Morris tribune. [volume] (Morris, Minn.) 1880-2000, 1895-11-20
THE ELGIN DAIRY BOARD.
The Vast Milk, Butter and Cheese Trade
Which 1t Controls.

The Vast Milk, Butter and Cheese Trade
| Which It Controls.
The Elgin dairy board of trade, the
| largest of the kind in the world, con-
sists of 292 members, representing at
present $50 creameries. Meetings are
held every Monday afternoon during
the year. Buyers and sellers meet to
make the transactions which determine
the prices for the week following the
meeting. The butter and cheese makers
who have these commodities for sale
place them before the buyers through
the secretary, who writes the amount
offered, the price demanded and the
price offered by the first bidder ON a
blackboard. At 2 80 in the afternoon
the list is called off by the secretary,
and the excitement begins. The sellers.
Of course, try to keep the price as high
as possible, and the buyers endeavor to
purchase at the lowest figures. The best
known brands, which have reputation
for excellence, are sold without trou-
BILE, and, in fact, nearly all the butter
offered on the board is readily sold at
the prevailing market price. The quo
tations for Elgin butter always average
high on account of it's well established
reputation and because the dairymen
are unable to supply the large demand
New factories are being built every
year, improved machinery facilitates
production, but the price of Elgin butter
has not varied much in corresponding
months for several years.
The total cash transactions during the
% years the board has been in existence
aggregates the large sum of $72,147,-
741.85 The average price for butter dur
ing that time has been % 3-5 cents, and
the average price of cheese 1898 cents.
The total production of butter in the %
years was 245, 945,3 pounds and Of
cheese 1876, 100, 475 pounds, making to-
tai Of 49,, 045, 865 pound of dairy prod
ucts for the one district. Last wear the
cash transactions amounted to $780,
l47. Oh. That vast sum of money was paid
Tor 325, $50, 900 pounds Of butter and
5,735, O29 pounds of cheese. 1t is no.
t1ceable fact that while the output of
butter last year was 100000 pounds
In excess of the product the year pre-
v1ous, the amount of cheese was 5000
pounds less. These statistics show the
importance of the Elgin board and the
reason Of its great influence. The actual
sales on the call board each Monday aft
ernoon do not form any considerable
part OF the transactions. Sales are con-
summated before the board meets, the
price to be determined by the sales on
the open board, and many more are
made after the session at the ruling
market price. Many of the largest but
ter and cheese makers contract with the
dealers at New York, New Orleans,
Philadelphia, Chicago and st. Louis for
SO many pounds each week during the
year, the price to be determined by the
market price on the Elgin board.
The Elgin dairy board of trade is gov
erned by president, secretary, treasurer
and board of directors, the latter
choosing the officers from their number.
ANY business man in good standing can
become a member by application to the
board of directors and the payment Of
the annual dues. The buying and selling
OF dairy products are regulated by the
bylaws and rules Of the board. Among
the other matters Of Importance are the
rules governing the inspection of butter
and cheese They include the classified
ton of butter as follows:
All butter offered on the board.of
trade shall be assumed to be butter
churned, sailed and packed in cream
cry, from cream which is separated from
the milk in the creamery where the but
ter is made unless otherwise designated.
Extra. Flavor must be quick, full,
line, fresh; taste must be pleasant and
sweet; brine perfectly clear and little of
1t; body and grain must be perfect; col
Or even and uniform and good for the