The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-03-13
Government Investigation Look
ing to improvement.
Prof. E. Il. Webster Placed In
Charge of the Work.
PLAN OF MR.. COBURN.
Has Long Been Trying to Inter
est the Government.
Something About the Magnitude
of the Industry.

The dairy interests of the short grass
country-western Kansas and Nebraska
and eastern Colorado-are to be the
subject of an investigation by the
United States department of agricul-
ture. with view to aiding and develop
ing it. Prof. Z. H. Webster. who has
been professor of dairying in the Kan
sas State Agricultural college. has been
appointed as an expert in the dairy divt-
sion of the United States department
for the purpose of making a special
study Of the dairy problems of the west.
The place will pay a salary of $4,000 a
year, and Prof. Webster has already re-
signed his position at Manhattan to
begin his new work.
Secretary Coburn, of the Kansas state
board of agriculture, has been trying to
interest the United States department III
this work for the past year, with the
result that the department has now
taken it up. Within the past two years
the dairy business has grown wonder
fully in western Kansas. but it is stit
in its infancy. and those who have in
vestigated it believe that its possibilities
in the short grass region are immense.
In one western Kansas county with q
population of less than 5000 people a
HlIlElG &IGdAAlEAS IOAAittcAtlS has pau Jul
more than $40. 900 for milk during the
past year.
The Kansas department of agriculture
has not the means at its disposal to
make thorough study of this business
as Mr.. Coburn believes it should be
studied Therefore Mr.. Coburn turned
to the United States department, which
has plenty of funds at its disposal. The
assistant chief of the dairy division OF
the department was out here a few
months ago and talked the matter over
with Mr.. Coburn, and the appointment
of Prof. Webster for this work is now
announced
Prof Webster is a graduate of the
Kansas State Agricultural college
After graduating at Manhattan he went
to the Iowa agricultural college, made
a more thorough study of dairying and
was made an assistant in the Iowa dairy
school Then he returned to Manhattan
and a few months ago was placed at
the head of the dairy school there. He
( is recognized as one Of the best experts
in scientific dairy matters in the west.
The western half of Kansas can pro-
duce an abundance of Kaffir corn and
sorghum Much of it has plenty of rich
buffalo grass. 1t would appear as
though it was made for a dairyman' S
paradise, but that business has been
neglected until within a comparatively
recent time. Now it is growing rapidly
Prof. Webster's work viii be to study
the problems which confront the west
ern dairyman-fnd out what feed pro
duces the richest milk, the advantages
and disadvantages of hand separators.
and other such things The Continental
and other big crea naery companies of
the west viii cooperate with him. as
they are interested in getting the farm.
ers to take hold of the dairy business.
The experiment station at Manhat tia II
Will also cooperate with Prof Webster
I in his nyestigations. The work will
likely be extended through a number
Of years