The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1900-09-28

law was enacted the total sum Of $780,
90O.O6 has been appropriated.
Agricultural experiment stations have
been established at Crookston, and
Grand Rapids. The state agricultural
society receives liberal annual appro-
priations from the state, and $4,000 is
distributed annually for the encou1s
agement of county fairs, where the
products of the farm are exhibited and
premiums given for the best specimens.
The Dairy Interests.
It is a we'll known fact that Mime
sofa is to-day one of the leading dairy
states in the union. The report of the
dairy and food commissioner to the leg
islature of 1899 gave the total number
of creameries in the state on Oct. 1,
1898, as 664. That number has, no
doubt, been greatly increased since that
time. These creameries are found in
nearly every county, and Minnesota
creamery butter has taken first prizes
in open competition with the world.
The same report estimates that there
were 100 cheese factories in the state,
and that over $1,000 farmers are deliv-
ering or selling milk to these creamer-
les and cheese factories. It is estimated
that about 100000 pounds of butter are
made every working day of the year,
which makes a total of nearly 100, 000, 900
pounds of butter annually. Figuring
the value at 20 cents per pound, which
Is certainly low for the creamery but
ter of our state, it gives the value of
the butter manufactured in our cream
cries in one year at the enormous sum
of $40, 100000. This is entirely separate
and distinct from the value Of the
products of the cheese factories.
By chapter 149, G. L. 1885, a state
dairy and food commission was estab-
lished, with an appropriation of $4,000
year. The scope of the department
has been increased by subsequent legis-
latures, and it now has $4,000 year
at it's disposal. It is fair to assume
that the phenomenal growth of the
dairy interests Of our state and the
enormous wealth that is annually pro-
duced is in large measure due to the
admirable laws passed for the protec-
ton of the products of the farm and
the creameries from the spurious imi-
tations that have been thrown upon
the markets in the form of oleomar-
garine, butterine, etc. Our stringent
laws against the sale of adulterated
butter has made it almost an impossi-
bility to find market for it in our
state. The value of the butter and
cheese produced In Minnesota is second
only to the value of the wheat crop.
Tree Bounties.
An illustration of the practical way
helped the people Of Minnesota is found
in the aid that has been extended since
1871 in the form of bounty for tree
planting. In the prairie counties,
where timber is only found growing
naturally on the river bottoms, the
value of a grove of trees is highly ap-
preclated, both as fuel and as wind
break, while it adds much beauty to the
country. The legislature of 1871 passed
an act giving bounty of 81 per acre
and ~ for each half mile of trees
planted along a highway; in 1873 the
movement for tree planting was given
Wider range by making fixed an
nual appropriation of $4,000, which has
Deen expended each year since tat
tlme, and under an amended law in
1881 the bounty was fixed at SO per
acre and 81 for each half mile of high
way and the number of years for
Which the bounty could be claimed was
reduced from ten years to six years.
Ourlng the Twenty-Five years that this
tree planting bounty has been paid the
whole face of the country in some of
the southwestern and northern prairie
counties has been changed and beauti-
he'd, and it is safe to estimate that
from 10000 to $4,000 acres of growing.
thrifty trees owe their existence to this
beneficial law.
The Republican Party Friendly to
Labor.
The Republican party of Minnesota is
now and always has been friendly dis
posed to the labor interests.
Here is plank from the Minnesota.
Republican platform which squarelv
outlines the position of the party on
the labor question:: I'm view of this
record and the conditions now existing
brought about by Republican legisla-
tlon, our party appeals with confidence
10 the laborlng man and pledges itself
anew to protect and encourage labor
interests in all their legitimate efforts
ana that 1t will use every effort IT,
secure the passage of legislation pro-
wong that on all public works au
tnorlzed by the state eight hours shall
be deemed and taken to be a legal
working day."
At the behest Of organized labor a
bureau of labor was established in 1897
and the cause of labor has been greatly
nenetted thereby. The first appropria-
t1on Tor the bureau was only $4,000. and
now $4,000 is appropriated annually for
the maintenance of the department
and every workshop or factory Of anv
magnitude In the state is inspected reg
ularly by representative of the
bureau. Since it's organization in 1897
$ll3'S29.S2 has been expended by this
department.
AS far back as 1866 we find laws for
the protection of employees in factories
and workshops. Many measures high1v
beneficial to the workingman grace our
statute books. Chapter 9, Laws of 1889
protects labor unions in the use Of
labels, devices and trade marks
Thanks to the legislature of 1893 the
motormen and conductors on the street
car lines are protected from the in
clemency of the weather. (See chantar
63, Laws of 1887 Chanter i'm lows -.