The morning call., 1895-02-15
BAKERSFIELD'S
Big CREAMERY.
How ILLINOIS MEN WILL DE-
VELOP DAIRYING IN FERTILE
KERN VALLEY.
MEANS MUCH TO FARMERS.
RESULT OF AN EXPERTS DISCOVERY
OF THE RICHNESS OF THE
MILK.


The news received by THE CALL yester
day from Elgin, ILL.,, that noted capitalists
of that place had decided to start large
creamery establishment in Kern County,
near Bakersfield, has been confirmed by
representatives of the Kern County Land
Company, from which some land has
already been purchased and negotiations
are pending for the sale of a great deal
more. When the scheme has been put in
operation-and the projectors are taking
steps to get the creamery in working order
as soon as possible--it is probable that Cali
fornia's butter will be known throughout
the United States as of the highest grade.
1t Will rank in households alongside OF
California fruit and will bring great reve-
nues into the State, as the manufacturers
intend to supply the whole country with
their products. The way in which the
new industry was brought about shows
how many possible resources are lying
dormant in this State for want of persons
of experience to develop them.
Frank g. Drum, cashier for Haggin &
Tevis, told yesterday how the Eastern cap
italists became so eager to invest their
money in the new creamery proposition.
He said:
"The advertising matter sent through
out the Eastern States by the Kern County
Land Company caught the eye of A. w.
Hutchins, secretary of the Elgin Board of
Trade. Mr.. Hutchins had been overworked
for some time and needed rest from his
duties. He decided to come to California
to see if the representations of the land
company were true. He reached Bakers
field in the latter part of November, un-
known to any one. He took trips into the
country and, without giving the slightest
hint as to his purpose, he commenced to
take samples of milk fresh from cows of
farmers, no matter whether they were well
fed or half starved. He then subjected the
milk to careful tests The result aston
ished him, but he kept up his quiet inves-
tigation for ten days or two weeks.
"Hutchins could hardly believe his own
tests, as they showed the alfalfa-fed cows
in the fall and early winter. gave an abund-
ance of milk, which produced a much
greater per cent than the carefully cared
for COWS at Elgin, Ill. He made himself
known to William s. Tevis the vice-presi
dent of the Kern County Land Company,
who has charge of the Office at Bakersfield.
He stated he had made discoveries which
astounded him, even though he had made
the investigation without the assistance of
any one who would try to represent the
matter in its brightest light, but he had
really made it under unfavorable circum-
stances. Mr.. Hutchins was then given all
the data he required and was furnished
with all the facilities he desired to make
further investigations. He learned how
much milk good cows could give during
season, and also how much alfalfa could
be grown to an acre and how many crops
could be cut during the year. He found
that while the cream from the cows at
Elgin, H., gave 3 to 81 points of butter,
that of the alfalfa-fed COWS of Kern County
gave from to 81 points. In other words,
from 20 to 40 per cent more butter can be
/ obtained from milk given by the Califor-
mia COWS than by the best-cared-for cows of
the Western or Eastern States, including
| those of Elgin, which place has the name
of producing the best butter in the Western
States.
"The result was that Hutchins became so
enthusiastic that he sent to Elgin his resig-
nation as secretary of the Board of Trade
of that city and also that as secretary of
the Butter-makers' Association there, and
declared he would start a creamery near
Bakersfield if he had to do it alone. He
made report back to his fellow capitalists
at Elgin. They could hardly credit the
truth of his figures and facts; SO when he
returned to Elgin, about the first of the
year, they sent out two experts, who were
as cool headed men as could be found.
They came to Bakersfield about three
weeks ago and made a careful investiga-
ton The result was that they not only
verified the report made by Hutehins, but
became so enthusiastic that they went fur
ther than he did. They Immediately
bought two farms of alfalfa land of the
Kern County Land Company, forty acres
each l believe and started back to Elgin
to dispose of their interests there and to
bring their families out to this State.
"It is easy to realize how the rest of the
butter makers have been affected by the
action of their three experts, and how it is
possible they have formed big stock
company of $500, 900 capital Still, we have
had no official notification from our repre-
sentatives in the East further than a
large number had decided to move out to
California and to buy lands about Bakers
field for the purpose of entering upon the
making of butter. s. w. Ferguson, our
agent, left this city three or four days
ago, and has just about reached Elgin. He
will negotiate with the butter makers, and
it is believed whole colony almost will
come to this State.
"These men at Elgin.will not be trying
an experiment in this creamery PROPOSE
ton. They fully understand the business,
and are satisfied they have found better
place for their purpose than Illinois. SO
far as we know here Haggin & Tevis have
not been asked to take any stock in the
new concern. The Elgin men have secured
great name for their butter and they
will surely do the same in Kern County.
They carry on their business on an intelli-
gent business.
"We have been told by the men who
were out here that they will ship the ma
jority of their butter East. The new San
Francisco and San Joaquin Valley Rail-
road will be of great benefit tn the new