The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1894-01-13

Through tho Creamorics sho n Proving q
nonnnza For Westcrn Farmers.
Especial C0rrrfpoudencr

A"N'NtNi NNNNNN AttiiANNNFI
ABILENE. Kan. Dec. 10 THREE opooha
have divided tho past decade Tor western
farmers; three great industrial fashions
have reigued and promised 10 become per
manent wealthmakers. The flint wns that
81 wheat raising. During the latter seven
ties the wheat fields Of Kansas and Nehras-
Ia were the wonder Of every trausconti-
mental traveller. Along the bottom lands 81
the kaw and Platte the beautiful leagues
Of grain stretched away for miles, mud the
passenger trains often stopped during hnr-
vest time in the midst of the tollcr o. allow
the travellers a nearer view of the attractive
scene. Everybody who could started la the
wheat raising industry.
But there came bad crop years. ard Il
soon became apparent that wheat growing
could not be followed exclusively. Next
came sheep. Wool brought a good price
The unlimited pastumQe and the mild win.
tiers seemed singularly adapted TO the rails
ing Of sheep and productions wool Flocks
came up from Texas and New Mexico. tens
of thousands Of head-long legged, hungry
creatures, with a pound or two OF coarse,
hairy fleece on their bong 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 10 amazing figures. Kansas at
one time having close To 100000 head,
where now are but about 100000 In 1883
wool took a tumble and the race was
changed to one Of disposing OF the hocks.
Then came boom times and "A period Of
uncertainty, but now there has arisen "A
new savior for the struggling prairie farm
err, and il is the most sensible OF all-the
mild eyed and humble COW. All over the
prairie sisltes 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 a 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 IL for the daintiest table in
the land. Pressed into solid pound pack
ages, wrapped in tissue paper and marked
with some attractive device, II commands
the highest market price and goes 70 the
best trade of the continent. Kansas and
Nebraska are sending many carloads regu-
larly TO the cities of Mexico aud north into
Canada. Kansas sold over -, 100000 worth
of butter in 1892, and this years product
will be far in excess Of that figure. Ne
braska and Iowa are doing nearly as well
and are reaping a certain and rich harvest
from this new industry
BY means Of it the farmer with a few
cows is able TO utilize his crops for feed
being thus less dependent upon the mar
kets. lie 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
stakeholder in the creamery, so even part
of this comes back to him. 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 il
all results in increased profit TO 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 diversifes his
crops and, in short, makes farming busi-
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 $4,000 to
$4,000 a month is being paid out by the
creameries. Il 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 80 large
or satisfactory 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 a household. In the creamery
sections heT 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 "A silver mine on
f western farm. &. NJ. HARGER.