The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1898-09-16
Dairy Comm,,s,oner for Illinois.

Auo pOSlIlOu Iu6L 1llluOlS mas III SAo
dairy industry and dairy developments
Of the Northwest demands some Of
fcial representative Of that branch Of
agriculture, not only for the purpose
Of enforcing such laws as may be en-
forceable regarding the fraudulent sale
OF butter substitutes, but farther, to
collect, preserve and compile statistics
OF the dairy industry in this great
state, so that outsiders may know what
Illinois is doing in that line, says FL
gin Dairy Report. We are having APP
plications frequently for list Of the
creameries. cheese factories and pri-
vate diaries Of the state for business
purposes, and are unable to furnish
any such list. A dairy commissioner
whose duty it would be to compile
such list from information furnished
by the manufacturers of dairy products
would be c. very great advantage when
we are asking for legislation to ad-
vance, conserve and preserve this in
dustry. Very few people in the state.
and especially among our legislators,
are posted as to the value and i'm
portance Of the dairy industry of this
state, and of the whole people of the
state. The situation in Illinois is not
creditable to the dairy farmers and
creamerymen. There seems to be q
woeful lack Of esprit du corps" among
the creamerymen and dairymen. Hav-
Ing attained position and held it for
years, 1t would seem the part of good
business to do everything they can to
advance all matters pertaining to the
production of milk and its manufacture
into a merchantable product. Looking
at tie matter on the surface, many
people are inclined to believe that we
have accomplished all, and that little
more can be done; yet there are new
problems coming forward continually
that must be solved; new methods OF
manufacturing handling and putting or
the market the product of the cow.
Experiments in feeding and in cheap
ening the cost Of producing have been
undertaken and are being carefully
conducted by experiment stations in
other states, yet this great state of
Illinois lags behind. In the legislation
that has been attempted for the last
few years, this one idea of dairy COM
missioner seems to have been left in
the background, whereas, in our judg-
ment, dairy commissioner with rea-
sonable power, and a reasonable
amount Of money to carry on the work
and duties of his Office, could have done
more to have consolidated and
strengthened the dairy industry, than
all the other things that have been
partially accomplished by means of
legislation. By all means let us have
bill before the next legislature that
will provide for a state dairy commits
sioner, whose business it will be to en-
force what laws we have regarding the
manufacture and sale of adulterated
dairy products, and also to compile
statistics regarding the dairy in this
great state with over a million milk
cows devoted to the production of milk
for all purposes, and an investment Of
several hundred million dollars IN
farms devoted to the production of
milk. With state dairy commission
er, whose duty it shall be to compile
these statistics, we shall have better
grounds to work upon when we ask Tor
legislation to help improve and foster
this great industry.