17 
ILLINOIS STATE DAIRYMEN’S ASSOCIATION. 
the general articles of consumption. The masses of the West 
were liable to rush in one direction or pursuit—which seems 
to pay on the outside—and dairymen were no exception; 
therefore, the dairy business was liable to be overdone; lie 
believed men would be more discerning in the future, and’not 
all rush into any one business without due consideration; 
could really see no cause to fear that the dairy business would 
not continue to return a profit, if carefully and judiciously 
managed. 
Capt. W. H. Stewart said the Western people were liable 
to run headlong in any one direction, but seemed of late years, 
to be getting a little more steady, and running a little slower; 
in fact, we were getting over our boyish days ; the fast ones 
now go West, where there is more room to expand. The 
steady, even way was the best; farmers must not change stock 
often; the trouble is, when one changes all want to change; 
and when all go in one direction, down go prices ; and the 
dairy business is no exception to the rule. 
Dr. R. R. Stone thought, in comparing the profits of dairy¬ 
ing with other agricultural pursuits, it made a favorable 
showing. A few years ago there were but few factories in 
the country, and but a small amount of dairy products pro¬ 
duced; but few cheese were made in private dairies, which 
sold for five or six cents per pound, and butter sold for eight 
or ten cents; there was no demand, and slow sales, even°at 
these figures; while now, with factories all over the country, 
at nearly every cross-road, cream cheese is selling for twelve 
cents, and creamery butter from thirty to forty cents. At the 
former time calico was selling at twenty-five or thirty cents 
per yard, while now it was worth only seven or eight cents. 
By any comparison we are able to make, it seems there is no 
immediate danger of overdoing the business; it is pretty 
well established now that a good article of butter or cheese 
will command a good price; could safely say the business 
was not running out, at least in the near future; would advise 
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