TRANSACTIONS. 
The Ninth Annual Session of the Illinois State Dairymen’s Association was 
lied to order in the Academy of Music in the city of Sterling, at 2:30 o’clock p. m., 
. Wednesday, December 13,1882, by his honor, Mayor Henry Green, who introduced 
Dn. A. A. Terrill, of Sterling, who extended to the visitors on behalf of the city a 
arty, cordial welcome in a neat speech. On behalf of the Association, It. P. 
sGlincy, Secretary, of Elgin, responded, graciously accepting hospitality of the 
izens extended through their representative. 
The Convention was then declared open for business, and the President then 
livered his annual address: 
ANNUAL ADDRESS OE PRESIDENT DR. JOSEPH TEFFT. 
imbers of the Illinois Dairymen's Association: 
Ladies and Gentlemen —You will please allow me, on this, the ninth annual 
ieting of this Association, to congratulate you upon the favorable circumstances 
der which we have assembled here to-day. We meet as the representatives of an 
ricultural industry perhaps second in importance tb none other in the State of 
inois. 
Prior to the year 1870, the dairy business in Illinois was largely if not wholly man¬ 
ed by the female part of the household, and much to their credit considering the 
nveniences which their liege lords saw fit to provide.for them. 
In 1870 the first creamery on the associated plan west of the great lakes was 
:ablished at Elgin, and here it was that the first pound of what is known as cream- 
j butter was produced in the West. From this minor beginning the associated 
iamery system has developed into its present mammoth dimensions in this as well 
other Western States of this Union. The Illinois Dairymen’s Association has had 
Ty much to do with the induction of this branch of agriculture in this State. Here 
is that the honest farmer about to embark in the dairy business comes to discuss, 
id hear discussed, many things pertaining to dairy farming. 
I trust I may be permitted to congratulate the dairymen of Illinois as a whole 
on the very superior quality of their goods, and especially so of their creamery 
:tter, which is known and appreciated by most, if not the entire civilized nations of 
globe. The fine quality and nutty flavor of this butter must have convinced long 
.this, those people who were so sanguine, hardly a dozen years ago, that this State, 
iile a great cereal producing State, could never produce a quality of butter equal to 
it made on the mountain ranges and hill sides of the Eastern States. 
Only a few years ago it was claimed by many, and firmly believed by not a few, 
it the States in and along the great Mississippi Yalley could not raise the grasses 
table for the cow for butter-making purposes. How effectually has this question 
m settled in far less than a score of years to the full satisfaction of all reasonable 
nds who have given this subject a thought. The State of Illinois is now credited 
:h about one-fourteenth of the entire production of butter and cheese in the United 
utes. By the census of 1880, as reported by Mr. J. R. Dodge, statistician of the 
'.tional Agricultural Department at Washington, and published by Mr. J. H. Reall, 
: New York city, this State is second only to that of New York in the number of 
:ys owned by her inhabitants. New Fork having, in 1880, 1,437,855 cows, while Illi- 
; ls had 865,913; Iowa came next with 854,187, and Pennsylvania being fourth on the 
