The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-03-01
ELGIN OF THE WEST.
Vast Butter Interesting Centers in
Topeka

Topeka is in a fair way to become the
great butter distributing market of the
United States, through the consolida,-
ton of large portion of the creamery
interests of the west with headquarters
at Topeka. The Continental Creamery
company, as the consolidated interests
are known, already handles One-fourth
of the creamery products of Kansas and
Oklahoma, and it is probable that other
creamery companies will join with it.
The main reason given for the con-
Solidation was to enable the creamerieS
of Kansas to manufacture and market
butter cheaper, in order that higher
price might be paid the farmers for
their milk The great difficulty with
which the, creameries of Kansas have
had to contend has been the lack of
interest which the farmers of the state
have shown in the creamery business.
The average farmer is so much en-
crossed in the raising of corn and
wheat and hogs that he will not at
tempt to build up a herd of dairy cows
to supplement the other interests of
his farm, but he is content if the
women folks" of the family make
enough butter for their own use, with
q little to take to market occasionally.
The consequence is that the Dream
cries have difficulty in getting enough
milk to run them at their fullest ca
pacity. The Continental company will
endeavor to remedy this evil in two
ways: first, by cheapening the cost of
manufacture and marketing, say the
managers, therefore enabling the com
pany to pay a higher price to the farm
erS for butter fat; and second, by send
ing out dairy experts through the ter
ritory covered by the company to inter-
est the farmers in improving their dairy
herds and furnishing milk to the cream
cries.
The product of the company, manu-
featured by nine creameries and gath
cred from over 100 skimming stations
will be distributed from Topeka. One
set of officers will hereafter do the work
that. five sets have been doing hereto
fore The butter will be shipped by the
car load directly to the great consum-
ing centers, and the profits of the COM
mission men will be turned to the
farmer.
1t was by this method of .concentra-
ton and improved methods of dairying
that the Elgin, Illinois, creameries
forced their way to the front, and set
the pace for the butter makers of the
world. The Kansas creamery men be
lieVe they can discount the Illinois
product and make Topeka the Elgin of
the west by reason of the better mar
ket facilities and superior natural ad-
vantages- Kansas has not only the
eastern markets .at her command, but
the south and west as well, and the
latter is a profitable territory, as prices
on dairy products are always the best.
hdHSdS butter goes not only TO the
eastern cities of the United States, but
as far east as Liverpool, where the
finished product can be laid down at
an expense of two cents per pound.
On account of these advantages and
because Topeka has been chosen as the
headquarters for the consolidated COM
panies, it is not at all improbable that
this city will become a distributing
center for dairy products second to
none on the American continent within
a comparatively short time.