The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1904-12-16
BOv|NEs ARE BUSY
Dairy Interests in Minnesota
Have Wonderful Growth.
This Is Shown BY a Report OF
Commissioner Mcdonnell.
The Bread and Butter State Is
Taking First Rank.
Number of Recommendations
Made to Legislature.
From Mondays Daily.

The biennial report of the state dairy
and food commission, soon to be pre-
scented to the state legislature, will
show that Minnesota is today making
100000 pounds more butter annually
than it did four years ago, when Gov. s.
r. Van SAINT first came into office 1t
is Governor Van SAINT who first gave
Minnesota the name, ''the bread and but
ter state" and the fiattering growth of
the dairy business is largely due to the
advantages for its growth which he has
given it, as well as to the work in the
cause by Dairy and Food Commissioner
W. w. p. Mcconnell, and his able corps
of assistants.
During the past four years the number
of creameries has increased from $50
to 7Sl, and the product of butter for
this year will equal 100000 pounds.
At the same time the quality has in
creased to a point where Minnesota has
won first place in competition with the
world for both dairy and creamery but
ter.
Since Jan. l., 1908, cheese factories
have increased in number from seventy
three to ninety, and skim milk stations
from fifty-two to sixty-six. This is a
gain for the year of Ill new creameries,
seventeen cheese factories and fourteen
skim milk stations. The point has now
been reached where Minnesota prob
ably produces more butter than any
other state in the Union. And with the
fact long established that it produces
more -four, Minnesota now has unques-
tionable right to the title Gov. Van SAINT
has given it, of 'the bread and butter
state"
TO supply the Ill new creameries
with the necessary milk means an in
crease in cows during the year of 49,
600 head.
Since two years ago the number of
farmers supplying milk to creameries
has increased from 5O3S9 to 5000;
number of cows from 382,356 to 435,,
40; pounds of milk from l,2l7, 1877 ,45O
to l,35l ,G42,Gl9 butter from 67,726,SOS
to 72,266,34S; amount paid to patrons
from Sl0,94l ,4663S to $12988 ,6S22l.
This gives in the two years 53,3S4 adj
ditional cows supplying milk to cream
cries, with an increase of 1885, 100
pounds of milk and S,439,54O pounds
of butter, $2,O47 ,2l5.S3 more paid to
farmers, with 1919, 6s933 increase in
running expenses.
The report of the dairy and food
commission will also show an important
work performed in herd tests, made un-
der the direct supervision of Inspec-
tors a. w. Thow and Edward X. Stat
er, and a liberal appropriation is asked
for enlarging the work.
In Minneapolis there are $40 diaries
with $3.50 COWS. Of the 376 herds
therein supplying milk to the inhabi
tants of that city, 227 have been given
the tuberculine test and l49 have not.
In the st. Paul district there are 2OG
daries with 4,566 cows. Of the 20f
herds, 40 have received the tuberculine
test and 63 have not.
In Duluth there are IS dairies with L.
056 cows, none of which have been test
L e. L. 1.
three cities are reported in good condi
ton.
Food statistics for the report have
been compiled by Assistant Commission
ed George L. Dingman, of Minneapolis
Since Dec. 10, 1902, the department has
collected and analysed 1l,77l samples
of food and drink. This number ex
ceeds the total of two years before BY
1852. OF the samples collected 6,67(
were legal, 1892 illegal. The percentage
of adulteration is 30.5 or 35 less thar
for the two previous years.
Of 2,l45 samples of alcoholic liquors
LAP lover half were adulterated
Prosecutions which followed have almost
driven like authorizations from the mar
ket. Of l57 samples og baking powder
Ill were found illegal. In 70 Ger cent
of the cases the illegality was in i'm
proper labelling.
The report recommends Endorsement
by the legislature of federal law fol
uniform labelling of food packages; thai
the dairy law should be expanded to in
clude milk and cream not manufactured
at local factory. The lead and pain
law is weak and permits of misleading
system of labelling. The final recon-
mendation is that, as the work of tn,
secretary of the commission has 81
vastly increased, the salary should b.
made larger.