Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1902-12-29
STATE DIARIES.
OUTPUT SHOWS INCREASE IN TWO
YEARS.
This Increase, However, Has Not
Kept Pace with the Increase in
Consumption -.- Warning as to
Prices Charged---OleO May BE
Used.


and pure food commissioner, just filed
with Governor Mcbride, shows an in
crease in the production OF butter in
this state of 100000 pounds during
the past two years, and of 100, 900
pounds of cheese during the same Pc
Rod. King county manufactured the
largest amount of butter, but the report
does not show that all the cream was
produced in this county. In fact the
commissioner states much of the cream
was shipped in from outside dairy
ranches to the local creameries. The
greatest proportionate gain made dur
ing the two years was accomplished by
Claliam county.
Despite the large gain made by the
dairying interests during the past two
years the result is not regarded as sat
isfactory. Commenting upon show
ing of the amount OF butter and cheese
shipped into this state from outside
sources Dairy Commissioner Mcdonald
says:
"The large amount of butter and
cheese shipped from other states indi-
Gates that the production of butter in
this state is not gaining on the increase
in consumption and should encourage
every dairyman to increase his herd.
1t should also encourage new settlers to
go into the dairy business.
"From general information the trade
with Alaska is no larger than it was
two years ago, when my report showed
that during 1900 there was shipped to
Alaska 943,0l7 pounds of butter. The
trade OF Alaska has become more SET
tied, and it may be considered at it's
lowest point. There has been very
little speculation in butter for the Alas
ka trade during the last two years, as
the product is bought and handled by
the regular Dealers"
Despite the obstacles he was forced
to overcome in collecting his statistics,
Commissioner Mcdonald is able to
make very interesting showing of the
dairy business in the state. 1t was dis
covered, during a search of county rec
ords, that no table OF the number of
milch cows in the state is kept. The
county auditors include them under the
general head of Cattle" Many OF the
diaries and creamerles did not respond
to the request for statistics az promptly
as the commissioner desired, but from
the reports received was possible to
prepare fair estimate of the states
business.
The commissioner shows there are
about 1926 900 milch cows in this state,
valued at $5,000,O0O. The value of
creameries is placed at $500, 900, and
of cheese factories at $45, 900. The val
ue of the state product during the year
ending November is fixed as follows:
1888, PSI pounds of butter, 1,47O,Sl2,
and l ,12S, AIS pounds of cheese, $l24,-
161.
The fact that butter is now command
ing a high price in the market prompts
the commissioner TO sound a warning
to dairymen. Discussing this phase OF
the situation, in connection with the
impoi tation of Oleomargarine, he says:
"Oleo manufacturers are making ev-
cry effort to place their uncolored prod
uct on the market. The high price of
butter this fall and winter will give
them grand opportunity. 1t will be
unfortunate for the dairy industry if
butter goes up higher, as it will have
tendency to increase the sale of oleo.
margarine. If oleomaragrine should be
used to large extent for a couple OF
months, it will be more difficult to in
duce the consumers to again use but.
ter
Earlier in his report the commission
er cites the prices paid in this state and
in eastern markets for butter, comment
ing upon the showing as follows:
"The average price of butter for ten
months during 1902 was over four cents
higher in the Seattle market than on
the Elgin market. This speaks for it.
self, as the freight on butter from Chi
cago to Seattle is ~ per hundred weight.
SO the Washington creamery men re-
celve 2 cents per pound more than the
eastern creamerymen for their product.