ILLINOIS STATE DAIRYMEN’S ASSOCIATION. 
47 
from our best cows, and thus keep our standard up. The 
cows brought here for sale are all poor milkers—are not from 
milking families; we are constantly cheated. 
. ■ Dr * Stone thought Judge Wilcox and Mr Lord a 
little severe on the factorymen; did not agree with them. The 
assertion that one factory could earn as much per annum as 
four or five farms was entirely imaginary; cheese factories 
all over the country could be bought for fifty cents on the 
dollar; why don’t they invest, if it is such good property? 
The pi ice ot good butter in Elgin to-day is thirty-eight cents 
—higher than any other city reported; what has caused it? 
it is the factory system. The patrons of factories are all 
satisfied; all get their pay monthly. The idea that factory- 
men are oppressing the dairymen is all wrong; it is false; 
these statements are not true. It is the factory system alone 
and only which has made a permanent reputation for our 
product. Before the days of factories one wagon-load 
would glut the Elgin market; now train-loads find a ready 
market. The factory butter is A No. 1; it is tested on the 
Board of Trade, and is sold strictly upon its merits. Nearly 
all private dairies have stopped, and are taking their milk to 
the factories; they would not do so if it was not better. 
Skimmed cheese, seven years ago, sold for four cents; it now 
sells for one cent less than full cream. Factories get thirty- 
eight cents for butter, while the farmers can scarcely get 
twenty-five to thirty cents; which is the best? the farmer gets 
more by the factory system. The farmers have a committee 
of their own making to sell the cheese; there is no chance to 
cheat the farmer, even if anyone was so disposed. 
Judge Wilcox thought Dr. Stone was wrong as to the pat¬ 
rons of cheese factories being satisfied; they did complain, 
and they had reason to; many complained to him, and said 
they must go out of the business unless a change was made. 
Although he did not sell milk to a cheese factory, he was 
directly interested; it all had its effect upon him in the gen¬ 
eral market. 
Dr. Stone had no fault to find with fair statements, but 
could not indorse wholesale censure of factorymen. 
