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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