ILLINOIS STATE DAIRYMEN’S ASSOCIATION. 
49 
'ROM THE LESSORS OF THE PAST, WHAT IS NECESSARY TO BE DONE 
IN ORDER TO MAKE THE BUSINESS OF ASSOCIATED 
DAIRYING PERMANENTLY SUCCESSFUL ? 
BY GEO. P. LORD, OF ELGIN, ILL. 
Mr. President :—The object of this paper is to review, briefly, some of the exper- 
jnces of the past and, from the standpoint of those experiences, to indicate what re- 
lains to be done to give stability and permanency to the bussiness of associated 
airying. It will be admitted by all that the system of associated dairying has had a 
mnderful development, and yet how few are aware of the struggle by which this 
as been achieved, especially in the West. , . 
Previous to the introduction of the factory system, the reputation of the dairy 
•roducts, other than “Orange County Butter ” and “ Hamburg Cheese,” was any- 
hing but enviable. It was claimed by dealers in dairy products that it was impossi- 
•le to sell any but “ Hamburg Cheese ” in our Western markets, while as to butter, 
• you paid your money and you took your choice ” of any in the market. 
When the factory system was first established in the West dealers m Chicago, 
vho bought our Western factory cheese, insisted on branding them “ Hamburg 
Iheese,” and selling them as an Eastern product, and for a long time it seemed as 
hough the business of dairying in the West would be hidden under a cloud, and our 
noducts be treated only as the products of Eastern dairies. .... 
The contest between manufacturers and dealers was sharp and long continued; 
he manufacturers claiming that our Western cheese had real merits and should be 
(laced on the market on their merits, while dealers claimed that as they did not bear 
he imprint of an Eastern product of established reputation, they would buy them 
>nly at a reduced price, while at the same time they were willing to brand them as 
1 Hamburg Cheese,” knowing that their quality was every way equal, it not superior, 
o that famous brand of cheese. „ m „ , •. , , , 
As a result of that controversy “ The Elgin Board of Trade was established, and 
lealers were notified that Western dairymen “ meant business,” and were prepared 
or any competition in the business of dairying. „ 
Referring to the report of the Department of Agriculture for the year 1871, we 
ind “ that a well-known dairyman, and a manager of a cheese factory m Elgin, llli- 
lois, reports that Western cheese had attained a respectable standing m the market, 
vhile Western butter had a very unenviable reputation.” And here we are reminded 
;hat for a long time after the introduction of the factory system the business was con- 
ined mainly to the manufacture of cheese, for in the report of the Department of Ag¬ 
riculture for 1871 the Commissioner says : “ No question connected with the dairy is 
nore vital to producers and consumers than the best management of butter. ... 
“ The current expression of dairymen in different sections of the country, both 
East and West, shows a thorough conviction of the necessity and practicability ot a 
general application of the factory system to the manufacture of butter. 
“The application of this system to the manufacture of both butter and cheese 
3-ave to our Western dairy products a fame which has been world-wide in its influence 
on the dairy industry, and placed our Western creamery butter m the front rank both 
as to its quality and market value, while our Western cheese, though it was slightly 
•skimmed,’ was of a quality that for years it would bring in open market a price 
within one-half to one per cent, per pound of Eastern-made whole milk cheese. 
The improvement in the quality of our dairy products by the introduction ot the 
factory system, was so marked that there came an increased demand tor them, not 
only at home but in foreign markets, and as a result we exported in 1879 141,634,474 
pounds of cheese, valued at $12,579,968, as against 7.103,323 pounds, valued at $649,- 
392 in 1859, and 47,296,323 pounds, valued at $8,881,934 m the year 1869 ; while our ex¬ 
ports of butter increased from 2,019,288 pounds, valued at $8o3,896 m 1870 to o8,248,- 
016 pounds, valued at $5,421,205 in 1879. These are some of the facts a,ud figures con¬ 
nected with the development of the business of associated dairying, and all will admit 
that it is a history of wonderful achievements. . . , , 
It is proper to state that the growth of American agriculture as represented by 
the exports of the products of the soil was so manifest, even as early as the year 1860, 
as to cause the Commissioner of Agriculture to make his report tor that year m poetic 
strains. He says (in that report): “ When the census of 1860 shall be fully published 
the inexorable logic of its figures will astonish the world, and prove to every intelli¬ 
gent mind that agriculture is the grand element of progress and wealth. Amencan 
farmers have extended their operations until the whole population of this country is 
fed upon the milk and honey, and the wine and oil of a fruitful land, and cieated a 
surplus—as shown—one hundred per cent, greater than the increase m population. 
In view of these facts, so inspiring, well may Bryant exclaim: 
“ O ! country, marvel of the earth, 
O, realm to sudden greatness grown.” 
