The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1902-11-28
BUTTER IS GOOD
Dairy Commissioner Mcconnell
Writes On Its Make.
Gives This County's Creameries Credit
for Making An Article OF Su-
perior Merit.

Blue Earth county is situated eighty
five miles south of the capital city of
Minnesota in the second tier of coun-
ties from the Iowa line 1t is not the
purpose Of this short letter to refer to
the many advantages of this excellent
country, which is rich in natural re-
sources of wealth. The extensive stone
auarries, which have national repu-
tation, supplemented with the large
brick and cement plants, represent
some of the prominent industries of
this prosperous country, whose lands
are surpassed by none other in the
west The timber, though unevenly
distributed, is abundant for domestic
use. This country has the advantage
of being one of the best watered dis
tricts in the state All of these essen
tial features, added to the matchless
fertility of the soil ..and abundant rain
fall distributed equally throughout the
! season, speak volumes for the adyan-
G6S6s VI Dluc III
We should much like to speak of its
magnificent schools and cities, but
space only permits of a brief notice
Mankato, the county seat, and the
fifth city in population in the state,
the home of over twelve thousand
prosperous and intelligent citizens, is
situated on the banks of the Minnesota
river, and is conceded to be one of the
best and prettiest cities in the state.
Other hourishing cities and villages
are Mapleton, Amboy, Lake Crystal,
Good Thunder, Eagle Lake, Madison
Lake, etc. ALI are progressive and
are forging ahead to prominence.
The population of the county con-
sists of happy, contented people.
Nearly all the nationalities usually
found in the west are represented.
No difference of opinion however,
exists when the good of the state
or county is at stake. Then it is a
long pull and a strong pull together,
hence the success of this people.
i We find that we are DEPRESSING as
we intended to refer to the most pros
porous industry relating to the "larg-
est number of people in the Bread
and Butter State Blue Earth county
has contributed her full share toward
the high national reputation, as well
as that beyond the seas, which has
made Minnesota butter famous all
| over the world. This county at the
close of 1901 had 1470 patrons drawing
milk form 10, O76 COWS to II co-opera
' tive creameries. The total amount Of
. milk delivered in one year wal
4 A, $50, 674 pounds, which made finish
ed product of 1878, 913 pounds of higi
: class butter which sold for 1874, Os9. 80
OF the above amount patrons CON
Q sumed, in butter taken from tn
|. creameries, $sS, 759. so. The cost o
operating the cresmeries wa
. seq, 713. so.
The dairy farmers we're paid in cas-
for milk $312, 566. 70. The averag
test of the milk was 8. SO and the aver
age weld was f.. 81, which shows
" good class of COWS, and further ths
the officers and buttermakers CAV
the farmers all there was in the mill
= The average price paid for the butte
fat was twenty and one-tenth CEN
and the price per hundred pounds
milk was 7715 cents. There were col
:. sumed by patrons 1873, 1877 pounds
- the butter and 1873, 1877 pounds wei
:; - shipped to points..within and, 6l1,0
- out of the state. The average produ
each COW contributed in milk to q
creameries was 100 pounds two tenth
which is a larger average than mar
:, of our counties show, yet we belle
~ that the same COWS with care al
proper feed will easily produce IL
a houndred pounds, which would /
~ crease the total output of the finish
:. product twenty-five per cent, viii
would be all profit, and cost nothi
oh but extra care.
81 Az has been stated there are II, I
,at COWS that contribute to the results
- given. vet there are 10, 121 COWS in
Of county, leaving about one-fourth
IN 045 COWS that do not patron
or creameries.
les About two hundred of these SUPP
the city consumers with milk,
ok there remains nearly one-fourth OF
fit. COWS in Blue Earth county that
of not participating in this great
ew growing money making industry.
md all the COWS in the country that !.
not accounted for would go to wo
and we incline to the opinion e
they would if their leige lords wo
llend the necessary encourageme
a. this with the increase OF hfty pou
!. - per cow, which is a conservative Q
!. :. mate, would add annually about
=. hundred thousand dollars to the
-. come of Blue Earth county's "a
atar farmers.
r,as Two cheese factories located
M Garden City and Vernon recei
the 4s3, 1924 pounds Of milk which
tber manufactured into high grade enc
The farmers receiving about $lO'