The tribune. [volume] (Beaufort, S.C.) 1874-1876, 1875-01-13
BUTTER AND CHEESE,
Intercstins Statistics of tho Dairy Interests
Of the United States.

Of the United States.
AT the last meeting of the Diarymen's 8
Association of New York, Mr.. Willard,
the chairman, made the following state
ment relative to the butter and cheese
interest In the United States. In 1868,
said Mr.. Willard, the associated system
began to move forward in earnest. About
llO factories were erected that year, and
the whole number in operation was only
zoo. We were then exporting about 40
100000 pounds of cheese and q, ,OOO, 900
pounds of butter. In 1859 our exports
OF cheese were only trifle over $780,
Ooo pounds, and butter about 2, ,500,0 900.
Our cheese exports from 1859 to 1868
were increased Mt the annual rate of T.
$4,000 pounds. At the end of 1878 the
annual exports of American cheese to
Great Britain amounted to 1O4, ,OOO, 600
pounds, an increase of "a, 600, 900 pounds
In ten years. But of this, 20,0OO,O 600
pounds came from Canada. In addition,
we exported about 10, 600, 900 pounds to
other countries than Britain, making our
total annual exports over sc. .OO0, 900
pounds. The Canadians up to 1866 pur-
chased their cheese from the United
States. Our bill on Canada for cheese,
In 1885, amounted to 100000, repre-
senting about 100000 pounds. It is
now estimated that there are 200 and
upward of cheese and butter factories in
New York alone, while the system has
been. carried into the Northwest on a
large scale, and of late is gaining a foot
hold III other sections, especially in
Maine, which offers good field for its
operations.
MIR. Willard thought there was but
little cause for alarm from fear of over
production. The increase of population,
both at home and III England, together
with the barriers that limit the increase
OF dalrying, go to show that there is no
good cause for alarm that there will be
an overproduction of prime dairy goods
Tor some years to come. He said the in
crease OF our exports since 1863 was Ga, :
O0O,OOO pounds of cheese. At 400
pounds of cheese to the COW, it would
require 1000 COWS to make that guam
tlty. But as our home consumption had
pcreased in as rapid ratio, there was
needed 800, 900 more cows than i'll 1868
70 supply the increased exports and con-
sumption OF cheese Mt home during the
time mentioned.
Statistics show that forty-one per cent
OF the milk produced in the United
States is consumed directly as food, and
}tifty-four per cent. is used for butter.
Ihls leaves only five per cent. of the milk
TO be made into cheese. Now, according
to the United States census, the mich
cows In the country In 1850 were $685.
so94, III 1850 they numbered 1851, ,735,
and In 1870 they were IL ,00S, 925, the av-
erage Increase being less than 2, 500, 900
cows for each decade. In other words,
the increase of population is Mt greater
rate than the increase of dairy stock.
For the purpose of showing the great
tax on our dairies to supply the needs of
home consumption, he gave some statis-
tics in relation to the butter crop. The
annual butter crop has been variously es-
timated at from 7OO,0OO,OOO to 1,0OO,-
100000 of pounds. This, he said, APP
pears to be low estimate if we are to
take the figures sent out by the New
York Butter and Cheese Exchange A
committee of eminent merchants was ap-
pointed by the Exchange to consider the
subject of classifying and grading butter,
and the committee, in their report, state
that the census statistics of dairy pro-
ducts are incomplete and defective. A
more reliable estimate is that made by
an experienced and careful statistician,
which the committe indorse, making the
annual product of butter to be / No.
100000 pounds, which, at thirty cents
per pound, amounts to $432, 100000.
At the rate of 200 pounds to the COW,
it would require 1900, 900 COWS to make
the annual yield of 1,40, 900, 900
pounds. If, as has been estimated,
there are now 100000 cows in the
United States, then fifty-four per cent.
(the proportion heretofore stated to have
been employed for butter) would make
the number little over 100000 cows
He spoke of the rapid increase of butter
consumption in this country, and at
tr1buted it, i'll part, to the introduction
OF the creamery system, and as conse-
quence, the general Improvement in the
quality of butter. He said the price of
butter had been gradually advancing
abroad, and that, owing to scarcity and
great demand for it during the past year
In England, prices had advanced to 10
.shllllngs sterling per cwt. on the finest
grades. This price, it would seem, offers
an inducement to us to export He re-
ferred to the demand in the West Indies
and South America for dairy goods, and
believed that New York will be more and
more the chief distributing market of
the world for dairy products, and will
largely control the prices in all other
markets.
An allusion was made to the heavy
burden which had accumulated on the
dairymen of New York at the commence
ment of the present seasons's operations
This came from the low yield Of the hay
crop in 1873. The scarcity and conse-
quent high price compelled many dairy
men to sell stock at low price, while
the early snow in fall, and the unusual
length of the cold weather left stock in
Thin condition consequently the yield
of milk carly in the seaaon waa beln,u ON