The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-04-18
THAT is THE SALVATION OF THF
BUTFhnt MAKERS OF MIN
NESOTA,
SAYS THE BOARD OF TRADE
IN THE CIRCULAR LETTER 1T is
SENDING TO NORTHWESTERN
FARMERS
STUDY of EXPORT MARKETS
VIII BE Made a Special Feature of
the Work of That De-
partment.

The Minnesota Dairy Board of Trade
| through its secretary, ]. H. Beck, has
issued a circular to the creameries OF
Minnesota Iowa, Wisconsin and the
Dakotas, in which they call attention
to the fact that the board of trade has
been organized and presents a list 0f
the objects for which 1t was formed.
The circular is as follows:
We take pleasure in announcing that at
a convention of creamerymen and dealers
especially called for that purpose held in St.
Paul, Friday, April 16, a Minnesota Dairy
board Of trade was organized, with officers
designated herein.
The objects of the Minnesota Dairy Board
of Trade are:
1. To bring the producers and buyers to-
gether, either by personal representation from
the creameries, who are members Of the
board of trade, or through an agent who
may be duly authorized to act for them, and
who may accept reject offers from buyers.
By this means the buyer and seller deal d.
rect.
2. To establish high and uniform quality
of butter, and to enable the members of the
board of trade to sell their product on track
at their own station without the Intervention
of commission men, throwing around the
seller and buyer the protection afforded by a
thorough and systematic business organiza-
ton.
8. To study the requirements Of the Eng
lish and other foreign markets, and to estab-
ltsh a direct export trade. The output of
our factories now far exceed our home de-
mand and this over-production tends in
evitably toward lower prices. Great Britain
is very large consumer of both butter and
cheese, and is now supplied largely by the
Netherlands and Australia America can sup
ply this butter and cheese, and it will re-
lieve the home market of the surplus, and
tend toward frmer prices and better profit
to the producers. Organized effort is neces-
sary to establish these trade relations.
4. To publish a weekly Dairy Reporter
4 "a 1a4,r fv,R1 n-4r-
west giving to the creameries the latest and
most reliable market reports and such other
information as will be of value to all in
terested either in the production or sale Of
butter and cheese
That such board of trade will be the
means of benefting the dairy interests of the
Northwest will hardly be disputed, and when
once the creamery proprfetors and managers
become familiar with Its operations, and the
saving afforded by dealing direct with the
buyers, 1t will enlist their hearty co-opera-
ton and support. ~ ff 1853
Minnesota is annually paying about half a
million dollars in commissions to Eastern
houses for marketing cur product. The seller
Is largely in the hands Of the commission
men, to whom he cons. gns and the returns
are not always satisfactory, nor what the
market conditions warrant. The method Of
sale on the board Of trade will differ from
the present method in this very important
respect. On the board of trade the butter is
first sold and then shipped whereas under
the present method the butter is first shipped
satisfactory, but the butter has passed be-
yond the sellers control and he must accent
the returns made.
The operation of the board is entirely In the
sellers interest and differs from other boards
OF trade In that the seller virtually makes
the price. Any creamery a member Of the
board OF trade can offer butter either by a
representative present In person, or by an
agent who Is a member of the board The
buyers, who must also be members of the
board, make their offers and If these offers
are not satisfactory. the seller simply with
draws the butter. All sales are at the seller
option.
The provisions of the bylaws are that the
butter shall be shipped on the next regular
shipping day, after notice OF sale has been
received. The prevailing impression that the
butter must be shipped to st. Paul to be sold
On the board Is erroneous. The butter is
sold upon the representation of the seller and
Is supplemented by the guarantee of the board
Of trade.
Another important feature OF the board Is
the educational influence which such a body
Will exert 1t is believed that our creameries
VIII ind 1t necessary to make some changes
In the process of manufacture to improve the
keeping qualities Of butter to insure rs a
permanent export market. This again is one
Of the many things that organization can ia
cilitate. That attention is being directed
along these lines is shown by the recent ac-
ton Of Secretary Wilson, head Of the DEPART
ment Of agriculture In purchasing for EXPORT
samples Of butter made in the leading dairy
sections, to be sold in the English markets
with view Of obtaining criticisms from con-
sumers for the purpose OF learning wherein
the product is weak. From the information
thus obtained the best methods for meeting
the requirements OF the foreign markets viii