the cost figures, and we have no chain grocer. Nor are u in the center of a big milk producing area where transportation costs under standably are lower. Nevertheless if our grocers could handle milk cheaply and wanted to reduce the price, we feel they should be allowed to. Protect the farmer and dairyman yes, but if savings can be obtained in processing and de livery and retailing, lets let the general public get the advantage. EVER HAD IT SO GOOD! , f&P,'ovK ir.-to ourselves! J yovj 'boys LTK NEED TO 13RUSHJ V op on youn? r SCHOOL OF . AR.rMMETicj common sm fes .-3: 'RAISE WAGES: ....BUT TXWVT "RAISE PRICES Hi a . W I I 1 COUNTERS GOVERNOR'S ORDER The state highway commission and staff are on the receiving end of conflicting orders from Gover nor Douglas McKay and the high way legislative interim commit tee". Thursday the governor ordered the commission to take no part for or against the big truckers bills on the November election ballot. Friday the interim committee, upon being advised of the order, issued a directive to the commis sion to prepare information con-! corning the effect of the bills whenever requested by a respon sible person. R. II. Ualdock, state highway engineer, who previously agreed to apiH-ar before various organ izations has cancelled these en gagements. Senator Elmo Smith, chairman of the interim committee, points out that members, of the commit tee have refrained from creating a costly technical staff and has called on the highway depart ment to supply needed informa tion. ANOTHER STATE DEPARTMENT A new department of state has been proposed by the highway legislative interim committee. It would take over three-fourths of the activities now cared for by the secretary of state, all the motor vehicle activities of the public utilities commissioner and the state highway commission. DR. EDWARD K. SCHAFFITZ OPTOMETRIST Heppner Clinic Bldg., 103 Gale Street Heppner, Oregon TELEPHONE 3373 OFFICE HOURS: Mon.-Tues.-Wed. Fri. 9:00 A. M. to 5:30 P. M. Thurs. Sat. 9:00 A. M. to 2:00 P. M. Evenings By Special Appointment ANALYTICAL VISUAL EXAMINATION Broken Lenses Duplicated Glasses Fitted The new department would be known as the state motor vehicle department, the administrator to he appointed by the governor and ratified by the senate. PEN ADMINISTRATION EYED Policies on food Inventories and meal costs were brought to the at tention of the emergency board this week by Harry Dorman of the state department of finance. A, report prepared by Leon D. Margosian of the department recommended: A dietory standard for the vari ous kitchens . . . More efficient budget control . . . More efficient control of stock on hand . . . Ap pointment of a competent food manager . . . Storage and receiv ing warehouses be cleaned and used. The emergency board decided to give the report study and act at tiie next meeting. STATE FAIR SETS RECORD An all-time attendance record was made at the Oregon State Fair this year with 186,517 paid admissions. This is an increase of 10,003 over last year. Recreational trends made a dis tinct pattern at the Oregon State Fair this year. The attendance at the rodeo exceded last year's com bined horse show-rodeo by 2,156. The trend at the horse races was that more bets went to the pari untuel windows this year. In 65 races the bets totaled $674,278 while last year the take was only $564,040 on 70 races, with paid ad missions to the races down about 5 per cent this vear. STATE MAY BUY PIGS The 1952 legislature will prob ably be in the cattle buying busi ness. Hogs that is, but only on a small scale, may we hope. This week Governor Douglas McKay assured the owners of hogs under quanntine for a di sease called vescular txanthema that he would ask the next legis lature to reimburse them for their loss if they would agree to slau ghter them. Previously Attorney General George Neuner had ruled that the state emergency board funds could not be used to pay for the hogs. POLITICAL PANDEX Gov. Adlai Stevenson is the owner of the champion 4-H and FFA lambs sold at the Oregon State Fair. The Democratic nomi nee for president had a local man buy the 92 and 94 pound cham pions for a dollar and $1.05 a pound. Henry W. Collins, former state racing commissioner for Oregon will head a committee to fight the measure to make pari-mutuel betting on horse and greyhound races illegal in Oregon. Senator Richard Nixon, Repub lican vice presidential candidate, will stop briefly In Portland and Salem on a "quick trip through Oregon September 20. Other ap pearances will be on train plat forms. Vincent Hallihan, Ross, Calif., for president and Charlotte Bass, New York City, for vice president will not appear under their Pro gressive party label in Oregon. They will appear as independent candidates. CHURCHES CHRISTIAN CHURCH Earl L. Soward, Pastor Bible School begins at 9:45. There are classes for all ages of children and for adults also. Pro motion Sunday will be Sept. 28. Morning worship at 11:00. Ser mon, "What Is Religion," by the pastor. Special music under the direction of Maurice Stone. The ovfninor services will be 6:30 and 7:30 for youth and the! preaching respectively, ine pas tor's message will be, "Absolute Certainties." Wednesday evening from 7 to 9:30 will be youth night. THE METHODIST CHURCH J. Palmer Sorlien, Minister Sunday Sept. 14. Mnminn Wnrshin and Sermon at 11 a. m. Sermon topic: "Hiding From uod . Sunday Church School y.u a. m. Mr. Oliver Creswick, Superin- tPnHnnt A class for every age. rtinir Pmft rf Thursuav ar o p. m. w s r. s. meets the first Wed nesday of each month. Suzanna Wesley Circle meets the third Wednesday of each month. ' . ALL SAINTS MEMORIAL CHURCH (Episcopal) Holy Communion 8:00 a. m. Church School 9:45 a. m. Morning Prayer and sermon at 11.00 a. m. Holy Communion on Wednes day at 10 o'clock. Junior choirs start next week; Boys will meet immediately after school on Tuesday afternoon; Girls meet after school on Wed nesday afternoons. Miss Cecelia Healy is vacation. ing in Heppner and is visiting at the home of her parents, Mr. and Mrs. John Healy and other rela tives. Miss Healy works for the Underwood Typewriter Company in Portland. Mr. and Mrs. William Kilkenny of Buttercreek were weekend houseguests of Mr. and Mrs. P. W. Ma honey. rig ffimm LIMITED TIME ONLY .y'?"- " : i : 3 mm 1 i;tl :i Buy Now For Your LOCKER Fresh Fall Run Columbia River SALMON HALF OR WHOLE Lb. 49c COURT STREET MARKET Phone 443 Heppner 32-p:ece set of LIBBEY Saf edge Crystal GLASSWARE wU4 R."5 ... $t 1 r ft I MODEL 173 (obov.) 139.95 with purchase of AUTOMATIC COLEMAN All AS LOW UiL as HEATER S64.95 CASE FURNITURE CO. Mr. and Mrs. George Sanders of Albany were visiting friends in Heppner over the weekend. The Sanders formerly operated the Heppner bakery. Equitable Life Insurance and Ranch Loam MARVIN R. WIGHTMAN WIGHTMAN AGRICULTURAL SERVICE Grain Buyer Archer Daniels Midland Co. Farra Bldg. Phone 20F4 or 1423 Irene Zinter, Secretary Vt Mttait 9v X- -: 8 1 x i m- m-m A it SALE! ANNUAL BIG SAVINGS ON Dorothy Gray Cleansing Creams $- C) r Solon Cold Croam Iteg. $2.25 Xj I j for normal skin Dry-Skin Ueanssr ..... lieg. Each Cleantlng Cream lti'g. J2.00 (Liquefying) . . .foroilyskin Reg. $1.00 jar of each... SALE 2- ('" Limited Time Only! Saager's Pharmacy PHIL BLAKNEY, Owner Your Prescription Filled As Your Doctor Ordered ATTENTION! FARMERS F ORROW COUNTY GROWING WHEAT IS A BUSINESS AND IT COSTS MONEY TO OPERATE THE BUSINESS OF PRODUCING WHEAT Federal Crop Wheat Insurance Protects Your Investment in Producing Wheat You cannot control the weather and you may not be oble to control plant disease. The fcrmer, who has Federal Crop Insurance, knowi when he plants his wheat and reports the acreage planted that he is sure to get the coverage on his wheat and this in turn makes his credit better at the bank, the grocery store or the country merchant. In fact, it makes our whole economy sounder. The policy covers the insured's interest in all wheat planted on insurable acreage in the county and the premium goes in a coun ty reserve and can be used for one purpose and one purpose only, that is to pay indemnity losses on wheat in the county. Any producer carrying this insurance for seven consecutive years without a loss will get a reduction oi 25r; in the current premium and when the county organ'.iation has acquired a sufficient county reserve to take care oi the disaster year, a ZOc reduction will be applied to the county premium rate. . The policy will remain in force from year to year until cancelled by either the producer or the corporation This is a sound program. It is your program, let's try to build a good one for the farmers of Morrow County. The program offers protection for a premium, not something for nothing. Sept. 30 is the deadline for making applica tions for 1953 Apply Today for Your Crop Insurance Policy through Your Morrow County P 1I A Office
