The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-02-20

Few people in st. Paul realize to
what an extent this city contributes to
the general produce market Of the
Northwest. Minnesota is essentially an
agricultural state, and it has made
great advances in the DEVELOPMENT Of
TINS natural Industry. More than a
quarter Of century ago its packed
butter was famous; and Improvement
IN this line has been constant and Of
frequent record in competitive exhibit
IONS. During later years much prog
less has been made in poultry culture.
III fact, this industry has shown mark
ed development even within the Il st
decade. Farmers have really come to
appreciate the fact that there is profit
In this branch, and. as a consequence,
greater interest is taken not alone in
the selection of the breeds of fowls,
but in the care bestowed upon rear
ing them. As the southern sections
of the state are the Oldest, so they are
more advanced in the practice of meth
DDS conducive to the largest profits.
The country contiguous to Faribault
= Owatonna, Mortified. Austin and other
points along the parallel Of those towns
abOundS with excellent farms, and the
people who own them realize the fact
that a splendid revenue can be derived
from the cultivation of the poultry in
duStry, and consequently it is recefv-
-
with cOrrespondingly satisfactory re-
suits.
The time is not very far distant in
the past when the poultry of Mime
sofa had no standing in the Eastern
markets, While today thousands of
tons are being shipped thither from
THIS point every week, and the stock
of turkeys particularly grades amdlg
the best. All this is due to the OPEN
Ing of the eyes of the producers to their
opportunities and their earnest, intel
hgent efforts TO constantly improve the
standards. The only wonder is that
TIER eyes should so long have remain
ed closed against the best interests of
the productive forces Of the common
wealth.
1t is undoubtedly true. however, that
the gradually improving methods Of
cold storage have proved valuable aids
to development on these lines. The
commission men in this city, keeping
up with the march of progress, began
to provide themselves with facilities
and the later devices for the preserva-
ton Of fresh meats of various kinils.
With plants of this kind established,
they saw enlarged possibilities in con-
nection with the trade. Only a few
years ago they purchased their supplies
% the stalls of the farmers market
5 the spirit of enterprise grew, they
found this to be a too limited source.
One by one they started out their buy
ers, who, travelling along a given rail-
way line, from station to station, visit
ed the farms and bought up such stock
as they could find available. The farm
er soon began to learn that there was
market for all the poultry he could
raise. Thus the agents of the commits
Sion men became the educators of the
farmers. They instructed the farmers
as to breeds and the time for profitable
sale. Thus year by year the supply
was increased until at the present time
it is said that approximately thirty
carloads of poultry and eggs, together
with native game, of an average capac-
fly of 10000 pounds per car are hand
led here by the roads centering in this
city every week. Meanwhile, with the
improvement in quality came a cor
responding Improvement in price, rep
Tesenting from 2 to cents per pound.
Aside from the several private cold
StOra Ge establishments associated with
the commission houses, there are public
warehouses, and during the past season
the capacities of all have been heavily
taxed. although a thinning out process,
pending the close of the season, is going
en-, and stocks are becoming light Not
understanding this fact. however, one
dealer, yesterday, informed a G. Ok
reporter that he had in store in his own
place and in the public warehouse, 425,-
OOG pounds of turkeys, ducks, geese,
chickens, etc. or an aggregate OF about
eighteen carloads.
A walk through these warehouses re-
veals many strange sights. The real
poultry season is comprised within the
weeks approa ching Thanksgiving and
extending over the period which marks
the closing of the Christmas holidays.
1t is then that the market becomes