Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1874-10-16

w
dairymen and shippers of butter
should be anxious to have their pro-
duct rank as high and command
equal prices with the eastern pro-
duct With this feeling we most
heartily sympathize, and from
thorough acquaintance Of the views
Of the receivers Of both eastern and
western butter in this city, we can
didly say there is not one with whom
we have conversed but would be glad
to see the western product improve
to 4 quality equal to the eastern, and
would acknowledge it frankly rs
soon as done. But their good wishes
cannot change the fact-and the facts
are that the average quality Of west
ern butter received in this market is
not as good as that of the eastern,
the evidence Of which is found in the
different prices of the two classes
The western receivers arc as enter
prising and intelligent class of bus
mess men as any other in this city,
and if they were able to sell their
goods at higher price their constit-
uents may rest assured they would
do so. That they cannot is the best
evidence of a difference in quality,
for there is nothing to hinder their
getting the highest price they can.
Retailers and shippers of butter here
know that western butter does not
possess the keeping qualities of the
eastern. And there are reasons for
it that all will understand as soon as
stated. We presume that the most
of the butter made in the west, is
either consumed at home or shipped
to the near by markets, Chicago, St.
Louis, etc. 1t is only then, as rule,
the lower grades of butter that are
shipped to this market. In it's pre-
paration for market, by shippers,
there is necessarily mlngling Of
different makes of butter, which, if
sent without reworking, affects it's
appearance, OF, if revoked, hurts its
keeping quality. 1t is then from
eight to ten days, perhaps, on the
route, affected by all the changes of
transportation, and housed up in close
cars, and that has it's effect on it; or
it is sent on ice, and when unshipped
and put in store, thaws out and is
greatly damaged thereby. Now, these
are things that cannot be ignored.
But we will tell you what we can do,
all of us, east and west-we can all
work together to help remove all the
insurmountable difficulties in the way.
There is no use to try to get up a
quarrel about it. At least, so far as
we are concerned, we do not intend
to be led into anything more than a
friendly dis ,ussion of the best means
to help all to better understanding.
We believe, as we have before stated,
that the time will come when there
will be no distinction in the CLASH
fication of butter growing out of To-
cality Of production, and we intend
to hasten the time as rapidly as pos
sible. A half a loaf is better than
no bread at all. And, therefore, we
think that the Butter and Cheese Elk
change, in arranging ithe classified
ton as they propose, is doing the
best that can be done at present.
1t allows any western butter, no mat.
ter where from, to be classed among
the extras, if its merits entitle it to
that distinction, and there are already
a number of western diaries that
have achieved that rank. 1t then
makes the one distinction of eastern
and western, distinction which has
heretofore been made with each of
the three grades. The differences in
prices between eastern first and west
ern first, is just that difference that
would exist anyhow, classification or
no classification, while just as fast as
the difficulties In the way Of western
butter are overcome, and they are
being overcome very rapidly, just so
fast will that difference in price grow
less and less; and after while, when
there no longer exists any noticeable
difference at all, the reason for the
distinction will disappear, and it will
be swept away. But the western
men must help to do this. Time
alone, perhaps, will fully obliteratc,
if it can, the actual difference in pro-
duct growing out of feed and treat
ment Of stock, the old settled English
States and newly developed west,
the well-cultured meadow and the
natural pasturagc. But care and
attention can greatly overcome the
acknowledged defects in dairy prac-
tices, while more rapid transportation
under more favorable circumstances
for preserving the products will re-
move other difficulties. 1t is great
and important problem, in the proper
solution of which we feel a sincere
interest, and are willing to assist in
it in any way we can. A large num-
Der of our subscribers are shippers
of butter. We would be pleased to