Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1914-12-17
Board to EnIarae Dairy eusInes..

The state of Iowa is itself one OF
the largest producers of dairy prod
ucts from its own state farms, but
the board of control plans to make
the state even better as an example
of how to get the most out of good
cows. On the state farms at the date
/, for the biennial report July last
there was 1.16S cattle. Concerning the
dairying feature OF state activity the
board said in its report:
THE dairy herds of the institutions
are source of pride. Great pains
have been taken to improve and in
crease the number and quality of the
dairy cows. Most OF the cows in the
herds are high grade Holsteins and of
a superior quality. An accurate weight
is made Of the milk produced by each
| COW. When It is discovered that q
COW Is not profitable for the dairy,
she Is disposed OF, only the best
mixers being retained in the, herd.
The Babcock test has been introduc-
ed in some of our institutions with
| success. The state has invested in a
few thoroughbred Holstein cows OF
good breed and milk records, and we
hope to produce our own bulls, thus
avoiding the necessity for paying high
prices for animals to head the herds.
Nearly all the cattle owned by the
state have been tubercular tested and
but few found diseased. Since last
| report there has been produced 1924
949 pounds of milk valued at $140,-
| $685." &c.
The other livestock owned by the
state at date of the report were:
Mules II, sheep I'll, hogs S,207, chick
ems 11,707, ducks, geese and turkeys
1856.
The value OF all farm produce on
the state farms in the biennial period
is figured at the following: Farm pro-
ducts, 1851 .191.05; poultry yards. $751;
603.O1; livestock sold, s27,672.99;
dressed meats, $65,44S.07; garden pro-
ducts, 1871, 40S29; orchard, ss7,6SL67;
miscellaneous, $3,45975; total farm
products used s570,572.sS.
Delay Widening Of Narrow Guarge.
No step has as yet been taken by
the railroad commission definitely
looking to compelling the Milwaukee
railroad to widen its lone narrow
guage branch in Iowa--the Cascade
| line. II cannot be done before the
| first of the year.
The company was invited to pre-
pare and submit plans with estimate
of cost for the conversion of the line
into standard guage. and did so some
time ago. The compliments seeking
to compel the widening were asked to
have these plans checked over and
to offer objections. II any, and thus
| to join issues. This Is being done
now. lawyers having been retained
for the work.
The company submitted three sets
of estimates, one Of which included
the making OF an entire new line of
railroad on new surveys and disposing
Of the material on the old line. This,
1t is stated, would really be the cheap
est and safest thing to do, and in
fact is declared to be the only FEAST
| BILE thing But there is question
whether the railroad commission, or
the legislature could compel the con-
struction OF an entire new line of rail.
road
Big Disappointment In Report
The report OF the state dairy COM
missioner was discouraging one for
this year as to the amount OF butter
actually produced in the state. But
the report closed July 1 last.
Informal reports now indicate that
the remainder of the year 1914 made
a much better showing than the first
part of the year. In the early months
of the year the weather was unfavor-
able for pastures and besides there
was a low price for butter so that
many ceased making butter But lat
err the conditions were changed.
The local condenseries report that
in September and October their bust
ness increased by at least 40 per cent
over what 1t had been the previous
two months. In fact ii has been bet
ter in the fall months of 1914 than
ever before. II is believed that this
condition of affairs prevailed gener-
ally in the state and that the produc-
ton OF butter by the creameries OF
the state has been very large in re-
cent months.
Changes In Iowa School Law.
One of the things that the legisla-
ture will do will be to make some
minor changes In the school law. For
instance, there Is grave doubt as to
whether the board which Is clothed
with the authority to elect county
superintendent is properly constituted.
1t is board which consists OF the
presidents of all the school boards in
the county. Mr.. Hemminger OF Van
Buren, county the other day called at
tention to situation in that county
which suggests the awkwardness OF
this arrangement There are seven
OF the Independent districts that over
lap into other counties. Do the presi-
dents of the boards in those districts
vote in both counties? There is one
district down there that Is in four
counties. 1t is at least questionable
whether a man elected to office by
voters of four counties should partic-
ipate in administrative work for any
one. II will be remembered that the
plan adopted was compromise