The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1901-11-28
A DECREASE IS REPORTED
Dairy Business in 1901 Fell, OFF
Considerable

state dairy commissioners office, Just
submitted to the governor by State
Dairy Commissioner B. p. Norton.
Not only was there falling off in
the number of creameries, but the
numbers of pounds of butter made
dropped over 100000 pounds.
Speaking of the decrease in the
business in 1901, Mr.. Norton said
it was attributed to the fact that
stock brought good price and the
farmers, generally, We're prosperous.
Under such conditions there was in
variably a tendency to deal less and
less with milk and butter, on account
of the trouble involved to the farmer
in caring for large numbers Of milch
cows and the further difficulty in find
ing suitable and reliable help in this
work.
The report shows tendency to
the Capitalization of creameries, the
number of small creameries gradu-
ally decreasing and the number of
larger institutions gradually grow.
ing.
The report recommends several i'm
portant changes in the laws pertain
ing to the state dairy commissioners
Office.
State Dairy Commissioner Norton
now has deputy, III. II. Wright, and
an assistant, f. w. Bouska. The Of
flee of assistant was created by the
last legislature. The duties of the
assistant pertain largely to the in
spection of creameries. The report
shows that in numerous creameries
there is defective sanitation, in some
the conditions being absolutely bad
from sanitary viewpoint. More
assistants are said to be needed and
two or three more will be asked for
from the next legislature. AS many
as can be obtained are said to be
needed, but it is thought this number
can be had. Another change will be
asked for in regard to the law gov
erning the report of the state dairy
commissioner. Under the present
system there is much delay in get
ting reports from creameries, and
consequently the state dairy commits
sioner's report is delayed from six
months to a year. The report rec
ommends that the time when the re-
port of the dairy commissioner has
to be made shall be definitely fixed
and that failure of owners of cream
cries to report by special time shall
be made an offense triable by JUS
tice of the peace. This can be ac-
complished by reducing the fine as
now fixed. AS the law now is the
otfense is an indictable one. Owing
to the long delay made necessary
prosecution is seldom begun.
A change is also desired in the law
to test bottles. 1t is rec
commended in the report that the
dairy commissioner shall furnish the
standard for tests in all cases and
that all test bottles used shall pass
through his office. This will not in
crease the cost of tubes and will in
sure correct tests in all cases. An
other suggestion is that creameries
provide patrons with statement of
the business done and that butter
makers be examined and given Ger
of competency.
Frank Bulls, prominent stock
buyer of Estherville, had both legs
cut off at the knees by b., C. r. e. n.
switch engine. His recovery is doubt
full.
A Chicago, Burlington & Quincy
stock train broke in two near Wal
nut, ILL.,, few days ago, and the rear
section and caboose ran down grade
and collided with freight engine,
killing one passenger, who was
burned in the wreckage, and injured
nine others. John j. Besse, farmer,
of Erie, ILL.,, was killed, while the in
jured We're as follows: j. A. Baker,
Pleasant Valley, Iowa, slightly; Harry
Buck, Iowa City, head and legs in
lured; f. P. Carl, Bennett, Iowa,
slightly; Daniel Donovan, Iowa City,
slightly; f. H. Howson Clinton, Iowa,
severely cut about head; Benz. ID.
Hughes, Iowa City, slightly; G. NJ.
Hunter, residence unknown. internal
ly injured, serious; A. w. Haley, Sol
ON. Iowa, internally injured, serious;
Charles Swift, Morse, Iowa, slightly.
Five carloads of cattle We're in the
wreck, and most of the cattle were
killed.
a consolidated statement of the ex-
penses of all state offices from Janu-
airy 1, 1900, to July l, 1901, has been
prepared by Secretary A. II. David
son of the executive council. 1t has
been compiled from the itemized re-
ports of expenses which the different
officers are required by law to make
to the executive council. The state
ment shows that the aggregate office
expenses Tor the period for the diff
ferent state officers exceeded half a
million dollars. The exact total was
$567, 693.0S. The total sum in fees,
moneys and costs collected in the
same period was $293, 1882. The fol-
lowing are the different items making
up the aggregate office expenses:
Salaries and clerk hire. :. :. $500, s13Os
Contingent expenses ...... 7,129.73
Supplies from supply de-
partment ............... 1s,1eo.73
Telegraph, telephone, ETC.. 1,5309S
Express, carriage and dray-
age ................ 6o1o.7s
Office expenses ............ 7,420.47
Articles and printing on
contract ................. 24,o19.sa
Printing by state printer. 40,45S03
Binding by state binder. 2S,94462
Paper used by state printer 11,s4422