The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1893-12-22
THE HUMBLE COW.
Through the Creameries She Is Proving .
Bonanza For Western Farmers.

Bonanza For Western Farmers.
Especial Correspondence
ABILENE, Kan, Dec 19.-Three epochs
have divided the past decade for western
farmers: three great industrial fashions
have reigned and promised to become per-
manent wealthmakers. The first was that
of wheat raising. During the latter seven
ties the wheat fields of Kansas and Nebras-
ka were the wonder of every transconti-
mental traveller. Along the bottom lands of
the kaw and Platte the beautiful leagues
of grain stretched away for miles, and the
passenger trains often stopped during har-
vest time in the midst of tho toilers to allow
the travellers nearer view OF the attractive
scene Everybody who could started in the
wheat raising industry.
But there came bad crop years, and it
soon became apparent that wheat growing
could not be followed exclusively. Next
came sheep. Wool brought good price.
The unlimited pasturage and the mild win
tiers seemed singularly adapted to the rails
ing of sheep and production of WOOL Flocks
came up from Texas and New Mexico. tens
of thousands of head-long legged, hungry
creatures, with pound or two of coarse,
hairy fleece on their bony backs Wrinkled
necked merinos also came from the sheep
growing centers of New York and Ohio.
The sheep population of the Mississippi val
ley leaped to amazing figures, Kansas at
one time having close to 100000 head,
where now are but about 100000. In 1888
wool took a tumble, and the race was
changed to one Of disposing of the focks.
Then came boom times and a period Of
uncertainty, but now there has arisen a
new savior for the struggling prairie farm
er, and it is the most sensible of all-the
mild eyed and humble COW. All over the
prairie states have been built creameries,
and morning after morning long process
sions of farmers teams laden with milk
cans may be seen unloading their sweet
scented product at their doors. The teams
are frequently driven by the wives and
daughters of the household, as thus the
men are enabled to do full days work at
home.
From the receiving vat to the separator
the sweet fluid goes, and later the cream is
churned in great revolving boxes into pure,
bealthful butter that requires no coloring
material to fit it for the daintiest table In
the land. Pressed into solid pound pack
ages, wrapped in tissue paper and marked
with some attractive device, it commands
the highest market price and goes TO the
best trade of the continent. Kansas and
Nebraska are sending many carloads regu-
larry to the cities of Mexico and north into
Canada Kansas sold over 81, 000, 900 worth
of butter in 1892, and this year s product
Will he far in excess of that figure, Ne
braska and Iowa are doing nearly as well
and are reaping certain and rich harvest
from this new industry
By means of il the farmer with n few
cows is able to utilize his crops for feed,
being thus less dependent upon the mar
kets. He receives at the end of the month
the cash receipts of the butter his milk has
produced less a small commission retained
by the creamery owners. He Is usually a
stock holder in the creamery, so even part
OF this comes back TO hIn. By means of
improved machinery. familiarity with the
markets etc. the manager OF the creamery
succeeds in realizing the very highest pos
sible return for the butter produced, and 1t
all results in increased profit 20 the farmer.
Indirectly it benefits him as well. To
secure good returns from his stock there
must be warm barns, careful attention and
proper food The farmer diversjfies His
crops and, in short. makes farming bust
ness. as does his brother in the eastern
states, instead Of speculation and guess
work-the great fault which has been a
constant brake on western development
In many prairie county from $1,000 TO
sl5.0Qo a month is being paid out by the
creameries 1t is providing the groceries
and clothing and giving a residue for les
sening the mortgage on the homestead No
industry in the west is returning 50 large
or satisfactory a profit On the investment,
and yet the demand for good creamery but
ter Is not supplied
The hum ole cow is proving the salvation
OF many a household In the creamery
sections her value has been increased mar
velously. and among the chief factors Ct
western prosperity she must be reekoned
as one of the most stable Vita cheap
land, cheap feed ard high prices for her
product, she Is better than a silver mine o.
q western farm C. q GAEsEG-