The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1904-02-10
CHEESE Making In pIGkEAs.
Prof. W. E. Dendy Gives Compre-
hensiye information on an, In
feresting Subject.
Cor. of the News and Courier !:

Cor. or the News and Conner:
Pickens, Jan. 29.-It is not unlikely
that Pickens county is the pioneer
county in the State in the cheese in
dustry. There seems to be growing
interest in this comparatively new in
dustry, and when it is better under
stood, the industry will likely become
general. No well equipped farm with
even as may as five to ten good milk
COWS, will be without a small plant
for the manufacture of cheese.
Mr.. G. G. Voigt, who lives i'll this
county, few miles from Easley, in
troduced the manufacture of cheese in
this county, and possibly knows more
about the industry than anyother in
dividual in the state.
Mr. Voigt was raised in West Salem,
Ill. He began the study of the indus
try about fifteen years ago. The hrst
factory he had charge of was at Elgln,
ILL.,, in 1892. The year following hs
superintended the first combined
cheese and butter factory in the state
of Utah. From Utah he came to Vir-
giniaa, where he remained until about
three years ago, where be started the
first cheese factory and creamery in
the state of Virginia. This plant was
the Toms Brook, located in the val
ley of the Shenandoah, and has proven
a great success
Mr.. NJ. V. Richards, land and in
dustrial agent of the Southern rail
road, induced Mr. Voigt to come to
South Carolina, where he settled at
Easley about three years ago.
Mr. Voigt at once began the con-
struction of what he believes to oe
the first cheese factory in South
Carolina. This began operation in
May, 1902. This plant started out
auspiciously and its product found
ready sale at profitable prices. But
soon the farmers found that by retail.
iLg their surplus milk to the mill
operatives, they could realize more
than the cheese factory paid for their
product.
The management then decided tc
send tc the country and collect the
milk. This was found too expensive
as the farmers from whom the milk
could be obtained were too remote and
too scattered. There was no previous
contract or arrangement made by
which the factory should receive q
stated supply Of milk to keep it il
operation. It depended upon volun.
tary contributions, which proved in
adequate for the maintenance Of the
plant. The result was the factory sus.
pended operation the past year. Sc
far as the first cheese factory ol
South Carolina is concerned, it must
be termed a distinct failure.
While the Easley plant was in nc
| way a financial success so far as that
| plant is concerned. yet it furnished
an object lesson to the wide-awake
farmers who came in contact with its
operation. The farmers saw the Easley
creamery had closed because of lack
of milk with which to operate. They
reasoned that by clubbing together
and obligating themselves to furnish &
stipulated amount. of milk daily, that
the obstacle the Easley plant had ell.
countered would be certainly over
come.
This plan was decided upon by
about dozen farmers in the Georges
creek neighborbood, situated four
miles northeast of Easley. According.
ly, the Georges Creek creamery was
organized last April. 1t is in opera.
tion and ready sale. is found for its
product. It is small plant, equipped
! at an actual expense Of $50 or s400.
It has capacity of $50 gallons PAL
day The milk OF little more than
80 COWS goes to the plant. which is a
good deal less than the full capacity.
| At present the price paid for milk is
about 81. 80 per 100 pounds; 100 pounds
of milk is equivalent TO Il l-2 gallons.
In the north the average is 10 pounds
of cheese to the 100 pounds of milk
in the south about II pounds to the
100. The average in some instances in
this county has been far above II
pounds.
The bulk of the product of Georges
Creek factory is sold in Greenville at
20 and 25 cents per pound and the sup
ply is FAR short of the demand.
After it is manufactured, the cheese