River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1885-10-22
How is That2

1t has long been evident that the
dairymen do not realize to what ex-
tent the manufacture of imitation but
ter is destroying their business. They
have been complaining the present
season of low prices, and III our conf
dent belief at least i've cents a pound
has been taken from the price of hon
est butter i'll consequence of the man
ufacture and sale of butterine in the
name of butter. We do not believe
the business would have existed sim
gle year if the farmers of the Uni ted
States had come to the front as they
ought and made known their wishes
to their respective Congressman. Let
them once act as senSibly and energet-
ically as the bankers would, if some
body were counterfeiting their pro-
ducts, and we would see Congress hus-
Ting around in double quick style to
remedy the evil.
The difficulty is neither the farmers
nor the congressman have any ade-
quate idea of the extent of this evil.
Here are some facts that ought to stir
the conviction of every farmer in the
| land and cause him to forthwith write
letter to his member of Congress and
ask for relief.
The butter production of the State
of Wisconsin for 1884 was 5000, 0C0
| lbs. This would amount to 1000
| lbs. "a week. We have lately learned
upon what we deem to be reliable au-
| thOrity, that a certain butter color
manufacturer i'll the West has stand
ing order from single butterine fac
| tory in Chicago for three barrels OF
color q aceek A barrel of color will
| color $4,000 pounds. This proves
that the single factory referred to is
making each week three times as many
| pounds Of 6utterine as the State q
| Wisconsin produces Of butter per week.
We have no doubt of the facts in the
case In addition let it be remember
ed that this is only one factory while
there are Si.rteea more IN actiUe opera
ton IN Chicago. Then remember
| that in all other cities OF the Union
| the same inquiry is going on and ask
Yourself, Brother Farmer, if it is not
about time to stir yourself and lei
| YOUR influence be felt. Haven't you
sat in dumb silence like ga sheep be
fore her shearer" about long enoughi
Look at the capital you have involved
The production of milk alone in the
United States amounts annually tC
nine hundred millions Of dollars anC
the milch cows, saying nothing of the
beef interests, are valued at Seueh
hundred millions Of dollars. All the
banking capital of the United States
amounts to only 1865 100000, or $44,
600, 600 less than the capital invested
in dairy cows.
The silver production is only $40
000,0O Yet the farmers will 81
down as quiet as mice, while the sil
yer men are bounding Congress day
and night. The remedy is a simple
one Write to your Congressman ant
ask him to support the enactment OF
law taxing the counterfeit stuff, sd.
fifteen cents pound.
Concerning the power of Congress t
do this we can say, that it certainl!
ought to be as constitutional as wa
the law that taxed the State banks GU
of existence by an impost of ten pc
cent. on their circulation. In thi!
way the government would receive
benefit. the people would be saved
from being swindled into buying DO
gus butter, and the seven hundred
million dollars worth of cows would
have a fair show Hoard's Ddirypldn