Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1911-09-08
THE CREAM ERY.

Although aware of the fact that re-
ports derogatory to the reputation OF
the Yorkville Creamery are in circula-
ton, The Enquirer does not care to un-
dertake to keep after such reports con-
| tinually for such a task would not only
be thankless but hopeless of results.
AS is very we'll known and under
| stood by those who stand for and recog-
nize the truth, The Enquirer has never
been in the business Of trying to de-
ceive people about anything, and II
we have any considerable number OF
enemies they are made up for the most
part Of the kind Of people who do not
know or care for a better way OF
getting along in the world than by
misrepresenting existing facts. Such
people not infrequently find them
selves in a position where they deem II
expedient to attack statements in The
Enquirer; but this occurs usually only
when the statements are absolutely
true, and when 1t is to the interest of
such folks to have others believe diff
ferently.
The Enquirer wishes very much for
the success of the creamery. 1t does
not think that there has been estab-
lished in the town for years an insti-
tuition that promises more for the gen.
eral welfare and upbuilding Of the
community. But nevertheless, should
it appear that the only hope Of the
creamery, even for bridging over crit
ical period, lay in misrepresentation
through this paper, the misrepresenta-
tion would not be tolerated-certainly
not knowingly.
That a little cloud gathered over
the creamery a few months back Is not
to be denied. 1t was not denied at the
time The trouble came out of diff
ference of opinion as to the wisdom OF
certain business policies that were be-
ing pursued, and while there was good
foundation for this difference of opin-
ion, there was a lot Of loose talk for
which there was no foundation. 1t was
in a large measure the same old prac-
tice of stating as facts, things that ex-
listed only in the imagination. But the
whole situation was thoroughly inves-
tigated by the stockholders acting as
such, the real troubles were located,
and steps were taken to remedy them.
One of the principal difficulties was
that the quality of butter being turned
out was not sufficiently high. Another
was that the price being paid for but
terfat was too high for the best price
at which the finished product could be
marketed. Another was that business
count of milk routes. Another was that
there was larger payroll In the cream
cry itself than was necessary, and the
fixed charges of the institution gener-
ally were greater than was warranted
by the amount of business done. But
The ENQUIRER was not Informed OF any
dishonesty, and 1t has had no reason
to believe or suspect that any existed.
AS the result of the Investigations
referred to there was complete change
in the conduct of the business, Mr.. o.
f. wilkins taking entire charge or
the business management and Mr.. h..
B. Clements, the butter maker, under
taking the entire practical operation OF
the plant
Among the first measures instituted
under the new management was the
discontinuance of paid milk routes and
the reduction of the price to be paid
for butterfat to 20 cents pound. 1t
was recognized that 20 cents was too
low for butterfat; but it was apparent
that there was no injustice In the re-
duction for the reason that if too much
had been paid before, the surplus had
gone to the customers, and If 20 cents
was too little, then the reduced price
could only operate to return to the CO.
operative company that of which it had
Deen uepTlNeu ny lllSldhe. II "ouiu
still belong to the stockholders.
There were fears at first that be-
cause of the discontinuance of the free
milk routes and the reduction OF the
price of butterfat, there would be a
falling off in the milk receipts. This
happened to a certain extent; but not
nearly to such an extent as many an
ticipated. Nearly all the customers
who had been sending in their milk by
the free routes made other arrange
ments. The exceptions included few
who thought 90 cents a pound for but
terfat too little, especially as COM
pared with the 2S and 80 cents pound
they had been receiving.
AS things went along and the
checks came in after the first month
under the new arrangement, 1t devel-
oped that the cut in the price of but
terfat was not as disastrous as was an
ticipated. The wholesale markets
were down when the change was first
made and as the summer advanced. the
local markets for country butter de-
clined People who had thought the
price of butterfat too low at 20 cents
a pound, found that it was still more
than they could get by churning their
buttterfat into butter and selling 1t on
the local markets, and most of them
nroceeded tn do the thing that was