Montpelier examiner. [volume] (Montpelier, Idaho) 1895-1937, 1920-03-05
COUNTY FAR BUREAUS
Is BEAR LAKE TO HAVE A MILK
CONDENSING FACTORY?
f. M. Brown and John Hunt Investi-
gate Possibilities
(From Farm Bureau News)

(From Farm Bureau News)
For a number of years past the
farmers of Bear Lake have heard
various reports and stories about
Milk Condensing Factory being built
in our valley. Favorable reports
coming from prominent business men
and promoters Of this valley and
Cache valley have led the farmers
to believe that all 1t needed was lit
tie boosting and the complete fac
tory would be in our midst, and that
we would be receiving from fifteen
to twenty-five cents more for our
butter fat, as has been the case with
our fellow farmers of Cache county,
an additional profit well worth go
ing after.
For the purpose Of getting more
definite information the Farm Blu
reau sent out two of it's members to
Logan and Richmond to confer with
the men. directly connected with the
manufacturing of condensed milk,
to find out just what they would ex-
pect from the farmers before they
would consider entering the field,
and they reported as follows:
1t only took glimpse from the
car window now and then as we
Ping Ponged" around the Loop in
to Logan to convince us that the
Brindle COW was considerably better
cared for there than in the land from
whence we came. A few minutes in
he
few words with Manager Hansen OF
that factory was enough to assure
us that the thing that Bear Lake
needed most was more cows and bet
ter cows. This factory was now re-
ceiving daily Sixty Thousand pounds
of milk. Nearly one hundred work
ers were employed, had nineteen
teams hauling to trains and sixteen
teams hauling direct to the factory.
During June and July the inflow of
milk was nearly double or about
one hundred thousand pounds daily.
At Smithtield, six miles north of
Logan they were receiving Twenty
five thousand pounds daily, at Rich
mond, thirty thousand pounds, and
at Franklin, thirty five thousand
pounds. total Of One hundred and
fifty thousand pounds, daily during
the low ebb of dairy production and
over two hundred and seventy five
thousand pounds daily during the
heavy flow, or June and July. This
means that the farmers are now re-
ceiving over 100000 daily for milk
sent to these factories. Multiply this
by 365 and add to 1t the increase for
summer months and it is about two
and one-half millions per year. Be-
fore the war this would have been
considered "lot of money"
After visiting the factory at Lo-
gan we had an interesting talk with
Manager Hansen whom we found to
be very enthusiastic over the future
Of dairying and man who knows
the industry from, the farmers view
point, as well as from the manufac-
turers'. He owned and MIXED
large herd Of cows in the early days
of Cache valley. He owned the first
cheese and condensing factory.
Among other things, Mr.. Hansen
said. Bear Lake valley has wonder
full possibilities in the development of
the dairy industry and just as soon
as your people can show us that we
can get from fifty to sixty thousand
pounds of milk daily they will not
need to worry about a condensing
factory being built, for IL we don't
come In, some one else will. l know
the cry is, well IL we just had a con-
densing factory and could get some
thing for what We produce then we
would soon increase our herds where
1t would be profitable for you,' this
same story has come in from all parts
OF the state. But, he said, that is i
shifting all the responsibility on the
manufacturers. and we feel that is !
asking considerable when you real
lie that this plant would cost over
100000 at present prices"
Mr.. Hansen emphasized the i'm
portance Of applying business princi- |
pies to dairying showing figures
where the average dairyman was los i
ing money, while those who were
business-like and progressive were
making handsome profit"
The people of Bear Lake must then
race fair and square the fact that
they will have to build their own fac
tory or force capital to come to us
by building bigger and better dairy
herds.
F. M. BROWN,