Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-12-27
Names Dairy Interests.


among the people of Maine OF the vol
une and value of the dairy interests OF
the State. In his annual report for
1901 Commissioner Matthews of the
Bureau of Industrial and Labor Statis-
tics. gave the results of a carefully
conducted investigation of the dairy
business of Maine, especially in con-
nection with the creameries and cheese
factories of the State. The results OF
this investigation came as a surprise
to many people who had not fully ap-
preciated the magnitude and import
ance of this great industry of our State,
and has undoubtedly had much to DO
with the general growth of a sentiment
in favor of doing everything possible
to place Maine in the very front rank
of the dairy states of the country. IT
;s hard to estimate the value which
the reputation enjoyed by Vermont
dairy products in the Boston market
has been to the agricultural interests
of that state. 1t is a well known 1act
that much of the best butter whlcn
has been sent to the Boston market
from the State off Maine, has been sold
as Vermont product, with the result
that somewhat higher price has been
secured for it. There is no reason in
the world why the standard for all the
dairy products of the State of Maine
should not be as high as in the State
of Vermont and why, with care and
organization, and effort, an equally
valuable reputation should not be es-
tablished for our dairy products in the
Boston market. Maine cream stands
at the head there now and there is no
reason why Maine butter and cheese
should not occupy a similar position.
Among the progressive farmers of
our State who have given much
thought and attention to this question,
is Hon. Rutillus Alden. of Winthrop.
the president of the Maine Dairymen's
Association who, in an address at the
the Importance of giving Maine a front
rank as dairy state, brought out some
facts which are not only of interest to
the farmers of our State but to all citi-
zens who have at heart it's material
interests and welfare. After showing
from the report of the State Board of
Assessors for 1901 that there are in
Maine $4,000 cows, not including two
and three-year- heifers, Mr.. Alden
stated that it would be fair to assume
that the cream for 100000 of these
| cows is made into butter, and we
| would be a conservative one. Mr..
Alden further estimated that each COW
would average annually about 200
pounds of butter. making a total pro-
duct of 2O,0O0,OOO pounds of butter per
year. With this large product every
tcent that the price of butter is raised
per pound puts 100000 into the pock-
cts of Maine dairymen and goes to
1 swell the aggregate of our general
State prosperity. These figures are
certainly important and worthy of the
most careful consideration.
There is a strong feeling that the
dairy interests of our State would be
greatly benefited by the appointment
of State Dairy Commissioner or Dairy
Instructor who would be in every way
competent to impart instruction to the
dairymen of the State and thereby
raise to the highest possible standard
the output of dairy products from
Maine. 1t is not asked that a new de-
partment be created but merely that
the Commissioner of Agriculture be
authorized to appoint such a Dairy
/ commissioner or instructor to work
in connection with his department for
the general upbuilding of this import
ant department of agriculture. The
suggestion is certainly one that would
seem on its merits to be entitled to
favorable consideration.
Last year was record breaker in the