Bonners Ferry herald. [volume] (Bonners Ferry, Idaho) 1904-current, 1920-11-30


More than half a million dollars Of
new wealth created in one year by a
single COMMUNICATED is the record
of Grove City. Pa, a whole commu-
nifty largely given over to dairying.
There are many cities and towns
throughout the county engaged in the
production of some one principal com
modify. Miners increase the value
of coal by taking it from the ground.
Manufacturers add to the value of raw
materials by shaping them into mar
ketabIe products. These increase
wealth. But Grove City actually Gre
ates new wealth. 1t takes the air, sun
shine and water-eIements free to all
and converts them into gold--dairy
products.
What the Grove City community is
doing can be done by any community
that is satisfactorily situated, and that
has wel-equipped, well-managed
creamery. The fact that the manage
ment is supervised by the United
States department of agriculture prob
ably gives 1t no appreciate financial
advantage, because the relationship is
investigational and has not reduced
the cost of manufacture below that
possible in many other creameries.
The products are always sold on their
merits, and the name of the depart
ment is not used to advertise them.
Community Spirit Built Up.
The success of the Grove City
creamery is due largely to the admira-
BILE community spirit that has been
built up there and in the surrounding
district. That this spirit exists to-day
is due largely to the efforts put forth
by the business men of Grove City, es-
pecially the members of the CONNER
cial club, an organization that is open
to the farmers of the neighborhood
who are interested in the advancement
of dairying From the very outset of
the undertaking, in 1914. the business
men took an active interest in the
creamery and in the movement toward
general agricultural development
through dairying, and by their en-
thuSiasm they aroused the interest Of
the farmers
The business men of Grove City
took the first step, the farmers met
them halfway, and all are now work.
ing for a common cause, which is the
building up of a successful dairy
community Though the business men
began the work for the public good
and with little thought of personal
gain, they have found that it is pay
ing them wen. because better farming
has brought them better business.
The records of the creamery show a
remarkable increase in income de-
rived from the sale of its products.
For the first year, from July /. 1915,
to June 30, 1916, the gross income was
$50, 432 the second year it increased
TO S212,9o4 the third year. to $780,
59G; and last year the gross income
totaled $505,S1O AS only a small
part of the money was used to pay
the cost of operation, nearly all Of it
was distributed among the farmers
around Grove City. Since much of
the income was due to increased and
improved farm business, a large part
of it may fairly be considered as new
ly created wealth.
Improved Dairy Cows.
The most direct cause of the greatly
increased prosperity Of the Grove City
community is the more profitable dairy
COW. Dairying in the Grove City dis
trict has been much improved by the
purebred cattle that have been
shipped in. but it has been improved
more by the scrub cattle that have
been shipped out. The cow-testing as
ISOLATION. which has taken the guess
work out of dairying in this district is
an organization of the dairy farmers
who employ a tester to test their
cows for production and to keep feed
and production records.
Tuberculin tests from April, 1918. TO
May, 1920. were made on 3S7 herds,
consisting of 1888 animals, under the
accredited-herd plan. or these. 14S
herds are already accredited. Accord
ing to latest figures. $50 farmers in
the vicinity of Grove City own one or
more purebred dairy animals. The Inn
portance of pure-breds is going for
ward rapidly.
The creamery has gained a reputa-
ton for high quality of products. This
has brought ready market at salts
factory prices, which have encouraged
larger production. Increased prOduc-
ton and satisfactory prices have made
the farmers more prosperous. In
creased financial prosperity, however,
is only q small part of the gain that
has come to the community. Better
schools, better churches, better homes,
and better social conditions are COM
ing as a result az ,his. because the