Dallas herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1849-1873, 1872-09-21
Written for the Illustrated Journal ofAgricnltnre,
The Manufacture ofCheese in Western
Texas.
ST. LOUIS, August IS, 1872.

MEssRs. EDITORS Heretofore
nearly all the choice butter and
cheese placed upon the markets in
the populous sections of the Uuni-
ted States, have been produced in
Ohio, New York, New England,
and Pennsylvania; and since the
Factory System of manufacturing
cheese has been in operation,
American cheese has become lead.
ing article of traffic in the English
markets, and is pronounced there
as in no wise inferior in quality to
the best in Europe. This fact alone
speaks volumes in favor Of Ameri-
can skill, and, inasmuch as cheese
is an important article of diet in
every civilized country on the face
of the globe, and is increasing in
popularity as such, and deservedly
so, owing to its great nutri-
tive qualities, may we not indulge
in few reflections as well rs calcu-
lations upon the subject of Cheese
Manufacture-not in the old and
populous States, where arabic farms
are worth from fifty dollars to two
hundred dollars per acre-but in
the pastoral sections Of the Union,
where land is still unoccupied and
held at low figures; where, too,
immense herds of buffalo have sub
sisted for many centuries upon the
rich and nutritious grasses, suppli-
cd by q kind and beneticent Provi-
dence, thus furnishing unmistaka-
Bile proof of tho adaptability of
those sections to dairy purposes.
In nearly all that portion of Tex
as lying west ola north and south
line, starting at Sherman and lead
ing through Dallas, Waco, Austin
and San Antonio, on to the Rio
Grande, prairie largely predomi'
mates, and rich, nutritious grasses
abound during the entire year; and
wherever supply of never-failing
water can be had, dairies can be es-
tablished and carried on success
fully, in my opinion.
AS q matter Of course, it will
take time to inaugurate the same
system of manufacturing cheese as
is now in vogue in the Eastern
States. The farmers in Texas are
not educated up to this idea Of do
ing business. 1t is attended with
too much care, order, system and
close attention, to become popular
with them, although time will
doubtless work a change in thisre-
gard. Therefore / propose to sub
nit a plan whereby the manufac-
ture of cheese can be, at once, made
remuncrative in Western Texas !;
but in so doing l am compelled to
enter upon scale quite too exten-
sive for dairymen with limited
means. Indeed, the very nature
of the business forbids operating on
small scale. True, farmers and
stockraiscrs residing within q cer-
tain circumference, could organize
Il stock company, and operate upon
tho plan herein set forth and if
they will but investigate the sub
iect in all its details and bearings,
l feel confident they will engage in
the manufacture of cheese, and find
the business moro profitable than
raising grain, or even cotton-that
is, in such localities where never
failing water and grass abound,a land
thus introduce into the great
Southwest new and important
branch Of industry.
1t may be urged that the requi-
site amount of skillful labor TO sue
ccssfully conduct the cheese manu-
factusing business upon an extend
ed scale in Texas, could not be OBJ
taincd. l am confident this objec-
ton is not well founded. Let us
sec. Western Texas in less than a
twelve-month, will be within four
days travel of the dairy sections of
the United States, by rail. Then
her claims, as dairy section, can
be readily established through the
efforts of her citizens; for both
capital and skilled labor will seek
the most desirable sections for in
vcstment and employment, there
fore Texans need have no fears up
on this point. Invite the dairymen
of the Northwest to pay Texas a
visit; sell your broad and unculti-
waited acres at reasonable figure,
and hold out other inducements to
them to come and settle among you,
and our word for it, cheese faetori-
es will spring up in every neigh
borhood.
Without more extended argu-
ment upon the subject under con-
sideration, l will throw together
some figures in the form ofa
rt.r ron . n.tpx v.ur ~ TtxIs.