Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1889-06-12
The Creamery Patrons Meet.

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what price they would be willing to ac-
cept for their milk, there having been a
reduction from 80 to 90 cents made at
the beginning of the month. Jerry
Simpson was elected chairman and G..
G. Sparks secretary of the meeting.
The question of only allowing the
patrons voice was raised and mo-
ton made that the secretary issue tick
cts to patrons only, and these tickets
be used for admission to future meet
ing. The motion was lost.
Mr.. DeLlsle, secretary of the cream
cry, was called on, and he stated that
go cents was all that the creamery could
pay for milk at present. Before the
creamery was established, he. with 9TH
ers, inquired into the price paid for but
ter last year and found that it ranged
from 20 to Oh cents on the cars, and
believing that these prices would be
realized this year, the company conclu-
ded it could give 80 cents for May. The
returns showed that it was mistake,
as quotations show that in New York
Is cents is the price of creamery butter;
Kansas City only Is cents; Chicago, IS
to H. Another thing. they could not
make butter all the month, the supply
of tubs having been exhausted and it
was necessary to make cheese or stop
the establishment. He further stated
that pounds of butter to 100 pounds of
milk was all that could be relied on.
Last month the creamery lost S2l1.
d. ClOugh, of Sharon township, had
made inquiry and learned that last
month the HaZelton creamery paid but
50 cents; but would agree to pay more
If the patrons would contract by the
year. The Attica creamery, he under
stood, paid SIS cents for April; but the
patrons did not know how much they
would get for May, as they would be
paid in proportion to the price realized
for the output. He believed the COM
pany here was doing as well by the pat
rons as possible. He hauled Is miles
and needed money as badly as anybody,
but with his understanding of the mar
ket he was willing to await further de-
velopments.
j. ID. Pursell, of Mingona. wanted to
understand exactly what he was doing
If he contracted to shell corn and keep
the cobs, he would certainly want the
cobs; if he contracted to deliver milk
and receive certain per cent. of
skinned milk in return, he wanted the
skinned milk. He wanted to know
what he could rely on and at the same
time SAID he thought the creamery
great thing for the county and perhaps
better Investment than farming.
r. NJ. Sparks, who said he had been
in the milk business for years, said he
could not make butter for less than 25
cents pound, and believed that to sell
milk at 6 cents per gallon was better
than making butter for % cents.
Mr.. Pursell said that his reading had
told him that pounds of butter per 100
pounds of milk was the rule, and that
10 pounds of cheese to 100 pounds of
milk was the rule. He was not there
to set prices; but he did not want few
rich men to make all the profit while
the farmers did most of the work.
Mr.. DeLisle said that the company
had about 5000 pounds of butter on
hand, but this they hoped to get clear
of this week as there would be a refrig-
orator car here; but they did not ex-
pect to net more than 133 for the butter
on hand. He further stated that if the
patrons desired, they might conduct
the creamery and pay the stockholders
a dividend of six per cent. on the in
vestment, and he believed that every
stakeholder would agree to it.
The chairman, Mr.. Simpson, favored
the cooperative plan, allowing a reason-
able per cent. on the capital invested
and suggested that a committee might
be appointed to Investigate prices and
the details of management, and estab-
fish scale of prices if that proves the
best thing to do.
Mr.. Sparks thought that the PROPOSE
ton of Mr. DeLisle was q fair one, as
it would in fact be giving the stock
holders two per cent. on their invest
ment, for it was well understood that
that the wear and tear on the building
and machinery would equal four per
cent. per annum.
E. r. Howard thought the directors
fixed the price of milk too high in the
beginnings but that if they have made
blister they must sit on 1t. The
whole question, stripped of preambies,
was, are we willing to accept 60 cents?
He wanted the creamery to continue,
but he wanted his half of the double
tree. Are there not other ways to dis
pose of milk as proftably as to sell it
for so cents? He was opposed to the
cooperative plan, but wanted the price
fixed understood. He favored the ap-
pointmept Of committee to confer
with the creamery managers.
+. 3. Cole represented IS COWS, and
for him go cents without any SKINNED
milk returned would not pay. He had
sold his calves rather than see the poor
things drink the sour water that alone
was returned now,
Mr.. Pursell said he could make more
money feeding his milk to the hogs than
in selling it for go cents.
On motion of 2. B. Cole, seconded by
S. K. w. Field, the chairman was in
structed to appoint committee of three
to confer with the creamery company
and agree on a plan and prices for the
future government OF the patrons.
The chairman appointed as such COM
mittee. P. B. Cole, David Clough and E.
r. Howard.
The committee was instructed to re-
mort at mr. a adjourned ,,oaat;,,o % - ,1a