The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1866-07-11
CHEESE FACTORIES.


ell ESQ.,, Of this city, situated on Jersey
Ridge, Scott county, Iowa, we learned that
he, with two neighboring farmers, owned
cheese factory, which stands not far from
the home residence, on his farm. These
factories have become quite common in the
eastern states, and are just beginning to be
introduced In the west. They save an i'm
mense deal of labor and. by having large
quantities of milk, generally make better
cheese than can be made in private families.
The farmers in almost every neig hborhood
in this county would find it to their interest
to establish similar institutions.
The factory we speak of is called t'Union-
Vile Cheese Factory" and is described by
the Davenport Democrat, as follows:
Most of our readers have probable heard
of cheese factories as one of the institutions
of the country, and of their existence in 9TH
or places-down in New York. or farther
west, perhaps, but few have any knowledge
of the fact that such factory has been put
in operation within three miles Of our city,
and is doing lively business. Such is the
fact, and having had the pleasure of visiting
it, and observing the mode of operating, we
will make note of it for the benefi. of the
public.
KNOXVILLE Cheese Factory ia loosted Oh
the farm of our well known farmer friend,
George Murray out ON Jersey Ridge, "about
three miles from town. The enterprise was
inaugurateo last winter by Geo. hurry, John
Lambert and George W. Sitterly, three of
the most extensive farmers in that vicinity,
each enc taking an equal amount of stock
therein. Their belief was that by thus club
bling together and putting the plan into
operation, and inviting nelghboring farmers
10 come in and Join them, an extensive aud
romunerative factory would be the result
Accordingly they went to work, selected the
spot, and got out their lumber last winter
and by the 10Th of June had it ready to 90
TO work.
The buildIng-the main parts 20 by 80
feet, two stories high. with a wing on the
north side 20 by Il feet. It is plastered and
painted, and the windows fitted with blinds
and wire screens, as to keep out lilies, and
still have abundant ventilation.
The apparatus for making cheese is in the
wing of the building, and consists of one
Oneida Cheese Vat" 10 feet long feet four
inches wide ut the top, and l foot inches
deep, with capacity for $40 gallons of milk
The bottom and sides are cham bered for wa
ter, with place for fire extending It's entire
length underneath, with proper fues This
Is for heating watsr underneath the milk, by
which process, aided by thermometer, the
milk Is brought to the proper temperature
with the greatest accuracy, and without the
possibility of getting Bcorched There is aIso
copper heater to supply hot water double
acting lever cheese press, with it's appropri-
ate furniture e sink furnished with a pump
which leads to e. cisterD,s G curd trough;
platform scales, aud curious little ingtru-
msnt called a LaoteOmeter, for testing the
purity OF milk. Everything is kept in per-
fecsiy neat and clean Order-as should be-
10 this place, then, the farmers bring their
milk night and morning, in largo cans made
tor the purpose. The milk is weighed and a
strict account is Kept of the same There
are from 10 to 30 cows now supplying the
factory which furnish about 100 pounds of
milk per day. The nights milk ia kept in
The vat till morning, and as soon az the morn
lng's milk is poured the work of cheese max
ing commences, aud in about four hours two
large new milk cheese, weighing about 45
los. eacn, are put to press. The cheese-nak
ing Is under the man sgemeni of Mrs. T, T.
dolcomD, whose experience seems TO he of
the hrst quality. On our first visit tn the
factory, Mrs. Il. being unwell, We found ouy
friend L.. L., himself, up to the eIbovs in
eurd, and though not his regular business
except as assistant, he seemed to know "a
muon about good cheese making as ANYBODY.
80 Tar none OF the neighboring farmers
have consulted their interest as to pa,roniz;ro
the factory, so the three stockholders with
their 40 cows keep the factory running. and
are making money by it, Many of the farm.
ers In that neighborhood prefer to mako their
milk into butter and sell it in that way. bu.
PROBABLY sney have not learned the fact ,b.+
pound of good cheese ia worth &c ,, 49, '' ~
pound of good butter this seasor and ,h as
milk yields about three times "a much ch s aas
as butter. Taking this into eonsidera,;nn '.oe :ss
the labor saved In the household "'.n
convince anybody that their intarest W
the side of cheese. 40 VII
They pay cent q pound for milk rh,o.
Is q good proft,or take milk and max q chez.
at halves. 1t takes 8 lbs. of milk to 10 aka oae
pound of cheese, and about 81 tbs. to M. IL
one pound of butter, on an average. n.
the cheese factory actually pays more for -.
milk than the farmer can get for it ats, III
the trouble Of butter-making,-as q Tbs IS
milk is worth, In cheese, &c cents--in butt.r
20 to 25 cents.
The factory has turned out about ff,r
splendid new milk cheese, and these are l.;d
away on racks in the main buildin wba,.
they are cared for every dav in the pronar
manner. 1t is a rare treat to take a iook A.
this department. All those intarestad in
good cheese and home enterprise should 90