Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1896-11-26

creamery III Vuls couuty. Tvs luitlai
months milk cost about two-hundred
and fifty dollars. Phenomenal as the
growth has been, today seventeen
creameries are accredited to old Dick
inson, contributing twenty-five to
thirty thousand dollars per month to
her resources. 1t is therefore very
fitting in my humble judgment. that
an industry that shows such marvel
GUS developments, is worthy Of some
historical researches.
He showed the difficulties encoun-
tered and went on:
Denver in those days was almost
exclusively our market for butter,
and it cost seven cents per pound,
express and commission, to sell it on
that market; besides, the drayage at
this end consisting Of haul Of twelve
miles to the station with from one to
two hundred pounds each trip.
These, in brief were some Of the diff
culties to be overcome.
Notwithstanding all this, the bust
ness grew gradually until about three
years later, when some Of the enter
prising merchants Of this place, woke
up one morning, to find modest
little institution out here in the
country doing business, and paying
out to the farmers in that community,
upwards Of three-thousand dollars
per month.
You doubtless remember the
common sight Of seeing the calves
run with the cows during the first
season, or until they were Xix months
old or over. The explanation given
for this, was, TO raise good calves.
What did it meanP Why, it meant
simply that those calves cost OF
rather consumed $500 to $25.0C
worth Of butter until they were six
months old, or, If purchance the call
died. this butter was systematically
wasted in feeding it to the hogs; then
the hogs after consuming from 5000
to $1,000 worth Of butter, were sole
to the butcher for $500 each or sucf
matter Now, this is fact, and
must almost blush with shame to say
that even to-day there are still some
isolated places where this practice il
in vogue.
1t has been my privilege, my
pleasure and my good fortune to BIZ
citizen of this wonderful city for Q
period Of six years, and | call you tc
witness to this fact. that about si
years ago SO per cent of all butter
consumed in this place was con
glomeration Of shades, styles and
havors, beggarng description. Ant
even as late as two years ago so pei
cent of the butter consumed here wal
farm-made; while at this presen
time, am told that 80 per cent O
all butter consumed in Abilene il
creamery butter; and what is true o
Abilene in this respect, is more Of
less true of all towns in Kansas which
maintain large and successful cream
cries.
Now, will you allow your magma
tons to 60 with me to November
1906, ten yeats hence, and look back
ward to the present timer To appre
ciate the Illustration | am about tt
make, fancy yourselves just awaken
ing from sort Of Grip Van Wrinkle
sleep"
1t is November, 1906 Abilene has
put on her gala attire, her streets art
thronged and her people seem to b'
enjoying a holiday. The occasion il
the annual meeting of our STATE
Dairy association. The first meeting
held here since the one on the 18th tt
goth Of November, 1896. A splendiC
program is arranged, consisting o.
addresses Of our Dairy school at Man
haitian; besides them, old Professor
Hecker, Mckay and Curtis, who were
here 10 years ago, are here. Tit
program also includes visit to thu
mammoth three-story brick creamery
as well as parade Of the creamery
patrons in their up-to-date mill
wagons, interspersed Of course will
some dilapidated prairie schooners
carts and other make.shifts for con
veyances, typifying such as were il
use when the milk was delivered tt
the old rickety creamery in the cas-
end Of town, long ago torn down.
A dairy paper published at Abilene
gives an account Of the association
visit to the creamery as follows: Th
1..-o .o..us.A..n IN ....xs.la. .,n-