Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1894-04-19
CREAMERY SHARKS.

The following article is sent us by
one of our valued subscribers and we
cheeriully give it space. We do not
know to what paper to credit it but
think it is from the WESTERN PLow-
MAN, Moline, I'll.
CREAMERY SHARKS.
1t seems as though the same class of
men who at one time were engaged in
the sale of lightning rods had found q
better paying kind of swindling, and
one that can be worked on larger
scale, IN the organizing of stock COM
panies for the purpose of erecting, out
fitting and selling to such companies
public creamery plants at never less
than double legitimate prices and
many times at much higher rates.
A few years ago this class of swind-
lers piled their vocation for time I'M
molested and at that time their profits
were even better than now. But after
awhile the agricultural and dairy papers
got after them, roasting them pretty
thoroughly under the title of ''crealn-
cry sharks" This went on till one
concern by which the creamery
sharks were mainly sent out, finding
its business seriously interfered with de-
cided something must be done.
We soon find that concern very lib
eral advertisers in agricultural add
dairy papers, which they had not pre-
vious'y been
Soon after that took place the term
'creamery sharks fell into disuse in
such papers and the promoters" as
they were called, of stock companies
for building creameries had smooth
sailing.
Such companies were organized and
large butter and cheese factories erect
ed and fitted out where there were not
cows enough TO supply milk for even q
small plant.
The average cost of such plants COM
plete was for time $1,000. The aver
age history of large majority of them
is that they were usually operated one
season and that ended it. Such plants
have come to be stunned by insurance
companies as they have habit of nys-
teriously disapy caring in smoke. There
were some exceptions. but that was the
rule.
I
word or term that was used largely by
the promoters of such companies was
operation" or cooperative cream
cries. - These firms seemed TO talk
with farmers and helped to secure their
subscriptions for stock.
The above stale of affairs continued
because there was no one 10 champion
the cause of the farmers. whu had been
swindled and others who were pros
pective victims, until paper in the city
Of Clinton. Iowa, took the matter in
hand aud ventilated it thoroughly in
an editorial The immediate cause
that led to this was to protect farmers
in the papers own county. But the
effect If thai editorial did not cease
there but extended all over the country
1t resulted in dealing a blow to the
creamery sharks interest, from the effect
of which it has never recovered.
The above is a brief account of the
cause set in motion that brought about
the second and lasting reaction against
tcreamery sharks and their hackers.
Since then it has not beeu quite so essv
for them to find victims. Yet they still
find tio many. as bat few of the agri-
cultural aud diary papers expose their
swindling methods. However some of
tho local papers sound notes of warning
and v hatpver is done in that direction
can be traced TO the editorial in the
Clinton paper
We are glad to be able to state that
there are three agricultural papers that
have declined to take advertisements Of
the principal concern engaged in send.
ing our creamery sharks. They are
the Rural NelC Yorker. Farm journal
and North Western Farmer.
1t is to say the least. amusing to
watch the cont ortions through which
several papers go when attempting to