Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1883-09-27
GREATEST DAIRY FARM IN KANSAS.


WICHITA.K KANSAS. SEPT. "a, 1888.
GREATEST DAIRY FARM IN KANSAS.
ONE HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS INVESTED
~ lands, CATTLE AND MACHINERY.
Another Of sesewick county's Great Enterprises Of
which the World has Heard bu. Little.
Looming up in the midst Of the wide,
smooth valley that stretches away in di-
viding plain, and midway between the riv-
ers that bound {, upon either side. with its
many red roof and walls cleaning In the
sunlightlike some newly-adorned castle and
about which are marching and counter
marching unbroken columns, with here and
there a single mounted knight. advancing
towards or retreating from the shadows of
the dark line OF timber that fringes and
marks the courses of the Little and Great
Arkansas rivers, seventeen miles northwest
OF Wichita stands cluster of large and
small buildings. A nearer approach resolves
the castle, its tower and battlements and
other accessories into huge factory, ele-
vaied watertanks, ice houses, a dwelling
and numerous barns and out-houses, aud
the moving columns into herds OF cattle and
their attendant keepers, all Of the Anglo
American Live stock and Dairy Company.
We don't know a. we shall be able TO give
the readers OF the EAGLE a clear idea Of
this enterprise, which has within a few
months been started 10 our county, and 20
quietly that very few know any thing of its
character or magnitude, but we can tell
them something.
A two-hours' drive last Friday, up along
the east bank Of the Little river. crossing
at Hon. L. i. Thompson's ford, and thence
along roads which for miles and miles were
hedged with corn and freshly-plowed fields
In which the new wheat WAS making its sp-
pearanee, we struck AN open piece Of prai-
RE, or which at least WAS only fenced into
great pastures of hundreds of acres, and
across which, some four or five miles in the
level distance, we fret caught sight of the
buildings OF the great dairy company. Our
carriage load was welcomed right heartily
by Mr.. Ernest Dreyes, the general manager,
ladies TO the house we commenced the work
Of systematically noting every thing that
might interest our readers. The house,
factory and other buildings are inclosed
with neat and substantial fences through
which grayeled walks and drives run in ev-
cry direction with borders OF vines, beds of
flowers, and plots OF grass, all very new, Of
a,
through the grounds aud into every build
ing water pipes are laid which are supplied
10y an elevated tank that stands ON tower
and which is kept full of fresh water by a
steam force-pump located in the factory.
There are seven buildings including the fac
tory, and all are painted dark lake or min
eral red, except the residence. The waste
waters are carried OF in neat little open
bitches laid in stone, but which will be ce-
mented next year. No weeds are allowed
TO grow anywhere, and no trees, except a
few eyergreens, within a hall mile of the
buildings.
Having taken a cursory view of our sur
roundings, Mr.. Dreyes first conducted us to
the cattle house which adjoins the creamery
on the west. This barn or stable j. 40x110,
one vast room of oaken floors and OF capac-
ity sufficient TO accommodate 200 mixers or
more. 1t Is provided with fourteen sliding
outaide doors, through which the cows en-
ter. The room j. twenty feet to the roof A
system OF shallow, circular-bottom troughs,
each thirty feet long, four feet wide and
seven inches deep, contain the feed. The
cows eat facing each other. Each animal is
provided with u halter chain which il at
tached TO an iron rod whereby, in one min
ute's time. one man can, from the outside
of the barn, release the whole herd, while
another can, in the same time, open every
door. To every trough and every animal
runs fresh water suppy-pipes. and TO each
system of troughs il a manure siuk and
drain, which can be washed out with fresh
water after which the whole Is carted to the
lands. Each mixer milks twenty-five cows
morning and evening. The milk Is carried
10 high platform TO the weigher, who,
from his station can overlook every cow in
the barn, and who weighs each cows milk
and makes n record OF it. The mixer, As
are Germans who were brought up to this
business. A shaft runs through the entire
length Of this building which attaches TO
machines that cut aud grind all the food
given 10 the mixers, Including cut hay.
Adjoining the cattle stable, but separated
tram It by an air-tight partition, is the
creamery building which is of two stories
aud window-gass dome. under which is
situated the machinery consisting of a cheese
mill and cheese press, centrifugal separat-
or, Blanchard churn. and a revolving
butter-worker. The engine-room and boil
er-room adjoin tbis again, but separated
from II by air and dust-prooi partitions and
doors. All the machinery OF the creamery
room Is run by steam and one man oversees
the whole work. The room il probably
thirty feet sqtr re with a smooth tagging
stone floor, over which cool, clear water
runs. Adjoining the creamery room on one
side Is cheese room of clean secured
shelves and stone floor and subdued light,
in which 273 eheeses can be put through the
curing process at one time. Another room
adjons the main room called the cream
room with two immense tin watts inclosed in
wood, also stone floor. Still another room
TO the west OF the machinery room, also
with stone floor, Is the packing or firkin
room. But The main room is tho one oil
chiefest interest. Here revolves a great
tin-lined tank that will hold fifty barrels OF
milk, 90 feet in circumference through
which travels many toothed revolving cral
that cuts the curded milk into millions OF
little pieces. Next comes the Blanchard
churn, clean and sweet,-being scalded ev-
cry day, rs are all the tanks aud vessels
with its great revolving padJle-wheels that
bring butter from sweet cream. by the
way, Mr.. Dreyes informed us that the
churns used in the Kansas creamerics were
no good, being too complicated and not sus
ceptible Of proper cleansing which is abso'
lutely necessary to sweet butter We notice.
next, but which we can't describe, the cen.
barrel of milk and which rcvolycs at The
almost inconceivable velocity OF !, 800 time,
u minute, separating the cream from the
milk, and the milk from the water, aud the
water from any stray dust or dirt, and send
ing each of in pipes in different directions
Last Of all is the revolving butter worker
IL we except the cheese press which has :
capacity OF fourteen ciIceses at time. Tht
butter-worker is a revolving table. twent,
feet in circumference TO which is attached {
fixed corrugated cone cylinder under which
the butter passes. Around above this room
which is lighted by dome sky-iight. is
corridor, upon which visitors can stan,
and watch the whole operation OF all thu
machinery. Back Of this corridor is Thu
private rooms of the workmen, who liv'
here aud get their food from kitchen be
low, which is provided with an immens
hotel range.
Now let us, IL we can, make the arrange
ment understood: The man who stands OF
the platform in the COW house. after he la
weighed and recorded the milk OF each COW
furns no Ia nj du,i into N f,oual xvhop.