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character — they are Illinois dairymen — and among the polity of 

 these vast and glorious United States, Illinois stands as the dairy 

 star in that immense galaxy of stars. First and foremost with 

 her stock and her products, in renown, experience, quality and 

 profits. Almost alone among the states of the central and west- 

 ern sections of our country, can Illinois show a profit on every 

 herd of cows within her borders derived from the value of her 

 dairy products. Over $35 ,000,000 for one single year. Figure 

 the immensity of such an interest, then the sweet morsel, around 

 and again, under your tongue — where is the other single interest 

 in this state ?. — for it is only Illinois we are considering now, 

 Where, I say, is any single interest that can overtop this in 

 return ? No going behind any Returning Board with $35,000,- 

 000. Eight figures to express it. Does any one wonder now ? 

 There is nothing small about the Illinois dairymen and no abiding 

 place for flies can be discovered upon his person. 



But, ladies and gentlemen, it takes a more experienced voice 

 than mine to tell you how distinction has been won and the place 

 of the state kept at the front rank of the dairy columns. 



At best, I could only explain to you in an honest way, how 

 the reputation of Illinois butter ranked among the finest from 

 time immemorial. How in 1840, Mrs. Steele, an eastern lady, 

 upon a course of western travel, and we stand ready to maintain 

 her ability to judge rightly and impartially, wrote from Peoria ; 



" The butter and milk we met with here was uncommonly 

 rich, equal to our Goshen butter." And Goshen butter was 

 some pumpkin those days. 



How the scope and extent of the industry grew a pace with 

 the gradual influx of population westward; how improvement 

 in apparatus, and men and women as well, influenced that won- 

 derful increase in products I need not mention; for it is only to 

 this that the virtual growth in the amount of animal production 

 comes to. Value per pound has changed but little in forty years. 

 A pound of butter or a pound of cheese will not average in value 

 for 1887 much more than it did for 1847 or 1857 — thirty or forty 

 years ago. 



