The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1911-11-02
Manager Pendergast Calls Meeting of
Farmers for Saturday to Decide
What To Do.
CR1T1CIZES SUPPORT GIVEN
Shows How Institution Has Increased
Value of Butter Fat, Jeopardizing
Own Existence.

Two important announcements are
made by F. M. Pendergast of the
Farmers Cooperative association;
one to the effect that so far this fall
more than II carloads of potatoes
have been shipped out of Bemidji, and
the other that a meeting of farmers
is to be held here on Saturday to de-
eide the future fate of the Bemidji
creamery. =,
In his work as buyer of potatoes
for the association, Mr.. Pendergast
has succeeded in Offering cash prices
to the farmers. Last week three car
loads were shipped out of Bemidji to
St. Paul and other points. the price
paid was 40c bushel.
Fill More Than 1900 Bags.
This brought the total number of
potatoes shipped to II carloads, 1000
sacks being required to handle the
tubers. More potatoes are daily COM
ing in, and several carloads more are
expected to be handled out of Be-
midi.
The same success has not marked
the progress of the creamery which
was established by the farmers here
last July. For some time after the
creamery had started plenty of cream,
was furnished, but the supply since
has fallen off.
Shall the Creamery Be Closed?
In an official communication to the
Pioneer, Manager Pendergast says:
There will be a meeting of the
creamery association at the City Hall
in Bemidji, Saturday. November 4, at
which time the question for the farm
ers to decide will be whether they
want the creamery to continue.
"When the creamery started July
10, the price paid for butter fat was
from 10 to 20 cents a pound We
started by paying % cents pound
and have gone up with the markets
until we are paying 20 cents pound.
But with the change from pasture to
dry feed, and with only about one out
of ten farmers patronizing the cream
cry, the amount of cream coming in
at present, will not warrant our con-
tinuing running, unless we can get
the support of the farmers within
shipping distance.
How it Boosted Butter Fat.
cit is also a fact that when we
started only one-half of the butter
could be sold in the stores here at
Is cents pound. But with the
creamery running they are getting
from 25 to % cents for dairy butter.
''Since the creamery started there
has been paid out to the farmers in
cash $4,000 for butter fat, besides
making a market for dairy butter.
"Now, the question for the farmers
to decide is whether they want this
creamery to continue or not. So far
the responsibility has rested on the
shoulders of about a dozen, and 9TH
ers have come in to reap the benefits
of others.
"But if the people tributary to Be-
midi want this creamery to continue
running they must help. So attempt
to attend the meeting on Saturday
and refresh yourself"
This announcement bears the sig
nature of A. E. Rako, PRESIDENT; A.
P. Richie, secretary, and F. M. Pen
dergast, treasurer.
Keep It," Says State Expert.
Professor C. E. Smith, of the State
Agricultural College, and assistant on
demonstration farms, while in Be-
midji Tuesday, declared that the loss
of the creamery to Bemidji would be
a regretable occurrence. Professor
Smith said:
cit simply would mean that Bemid-
il must go back at least 10 years, and
that when it is so apparent that with
a little cooperation the institution
Continued on last page,