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ILLINOIS STATE DAIRYMEN’S ASSOCIATION. 11 
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I should not be justified, even if I felt disposed, to enter upon any of the 
topics that are to be discussed at this convention, at this time, but would 
say, in a general way, that the year just closed has been one of prosperity to 
the dairymen; although the price of the product of the dairy has not been 
as satisfactory as it was last year, yet we think the increase of quantity 
and quality will more than counterbalance the shrinkage or difference in 
price. 
We are pleased to learn that considerable progress has been made during 
the year toward getting our butter and cheese on the market, upon their 
merits. The time has come when Western butter and cheese are sought 
after in the Eastern markets, and not unfrequently have they brought better 
prices than “choice gilt-edge State.” The Eastern buyer does not now, as 
heretofore, pass by our butter and cheese with a sneer, because it is branded 
“ Western.” 
In conclusion, gentlemen, permit me to say that in the discussion of the 
various topics that are to come before this Convention, I hope we may be 
able to communicate, as well as learn, much that shall be of practical use in 
our chosen calling. 
Owing to the absence of some of the parties designated to 
open discussions of some of the topics, as arranged in the 
programme, it was voted not to take the questions up in their 
order as arranged, but take them up as called. 
Topic No. 2—“Past and Future of the Dairy Interest of 
Illinois”—was now taken up, and the discussion opened by 
Dr. Tefft, of Elgin, who read the following paper . 
DR. J. TEFET5S PAPER. 
Mr. President, and Gentlemen of the Association : By request 
of your Executive Committee, I am before you to invite your attention, for 
a few moipents, while I give you a few thoughts on the past and future 
dairy interests of Illinois. Perhaps it will be sufficiently remote for us to 
commence the date of our article in the year 1835, that being about the ear¬ 
liest settlement of Northern Illinois by the Anglo-Americans. Prior to this 
date but few white people had made permanent settlements thus far north, 
yet we have no doubt but white men visited this section long ere this ; but 
they were transient, and mostly of that class known as “suckers,” deriving 
that name from'the fact that they followed up the water courses in the 
spring, and returned in the fall, as does a certain fish, known by the com¬ 
mon name of sucker. And from this Illinois received the cognomen of the 
“Sucker State” (the compiler of Noah Webster’s Dictionary notwith¬ 
standing). 
In this early day the cow followed in the wake of the white man, as of 
yore, but was pailed (to use a whicher expression) by the maid all forlorn, 
who assumed a very unpleasant angle of body, and, with pint cup in hand 
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