FIRST ANNUAL MEETING, 
At Elgin, Dec. 30,1874. 
The President called the meeting to order at 1:80 p. m. on Wednesday, 
December 30th, 1874, and introduced Judge Wilcox, of Elgin, who, on 
behalf of the Association, delivered the following address of welcome: 
ADDRESS OF WELCOME BY JUDGE WILCOX. 
Mr. President and Gentlemen of the Convention: 
It is a common remark that one might as w T ell be out of the world as out of 
the fashion. Now it certainly is in the fashion to have some resident of the 
place at which a convention of the kind here convened meets, as the first 
proceeding, address a few words of welcome to the members. Perhaps it 
may be thought that I on this occasion appear before you to utter words of 
welcome merely to attest the loyalty of the managers of the Convention to 
this fashion of the times. I do not recognize much truth in this common 
remark, but think there is often more good sense shown in disregarding 
fashion than following it; still in this instance the custom may properly be 
followed, and expressions of welcome on behalf of the citizens of the city of 
Elgin to the members of this Convention be uttered in perfect sincerity. 
There are substantial reasons why the people of this city are pleased to see 
you here. They are pecuniarily interested in the branch of industry which it 
is the object of this Convention to promote. About one hundred teams— 
some fine ones—with the milk of a Like number of dairies of this vicinity, 
daily traverse the streets of Elgin, some going to the Illinois Condensing 
Company’s Factory, others to the Elgin Butter Company’s Factory, and still 
others to the railroad depots. About 2,000,000 gallons of milk last year thus 
found market here, bringing to the dairymen something over $200,000 in 
monthly payments. Much of this money immediately came to the merchants, 
mechanics, millers, and others in the city. The cheese and butter manufac¬ 
tured from the milk found weekly ready sale at remunerative prices at the 
Board of Trade here. A large trade in milk cans, strainers, cheese vats, 
cheese boxes, and the various other articles used in the dairy and in making 
cheese and butter, is now centered and established in Elgin. These facts 
obviously demonstrate that whatever affects injuriously or beneficially the 
dairy interest of this vicinity, affects in like manner to some extent the entire 
business of the city. 
Entertaining the belief that from the addresses delivered and the 
discussions and interchange of experience which will take place during the 
