The Central Nevadan. [volume] (Battle Mountain, Nev.) 1885-1907, 1901-02-07
The Dairy Industry.


Geo. II. WhittaBe r of Massachusetts
says:
The value of the dairy industry ac-
cording to the census of 1890 was
SAP. 000. 900, but at the rate of increase
of previous decades and including the
b~y-products of the dairy, we are safe
in estimating thai it is q business to-
day amounting to $500. 000, 900 annual
", more han the annual gold produce
tion of the world.
OBJ The number of mich COW in
the country in 1890 was 16, 900, 900,
probably 20, 0o0, 900 at the present time,
as against 5000, 600 in 1850, showing
what an immense stride the dairy in
terest has made in the closing half OF
the present century. Yet the increase
OF cows has not kept pace with the
increase of population, which in 1850
was $1,000, 900. In the forty years be-
tween the census of 1850 and of 1890
population increased ia per cent, but
the number of mich cows in the
try increased only 166 per cent. The
"a VI IoHo pei 1fOOO pOPhAAeAC1
IN 1850 was 275 and in 1890 only 264.
The percentage of increase of cows
was less than the increase OF popula-
ton in the census of 1860 and of 1870.
Then the tide turned and the reports
made in 1880 and 1890 showed a gain.
the percentage of increase of cows be-
ing greater than that of population.
still, not enough 20 Offset the losses
OF the census of the two previous dec
ades.
The following table shows these fig
ures in a graphic way:
Census of 1850: Population, %, OO0.-
600; cows, 100000.
Census of 1860: Population, 81
900, 900; cows, 5000, 900; per cent in
crease of population for decade, 35;
per cent increase of cows for decade,
SO.
Census of 1870: Population, 49,
900, 900; cows, 5000, 900; per cent in
crease of population for decade, %;
per cent increase OF COWS for decade,
IL.
Census OF 1880: Population, &c.
000, 900; cows, II, 000, 900; per cent in
crease of population for decade, 80;
per cent increase of cows for decade,
80.
Census of 1890: Population, co.
600, 900; cows, 16, 200. 900; per cent in
crease of population for decade, rs;
per cent increase of COWS for decade,
80.
(c) The shifting Of the center of
dairy production from east to west is
an interesting study. Thirty years ago
the supply of butter and cheese in the
Boston market came from New Eng
land. Then came some butter from the
west, of poor grade, fit only for bak-
ers' use. Now the market is largely
dependent upon western supplies and
the condition of the Chicago market is
daily telegraphed and deemed neces-
sary for the successful management of
business. / have alluded to an increase
of 166 per cent in the number of ows
in the country between the census of
1850 and that of 1890 Qrom 5000. coo
to 5000, 000). But the increase in the
old dairy section-New England, New
York and Pennsylvania, was only so
per cent-Qrom 1000, 900 to 5000 ,000).
While in the northern central division
the increase was 700 per cent (from
100000 to 5000, 00O). The increase
in Some individual states has been in
the vicinity of 1000 per cent.
Census of 1850: Dakota, 2S6; Min
nesota. COZ; Nebraska, 1000; Califor-
MIA, 1000; Oregon, 5000; Iowa, As
600; Illinois, 296, 900; Michigan. 3d.
900; Wisconsin. ga, 900; Missouri, $780,
coo; Kansas. $4,000.
Census of 1890: Dakota, 100000;
Minnesota, $4,000; Nebraska, sos, 900;
California, 317,0 o Oregon, 114,000;
Iowa, LABS. 900; Illinois, 1887, 900;
Michigan 500. 900; Wisconsin, $4,000;
Missouri, S51 900; Kansas, $4,000.
Per cent of gain: Dakota, 1850;
Minnesota, 977; Nebraska. ITO.