ILLINOIS STATE DAIRYMEN’S ASSOCIATION. 15 
expectation as to whatever they engage in leads them to make unqualified 
commendation of the dairy business. 
But there are other economic laws applicable to our subject. The quality 
of dairy products has very much to do in regulating the quantity which goes 
into consumption, or the demand—much more, indeed, than the price. The 
habits of the people make butter, and to some extent cheese also, a necessary 
part of every meal. A pound of poor butter goes a long way. Good butter 
spends comparatively fast,-but the table must be supplied. It is generally 
admitted, I believe, that the quality of both butter and cheese in this coun¬ 
try has on the average steadily improved, and as a consequence we may 
believe the amount of butter and cheese consumed, pro rata, has also in¬ 
creased, and as a bettei quality of both become the rule, the consumption 
will continue to increase. 
Further, the improved processes of dairy manufacture have introduced 
what may almost be called a new product. I refer to the factory and cream¬ 
ery systems, which turn out a distinct and superior product, both of butter 
and cheese. Those who have noticed the market quotations, have observed 
that there is really no competition between the poorer and better qualities of 
both butter and cheese, especially butter. “ Gilt-edge ” butte* has a demand 
distinct by itself, and no matter how low common and cooking butter may 
go, “gilt-edge” stays up in the thirties, and in exceptional cases still higher 
prices are realized. As the mass of consumers become familiar with the 
flavor of the best qualities of butter, the demand for the same seems"to 
increase. They are no longer satisfied with anything else. These facts 
indicate in what direction the profits of the dairy business lie—not in the 
manufacture of common, or even what pass as good, qualities of butter, but 
in the production of the very best. In this direction there seems little dan¬ 
ger of the market being overstocked. 
Besides, there is a limit to the supply of superior dairy products, arising 
from the qualifications necessary to those who engage in the dairy business 
and are successful. Not every farmer, and not every farmer’s wife, has the 
aptitude to learn, or the patience to pursue, the dairy business. The factory 
system, to a large extent, remedies this difficulty, but it will always exist to 
the advantage of a favored class. 
Finally, whatever may be the vicissitudes of the dairy interest in the 
West, it is not likely to be cut off from any advantages which may offer in 
the general market. The dairy products belong to what are styled concen¬ 
trated products. They are valuable in proportion to bulk and weight. The 
foreign trade is opening more and more to them. The cost of transportation, 
little by little, though very slowly, is becoming cheaper. The principles of 
free trade and commerce are becoming more widely diffused and better un¬ 
derstood, and as sure as civilization is progressive, are destined to go into 
practical operation. All these are in favor of the West, in favor of every 
business into which labor enters largely, and in favor of the negative of this 
question. It is not necessary to deny specific advantages to the East, or to 
any other region of country, in the dairy business. There are enough advan¬ 
tages belonging specifically and incontrovertibly to the West to insure to it 
an equality at least of success with the rest of the world. 
