Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1894-01-25
Tss HUMBLE cow.
Ihrsush ~ csssmsriss She Is Proving :
eenaxza ies Western farmers.

ABILENE, Ran, Jan. 24.-Three epochs
have divided the past decade Tor western
farmers: thrse great industrial fashions
have reigned and promised to become per-
mapcnt weaithmakers. The first was that
of wheat raising. During the latter seven
ties the wheat fields of Kansas and Nebras-
Ike were the wonder OF every transcontl-
mental traveller Along the bottom lands OF
the kaw and Platte the beautiful leagues
OF grain stretched away for miles. and the
passenger trims often stopped during har-
vest time in the midst Of the toilers to allow
the travellers a 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 BIZ followed exclusively. Next
came sheep. Wool brought Il good price.
The unlimited pasrurage and the mild win
ters seemed singularly adapted to the rails
ing of sheep and production of wool. Flocks
came I'D fron Texas and New Mexigp. tens
Of thousands of head-long legged, hungry
creatures, with = pound or two OF coarse,
hairy fleece Gu their bony backs. Wink lesl
necked mer:os also came from the sheep
growing cen ya-s of New York and Ohio.
The sheep population Of the Mississippi val
ley leaped E. aniazipg figures, Kansas at
one time he ring close TO l,OJO,O00 head,
where row ore but about 100000. In 1858
wool took n tumble, and the race was
changed to oi,e of disposing OF the iiocks.
Then came boom times and II period OF
uncertainty, but now there has arisen a
new savior foc the struggling prairie farm
err, and it is me most sensible of all-the
mild eyed AZ l humble COW. All over the
prairie states have been built creainerles,
and morning after morning long process
sions of farmers teams laden with milk
cans may lp 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 IL 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,
healthful butter that requires no coloring
material to fit it for the daintiest table in
the land. Prs.sad 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 ard
NbDnaSkl Ill . SCuNll.s etAi iosAto
!arly to the cities of Mexico and north into
Canada. K.nsas sold over 1900, Geo worth
of butter il, 1862, and this years product
will be far III excess CT that figure. Ne
braska and Iowa alc doing nearly us well
and are reapipg certain and Ileh harvest
from this new industry.
BY means If i, The farmer with Il few
cows * able to utilize bis crops for feed,
In, ~
ke;s. He RECEIVES at the end of the month
the cash receipts of the butter bis milk Has
produced, less IL small commission retained
b.. the creamery owners. He IS usually Il
stock holder in the creamery, so even Il part
Of this comes back to him. By means OF
Improved machinery, familiarity with tie
markets, etc tie manager OF the creamery
,ucceeds III realizing the very highest pos
able return for the butter produced, and It
81 results in Increased profit to the farmer.
Indirectly it benefits him us well. 10
secure coed returns from his stock there
must be VAIN, barns, careful attention and
proper food, The farmer diversites his
ciops and in short, makes farming bust
NJ *, as DOS his bro:h her in the eastern
states, instead Of speculation and guess
wcrk-the great fault which has been IA
constant brs Ike on western development.
In many prairie county from $4,000 to
LOCO month is being paid out by the
creameries 1t is providing the groceries
and clothing and giving residue for les
sening the mortgage on the homestead. No
industry in the west is returning SO large
or satisfactory Il profit on the investment,
and yet the demand for good creamery but
ter is not supplied.
The humble COW is proving the salvation
of many household. In the creamery
! sections her value has been increased mar
velously, and among the chief factors OF
western prosperity she must be reckoned
as one OF the most stable With cheap
land, cheap feed and high prices for her
product, she is better than silver mine on
y western faym. G. NJ. HARGEE.