The enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 188?-1899, 1891-01-21

and lasting until nearly 1870, the dairymen
OF Northern Ohio, particularly of that por.
ton known as the Western Reserve, had q
practical monopoly of the cheese trade OF
the west and southwest. For 30 years theii
prosperity, If not phenomenal, was steady
and satisfactory. No other kind of farm
ing was attended with SO little risk; otheI
branches occasionally gave larger profits
but they we're attended by fal greater un-
certainty. Dalrymen alone could, 1t the
commencement Of each season, estimate
with approximate accuracy the income
they would derive from their business.
Between 1910 and 1868 thousands Of
farms on the Western Reserve were pur.
chased by Young men, on credit, and were
paid for, in many instances, by purchasers
who we're not remarkable for energy
or economy. During those years families
engaged 10 dairy husbandry could, with
out practicing painful economy, and with
only ordinary industry, pursue the even
tenor of their ways, content with the old
methods, with practical certainty that
each year would show at least a moderate
balance of income over expenditure. In
those halcyon days but little thought was
expended in the selection of milch cows
OF in the investigation of the relative
merits of the different breeds from which
selections could be made.
But even in those good old times there
was an occasional farmer who knew that
be hnd better pay one hundred dollars for a
COW that would give seven thousand
pounds of milk IN year than to take as
gift one that would give only four thou
sand pounds. But within my own knowl.
edge, not only living In the same town.
ship, but residing on adjoining farms,
could be found ualIymen whose annual
average yield Of milk to the COW showed
difference Of fully one hundred per
cent. Such instances were only OCCASION
al, but a difference Of fifty per cent was
frequent. Upon one farm, one thousand
pounds of milk would be produced to
each acre of land, and UPON the adjoining
equally favored by nature, OF the same
number OF acres, and upon which the same
numner of cows were kept, the yield
would not exceed five huLdred pounds 10
the acre. Yet as long as all could make
the ends meet, all were happy ana
we're contentcd. II is worthy ot note,
however, that as soon as cheese factories
we've introduced, those same easy-golng,
elf-satisded dairymen, who were so lenient
toward their own poor methods, sat in the
severest Judgment upon, and We're ready
10 abandon, the cheese factory whose div
lends for single year were ten per cent
lower than those of contiguous one. No
factory could survive two years of work,
that was not, 10 every respect, up to high
standard. do not mention this TO COM
plain, because success always succeeds,
and am not in favor OF forgiving poor
work because OF good excuses. But II
seems quite unreasonable that a patron
whose average yield Of milk, both tn the
COW and to the acre, has been for many
years 90 per cent. lower than that obtained
by his nearest neighbor, should be ready
TO abandon the factory to which he sends
his milk If its dividends for two years
should fall over len per cent below lis
most fortunate competitor.
make the following statement without
fear Of contradiction: From 1910 10 1867
there was no kind of human industry un-
protected by patients, in which success
was so uniformly obtainable at iheexpend-
iture of so little energy and so little intel
ligence, as in dairy husbandry. During
all these years, practically, no cheese was
manufactured in the United States west Of
Huron county, Ohio. What change has
taken placel Now, large portions Of Wis
consin, Iowa and Illinois are crowded
with cheese factories, and there is not a
State in the west that is not largely en-
gagged in the production Of cheese. The
almost fabulous multiplication and exten-
sion OF railways over the west and south /;
the largely increased and improved
shipping facilities upon our great
rivers and lakes, as well as upon
the oceans that wash our shores, re-
sulting In cheapening of freight and
Of transporialion,in more ex-
tended and rapid communication between
every portion OF the Uuited States and
the marts of the world, have robbed the
dairymen of Ohio and New York Of the
great advantages and practical monopoly
that they enjoyed Tor so many years. 1t
only COSTS Iowa, Kansas and Minnesota
small fraction Of cent more TO freight
their produce to New York City than is
paid by the farmers Of the Western Re-
serve. As result we have witnessed a
wonderful development of dairy husbandry
throughout the west. The production Of but
terand cheese has increased duringthe past
fifteen years much more rapidly than the
population; consequently, prices ruinous.
ly low have prevailed, prices that during
at least half Of the past twelve years were
decidedly below the average cost Of pro
duciiou. Certainly no one would dispute
the statement that during the last four
years the average daiyman, practicing
only the average methods, has not been
able TO make money; while all of those
whose methods have been below the aver
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