Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1868-07-16
agricultural department,
A SOUTHERN CHEESE FACTORY.

~ ~ .E...- ....# .... 10 81 y .' .r.....,r. .r 4
A SOUTHERN CHEESE FACTORY.
A correspondent of the Ashyille Nesos
and Farmer, gives the following particu-
lars of new enterprise recently started in
Buncombe County, N. c.: .
Not quite year ago, Mr.. N. W: Wood
fin, the owner of the lands upon which the
Factory is situated, left this place to visit
the State of New York. While there he
made the acquaintance Of Gov. Horatio
Seymour, the present President of the
Cheese Factory Association of that State,
who induced him to visit many of the Cheese
Factories there in successful operation.
The Aattering results in that State caused
Mr.. Wood6n to seek out every information
concerning it, with view to introducing
to the people of Western North Carolina
the subject of Cheese making, as means
of recuperating their lost fortunes and to
change the production of their farms.
The intelligent and practical mind of Mr..
Woodfn saw at once that if Cheese Facto-
ries were profitable in New York, where
grazing lands are worth from 800 to 5000
per acre, and labor much higher than in
these mountains, it would be much more
profitable in Western North Carolina,
where equally as good grazing lands can
be bought at from 81 to $40 per acre, and
labor much cheaper, while our climate and
water, being cooler and purer than in New
York, will enable us to produce better
quality. He Immediately induced Capt.
Edwards, one of the best Cheese makers in
New York, and who was highly recommen-
ded by Gov. Seymour, to pay visit to
Buncomb and examine the country. In
January last, Mr.. Edwards came here,
took survey of the country and pronoun-
ced it equal to New York for Cheese ma
king. 49,, e.. , ....
A company was Immediately formed,
Capt. Edwards was employed to superin.
tend the Factory, and sent back to New
York to procure the most complete and
best machinery. At that time there was
not tree cut, from which any part of the
present buildings were erected; but the
indefatigable energy of the members of the
Company in an incredibly short time felled
the huge forrest trees, erected suitable
buildings, made good road Of two miles in
length, and by the time the machinery ar
rived, on the 9th day of April, everything
was ready to receive it. ~
On the 2Sth Of April 1858, (the day af-
ter the machinery arrived) the first cheese
was made at Elk Mountain, weighing 40
pounds, and is as fine an article of cheese
Is any made in any country.
Quantity of Cheese now made Il
daily, $50 to 260 lbs.
Number of cows MIXED, $50
The whole quantity Of Cheese
made since April 2Sth, 5000 lbs.
There are two sizes of Cheese made; one
'ize weighing about 40 Tbs. each, the other
rom to II Tbs. The prices adopted by
he Company are for the largest size 20
,ents per pound, for the smaller size, by
he single Cheese, 25 cents per pound, but
where three or more small ones are taken
he price is reduced to the same as for the
argest size. This price brings it within
The reach of every one, and if the Compa-
ny does nothing more, it deserves the uni
ed support of our people for having redu-
led the price of that article of food.
The Factory employs fifteen hands. Of
hese, three are females; two, as mixers
,nly, and one in the vat room. The male
employees are engaged, between the morn
ng and evening milking hours, in various
,ther duties on the farm.
About fifty hogs are kept "fat and -four
shing'' upon the whey from the vats.
The Machinery was made by Messrs,
Williams, Ralf & Co., Utica, Oneida Co.,
n. Y.
Thus, then, in ten months after it was
irst thought of, the Machinery has been
made, in New York, and delivered in Bun
,ombe County, N. c., the forrest felled,
he buildings erected, 18O COWS purchased,
md 5000 pounds of superior Cheese made,
which finds ready sale, in and near Ashe-
lille, at the above prices, and gives the
Factory earnings, since the 18th Of April,
not two months-the respectable amount of
$1,000! Such energy aud industry is en-
titled to the highest praise, and ensures to
;he enterprise profitable career.
As an enterprise, for the general good,
t cannot be over estimated. Already we
zee its influences permeating through every
section of these Mountains. Cheese Fac
tories are to be established in other Coun-
hes, and with them will our farmers be en-
to change their system of cultiva-
lion. The grasses and rotation of crops
will soon make our old fields put on living
green verdure, from which the lowing cat
lie will yield, morning and evening, their
golden reward to the owners, while the
ands will be constantly improving in price
and quality.
We are unable, in this number, to give
details of the process of Cheese making,
but as it will be our pleasure to often no.
tice the success of this Factory, we shall
embrace another opportunity for that.
We cannot close this article without as
,uring our readers of two essential particu-
ars in the Elk Moutain Cheese:
1st. Its cleanliness. Everything con-
nected with its manufacture is scrupulously
clean. No lady in the land is more cleanly
or fastidious in her bread and pastry, than
are Capt. Edwards and his excellent lady
in everything connected with their Cheese,
80 that none need fear Seating dirt" in it.
End. Its quality. We profess to be
good judge of cheese, and we unhesitating-
" pronounce the Elk Mountain Cheese